Spouse Guler Okten (m. ?–2009) Role Film director | Name Zeki Okten Years active 1963 – 2006 Awards Sutherland Trophy | |
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Died December 19, 2009, Istanbul, Turkey Movies The Herd, The King of the Street Cleaners, King of the Doormen, Dutturu Dunya, The Raindrop Similar People Serif Goren, Omer Kavur, Yilmaz Guney, Ertem Egilmez, Tarik Akan | ||
G le g le filmi y netmen zeki kten y l 1999
Zeki Ökten (4 August 1941 – 19 December 2009) was a Turkish film director.
Contents
Güle Güle - Metin Akpınar (1999 - Zeki Ökten)
Biography
He was born on 4 August 1941 in Istanbul. Zeki Ökten was interested in theatre during his education at the Haydarpaşa High School. He entered his filmmaking career in 1961 as the assistant director of Nişan Hançer directing Acı Zeytin. Zeki Ökten directed his first film Ölüm Pazarı two years later in 1963. However, he stepped back to the post of assistant director as the success expected did not come. He worked then nine years long as the assistant to the renowned directors like Ömer Lütfi Akad, Halit Refiğ, Memduh Ün and Atıf Yılmaz.
With his films Kadın Yapar in 1972 and with Bir Demet Menekşe in 1973, written by Selim İleri, he gained recognition. He was honored at the Golden Orange Film Festival in 1977 for directing the film Kapıcılar Kralı.
Real success came with the films Sürü (1978) and Düşman (1979), both written by Yılmaz Güney. Düşman won an Honourable Mention at the 30th Berlin International Film Festival in 1980. The film Sürü received nine more international awards, following the honors at the festivals in Locarno 1979 and at Antwerp in 1980. Zeki Ökten received his second Golden Orange award in 1983 for directing the film Faize Hücum. His 1984 film Pehlivan won an Honourable Mention at the 35th Berlin International Film Festival. The themes of his films were social problems featured in comedy.
Zeki Ökten died on December 19, 2009, following a heart surgery for which he was hospitalized the day before in the American Hospital in Istanbul. He was laid to rest at the Zincirlikuyu Cemetery two days later following a religious funeral ceremony held at the Teşvikiye Mosque. Zeki Ökten is succeeded by his wife Güler Ökten, a well-known Turkish actress.