Meryem Yavuz

PROFILE

Born and raised in Istanbul, studied cinema. She gained acceptence to the Berlinale Talent Campus in 2009 and to the American Society of Cinematographers Vision Mentorship Program in 2020. Independent short, feature-length fiction and creative documentary films for which she worked as a cinematographer were screened at Cannes, Berlinale, Venice, Sundance, Toronto, Tokyo, Clermont Ferrand, Camerimage, IDFA and many international festivals. She worked with well-known contemporary artists for their video works, and organized workshops on cinematography at cinema schools in Turkey. In 2021, she founded Horovel Films with Erhan Arık to produce documentary films.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Cinematographer at Freelancer February 2007 — Present

2024 AYSE (feature fiction) by Necmi Sancak, in post-production
2024 SIMIZAR (short fiction) by Azize Cansu Turan, in post-production
2024 AFTER 30 MINUTES (short fiction) by Hasan Ali Kılıçgün, in post-production
2024 NOT AS YOU KNOW (feature fiction) by Vuslat Saraçoğlu, World Premiere at 43rd Istanbul IFF
2024 ROAD TO TOKYO (feature documentary) by İpek Kent & Efe Öztezdoğan, World Premiere at 43rd Istanbul IFF
2023 CHEERS TO THE END (short fiction) by Yiğit Hepsev, Winner Best Fantastic Short Film at Film Critics' Association Turkey (SIYAD) Awards
2023 THE PAYOFF (short fiction) by Handan İpekçi, World Premiere at Tampere FF International Competition, Winner Special Mention at Austria IFF, Winner Grand Prize at 41st Festival Tous Courts
2022 EREN (feature documentary) by Maria Binder, World Premiere at 25th Thessaloniki IDFF, Winner Special Mention at 10th Duhok IFF
2022 BLUE ID (feature documentary) by Burcu Melekoğlu & Vuslat Karan, Winner Audience Award at IDFA 2022
2022 MY NAME IS HAPPY (feature documentary) by Ayşe Toprak & Nick Read, World Premiere at IDFA 2022, Winner Golden Horn at Krakow IFF Documentary Competition, Winner Youth Jury Award & Impact Days at FIFDH Genova, Winner Human Rights Human Wrongs Film Award at HUMAN IDFF, Special Mention at DOKUFEST Balkan Dox Competition, Special Mention at Human Rights FF Berlin
2022 SUDDENLY (feature fiction) by Melisa Önel, World Premiere at 35th Tokyo IFF, European Premiere at Rotterdam IFF
2021 UNDER CONSTRUCTION (short fiction) by Azize Cansu Turan, World Premiere at 37th Warsaw IFF
2021 OGLAGO (short documentary) by Efe Öztezdoğan, World Premiere at 40th Istanbul IFF
2021 THE DIAMOND SEA (short fiction) by Arda Ekşigil, World Premiere at 40th Istanbul IFF, Best Short Film Award at Boğaziçi IFF, Best Cinematography Award İzmir ISFF
2020 THE GUARDIAN (feature documentary) by Martina Priessner, World Premiere at Dok Leipzig German Competition, Winner Goethe Institut Documentary Film Award at Dok Leipzig, Winner Jury Award at Santorini Film Festival
2020 MAMAVILLE (short fiction) by Irmak Karasu, World Premiere at Sarajevo IFF, Winner Best Short Film Award at Antalya IFF, Winner Best Cinematography at İzmir ISFF
2019 LETTERS FROM SILIVRI (short documentary) by Adrian Figueroa, World Premiere at 66th Oberhausen ISFF, New Berlin Film Award at 16th Achtung Berlin, Night Award at 18th Festival Internazionale Segni della Notte, Connexion Award & Student Prize at Clermont Ferrand ISFF (Official Selection, 20th Lab Competition), Best Short Documentary Award at 53rd Film Critics' Association Turkey (SIYAD) Awards, Best Film Award at 26th San Giò Verona Video Festival
2019 NOT KNOWING (feature fiction) by Leyla Yılmaz, Audience Award at 56th Antalya IFF, Best Film Award at 31st Ankara IFF, Yılmaz Güney Special Jury Award & SIYAD Critics' Awards at 27th Adana IFF
2019 GIRL WITH NO MOUTH (feature fiction) by Can Evrenol, World Premiere at Tallinn Black Nights IFF
2019 LOVE CHILD (feature documentary) by Eva Mulvad, World Premiere at Toronto IFF, Documentary Gold Hugo Award at Chicago IFF, Special Mention at DOCNYC, Best Feature Length Documentary at West Lake IDFF, Silver Nanook Award at Flahertiana IDFF 2020
2019 AMINA (feature documentary) by Kıvılcım Akay, World Premiere at Atlanta IFF
2019 PASSED BY CENSOR (feature fiction) by Serhat Karaaslan, World Premiere & FEDEORA Award at 58th Karlovy Vary IFF, competed at Istanbul IFF
2018 SPLINTER (short fiction) by Enes Yurdaün, World Premiere at 59th Thessaloniki IFF
2018 THE LAYER (feature documentary) by Melek Ulagay
2018 DEBT (feature fiction) by Vuslat Saraçoğlu, Winner Best Film Award at 37st Istanbul IFF, European Premiere at Goteborg IFF, American Premiere at San Francisco IFF, Asian Premiere at Kerala IFF
2018 ROAD TO THE MOON (feature fiction) by Abdurrahman Öner, World Premiere at 37th Istanbul IFF
2018 THE FIELD GUIDE TO EVIL: Segment AL KARISI (short fiction) by Can Evrenol, World Premiere at SXSW IFF
2017 FISHBONE (short fiction) by Kerem Ayan were screened at 13th Akbank Short Film Festival
2017 STORY OF A JOB INTERVIEW (short fiction) by Alkım Özmen, Special Mention at Boston Turkish DSFF
2017 OUTSKIRTS (short fiction) by Sinan Kesova, Winner FIBRESCI Award at 36th Istanbul IFF, International Premiere at Sarajevo IFF
2016 THE OTHERS (feature documentary) by Ayşe Polat, Winner Prize at Dok Liepzig, Special Mention at 35th Istanbul IFF
2016 FAREWELLCOME (short fiction) by Noyan Babataşı, Special Mention at Boston Turkish DSFF
2016 SIZO SEYKS (short fiction for a play) by Boran Güney, Erhan Yürük
2015 LICENCE (short fiction) by İpek Kent were screened at 22nd Adana IFF National Short Film Competition, 27th Istanbul SFF Competition
2015 UNMADE BED (short fiction) by Eytan İpeker, World Premiere at 52nd Antalya IFF
2015 DUST CLOTH (feature fiction) by Ahu Öztürk, World Premiere at 66th Berlin IFF Forum, Winner Best Film Award at 35th Istanbul IFF, Winner Mahmut Tali Öngören Special Award at Ankara IFF, Winner Best First Film Award at Film Critics' Association Turkey (SIYAD) Awards
2015 THE PUDDLE (short fiction) by Serdar Yılmaz, Winner Best Experimental Film at Istanbul SFF
2015 TUESDAY (short fiction) by Ziya Demirel, World Premiere at 68th Cannes FF Official Selection, were screened at Toronto IFF, Sundance IFF, Winner Best Short Film Award at 35th Istanbul IFF, Winner Best Short Film Award at Ankara IFF, Special Mention at Sarajevo IFF, Winner Prix d-aide a la Creation at Grenoble SFF, Winner Best Short Film Award at Les Arcs European FF, Winner Best Short Film Award at Turkish Film Critics' Association (SIYAD) Awards, Winner Best Short Film Award at Malatya IFF, Winner Best Short Film Award at MOOOV FF
2015 MOTHER VIRGIN NO MORE (short fiction) by Derya Durmaz, World Premiere at Berlin IFF Generation 14Plus
2014 LIFE STYLE (short fiction) by Gözde Onaran were screened at 34th Ankara IFF
2014 DIYAR (feature documentary) by Devrim Akkaya were screened at 33rd Istanbul IFF, Cinedoc Tbilisi, Golden Apricot Yerevan, competed 26th Ankara IFF
2014 SUMMER NIGHT SKY (short fiction) by Can Eskinazi, competed at 26th Ankara IFF
2014 REMAKE, REMIX, RIP-OFF: ABOUT COPY CULTURE & TURKISH POP CINEMA (feature documentary) by Cem Kaya, World Premiere at 67th Locarno IFF, were screened at Edinburg IFF, Winner Audience Award at Dokufest IDSFF
2014 ZIAZAN (short fiction) by Derya Durmaz, Winner Jury Choice & Audience Choice Awards at Diversity in Cannes Short Film Competition, Special Mention at SEE a Paris, Winner FRIESE Award at Mo&Friese Hamburg Children's Short Film Festival, Winner Best Fiction Film Award at FICAIJ IFF for Children and Youth, Winner Best Short Audience Award at Boston Turkish Festival DSFF
2014 SEABURNERS (feature fiction) by Melisa Önel, World Premiere at 64th Berlin IFF Forum, Asian Premiere at 15th Jeonju IFF, Winner Best Film Award at Olhares Do Mediterraneo
2013 EYE AM (feature fiction) by Hakkı Kurtuluş & Melik Saraçoğlu, Winner Special Jury Prize & Best Film NETPAC Jury at 36th Moscow IFF, Special Mention at 59th Seminci Valladolid IFF, Winner Best Film Award at 20th Adana IFF
2012 MORNING-NOON-EVENING (short fiction) by Efe Öztezdoğan competed at 19th Adana IFF
2012 VANISHED INTO BLUE (short fiction) by Abdurrahman Öner, Winner Grand Prix at 61st Belgrade IDSFF, Winner Best Short Film Award at 19th Adana IFF, Winner French Critics Discovery Prize at 36th Rencontres Henri Langlois IFF, Winner Best Film Award at 16th Ismailia IFF, HISAR Short Film Selection 2012
2012 F TYPE FILM: Segment A/3 (short fiction) by Hüseyin Karabey
2012 ROAD TO LONDON (short documentary) by Efe Öztezdoğan were screened at Camerimage IFF
2012 EMMAPORATION (short fiction) by Alp Giray Tabakoğlu competed at Adana IFF
2012 FRIED CHICKEN (short experimental) by Serdar Yılmaz screened at 42nd Rotterdam IFF, Oaxaca IFF, Brooklyn IFF
2011 THE BUS (short fiction) by Olgu Baran Kubilay competed at Tampere IFF
2011 EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE A SECOND CHANCE (short fiction) by Emrah Erkanı, Winner 2nd Prize at If Istanbul Independent IFF
2011 NOLYA (short fiction) by M. Cem Öztüfekçi, Winner Grand Prix at Drama ISFF, Winner Prix Cinecourts at Amiens IFF, Winner Best Film Award at Izmir ISFF, HISAR Short Film Selection 2011
2010 MY FATHER MAKES HISTORY (short documentary) by Haydar Demirtaş were screened at 15th Ourense IFF, 21st Mediawave Film & Music FF, 29th Istanbul IFF, Winner Best Foreign Documentary Film at 7th Abuja IFF
2010 DEATH (short fiction) by Burcu Aykar & Uygar Şirin, Winner Best Short Film Award at Boston Turkish DSFF, HISAR Short Film Selection 2010
2010 THE ISLAND: WEDDING OF THE ZOMBIES (feature fiction) by Murat Emir Eren, Talip Ertürk were screened at Festival On Wheels Ankara Film Association
2009 STAIRS (short fiction) by Serdar Yılmaz, Winner Gold Level Award at Oregon FF, Winner Silver Sierra Award at Yosemite FF
2009 DONME ISTANBUL (short documentary) by Jacopo Gandolfi
2009 ESMA (short fiction) by Koray Çalışkan were screened at 22nd Istanbul ISFF, 17th Adana IFF, 12nd Eskişehir IFF, HISAR Short Film Selection 2009
2008 BIRTH (short fiction) by Burcu Aykar & Uygar Şirin competed at 20th Istanbul ISFF, 5th Akbank SFF, HISAR Short Film Selection 2008
2008 TWO LINES (feature fiction) by Selim Evci, World Premiere at 65th Venice IFF 23rd Film Critics' Week, were screened at 63rd Salerno IFF, 57th Melbourne IFF, 45th Antalya IFF, 38th Rotterdam IFF, 32nd Cairo IFF, 32nd Sao Paulo IFF, 31st Moscow IFF...
2008 JUDGEMENT (short fiction) by Rezan Yeşilbaş were screened at 45th Antalya IFF, 20th Istanbul ISFF, Tangier ISFF, Winner Audience Award at 14th Boston Turkish DSFF
2007 SAPAK (short fiction) by Fırat Mançuhan were screened at 46th Antalya IFF, 20th Istanbul ISFF, Winner Best Short Film Award at 5th Akbank SFF, Special Mention at İzmir ISFF, HISAR Short Film Selection 2009
2007 DOWNSTAIRS (short fiction) by M. Cem Öztüfekçi competed at Aubagne IFF, Salerno Shadowline IFF, Tangier ISFF, 44th Antalya IFF, Winner Best Short Film Award at 13th Boston Turkish DSFF, Special Mention at 15th Adana IFF

Producer at Freelancer, İstanbul February 2007 — Present

2021 OGLAGO (co-producer)
2017 OUTSKIRTS (co-producer)
2015 TUESDAY (co-producer)
2015 MOTHER VIRGIN NO MORE (executive producer)
2012 MORNING-NOON-EVENING (producer)
2012 ROAD TO LONDON (co-producer)
2007 DOWNSTAIRS (producer)

Co-founder, Producer, Cinematographer at Horovel Films, İstanbul August 2021 — Present

2024 OUR SEEDS (wt) (feature documentary) by Erhan Arık, in production, in collaboration with Paradoks Filmproduktion (Germany) supported by IDFA Bertha Fund, Sundance Documentary Film Program, Redford Grant Center, MFG Baden-Württenberg Film Fund, developed at Campus Istanbul, IDFA Project Space, Close Up Documentary Development Program
2024 AFTER THIRTY MINUTES (short fiction) by Hasan Ali Kılıçgün, in post-production, in collaboration with 19:30 Films, Krema Film and Origine Films
2022 MY NAME IS HAPPY (feature documentary) by Ayşe Toprak & Nick Read, in collaboration with Red Zed Films (UK), October Films (UK), World Premiere at IDFA 2022

EDUCATION

Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Sinema Tv Department September 2001 — June 2005

MEMBERSHIP

Cinematographers' Association of Turkey
Cinema and Television Workers' Union of Turkey
European Film Academy
European Women Audiovisual Network
Global Climate Storyteller Network
IMAGO Diversity and Inclusion Committee