Alphan Eşeli

Alphan Eşeli — Biography

After studying at the New York Institute of Technology, Alphan Eşeli began his career directing commercials and music videos. In 2009 he co-founded the international arts and culture platform ISTANBUL 74 together with his wife, Demet Müftüoğlu. His feature debut, "The Long Way Home: Sarıkamış 1915" (2013), won the Fipresci Prize and the Golden Zenith Award at the Montreal World Film Festival and the Best New Talent award at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival; it was also nominated for the Sutherland Award at the 57th BFI London Film Festival and screened at more than 30 festivals worldwide.

In 2016 he directed the short film "Little Bullets," about a mother and daughter adjusting to safety after fleeing Syria for Southeastern Anatolia; it premiered at the Telluride Film Festival before screening at the New York Film Festival.

Eşeli wrote and directed "Mutter: Bir Annenin Hatıra Defteri," starring Hazar Ergüçlü, which had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2026.