Nuri Bilge Ceylan was born on January 26, 1959, in Istanbul, Turkey. A graduate in Chemical Engineering from Bogazici University, he traveled to London after completing his studies in 1985, providing him with time to think about his future. He returned to Turkey to fulfill his military service and decided to dedicate his life to filmmaking. He studied cinema at Mimar Sinan University and worked as a professional photographer.

After two years, he chose to discontinue his studies and focus on his career, starting with acting in a short film directed by his friend, Mohamed Ariyelmas. He began shooting his first short film, “Koza,” in late 1993. In May 1995, the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, followed by “The Small Town” (1997), “Clouds of May” (1999), and “Distant.” (2002)

Ceylan personally handled almost all artistic aspects of these films, including cinematography, sound design, production, editing, screenplay, and direction. He quickly became a globally renowned director after his film “Distant” won the Grand Prix and Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival in 2003. “Distant” continued to receive awards, totaling 47, including 23 international honors.

His later productions also garnered additional awards, such as the FIPRESCI Prize at Cannes for “Climates” (2006), “Three Monkeys” (2008), and “Once Upon a Time in Anatolia” (2011). His film “Winter Sleep” received the Palme d’Or and FIPRESCI Prize in 2014.

Ceylan’s films mostly focus on individual alienation, existentialism, the monotony of human life, and the details of daily life. He employs static shots, takes extended periods in natural settings, and manipulates sounds, particularly through the use of silence.