Handan İpekçi

Handan İpekçi — Biography

Handan İpekçi was born in Ankara in 1956 to a family with roots in Trabzon. She studied radio, television and cinema at Gazi University's School of Press and Broadcasting before entering the film industry through roles such as assistant director and editor.

She began her directing career with the documentary Kemençenin Türküsü, then wrote, produced and directed her debut feature Babam Askerde in 1994. She went on to direct further acclaimed films such as Big Man, Little Love, Hidden Faces and The Plane Tree, writing most of their screenplays herself.

Across her career İpekçi has become known for stories that weave social issues together with intimate personal drama, establishing herself as one of the notable women directors in Turkish cinema.