"...the shorts had the same irresistible flavor as
Martin Scorsese’s 1974 documentary “Italianamerican.”
In its opening scenes, Catherine Scorsese, the director’s mother,
sits on a shiny, plastic-wrapped couch and considers the silliness of her son’s film:
“What should I say? You want me to tell you how I make the sauce?”
I have watched it countless times, always noticing some new, magnificent idiosyncrasy in Ms. Scorsese’s tone, her gestures, her humor,
the precise clutter of her countertops and shelves.
I thought of her again when I watched the charming short by Zeynep Dilara."
Zeynep Dilara is an independent filmmaker who produces, directs, and writes interview and conversation-based digital documentaries for streaming platforms such as Disney+, TV channels such as National Geographic, and social media platforms, primarily YouTube.
She describes herself as a curious individual with a strong sense of sensibility, self-motivated, proactive, work-oriented, and realistic. But She believes in genuine romanticism and attributes her vitality and survival to her high life energy and love.
Currently residing in Brooklyn, New York, she actively pursues opportunities to immerse herself in the city's culture and gain a deeper understanding of her surroundings.
“If there's anything worthwhile doing for the sake of culture, it's delving into subject matters and situations that connect people," says Krzysztof Kieslowski. This quote has been a driving force behind Zeynep Dilara’s journey into documentary filmmaking for years.
on March 2024 She released her last digital documentary, drawing inspiration from
Krzysztof Kieslowski's 1980 documentary;
"The Talking Heads.”
Her film featuring conversations with 20 different artists from diverse disciplines and backgrounds, capturing the essence of the city's creative spirit.
Filmography
2024
Platform: YouTube
Presented by: Atelier Eva
Production: Real-Time Artistry
Credit: Filmmaker, Writer, Editor
Produced by: Real-Time Artistry
In this episodic mini documentary series, which will become a staple of New York, painters, photographers, sculptors, writers, poets, filmmakers, designers, musicians, dancers, and actors
will converge with tattoo artists.
“JUST ONE QUESTION" will seek answers to seemingly simple yet profoundly complex questions. Real-Time Artistry clarifies their style as a “Creative Investigation” on this 25 minutes digital documentary project.
2022
Platform: YouTube
Presented by: Grandmas Project
Production: Chai Chai Films
Credit: Filmmaker
Produced by: Independent
Grandmas Project is a collaborative web series sharing the recipes and stories of grandmas around the world, filmed by their grandchildren. In the second season of this film series, SILE represented Turkey among international films.
This 8 minutes documentary film premiered in Paris and has been screened in more than 10 countries with special screenings. Still getting invitations from documentary film festivals.
2022
Platform: National Geographic Global
Presented by: Turkish Airlines
Production: Cornerman
Credit: Unit Director
Produced by: National Geographic
Istanbul’s Ataturk airport, the home of Turkish Airlines for decades, is closed now. But the moving day there was a massive logistical challenge is of a scale never before attempted. 18 hours non-stop shooting, 12 unit director, capturing the real-time action. This 45 minutes documentary film, broadcasted in 19 countries on National Geographic global channels.
2021
Platform: YouTube
Presented by: Vodafone Turkey
Production: VMLY&R
Credit: Writer + Director
Produced by: Vodafone
Vodafone has been advocating gender equality for years under the roof of #BenVarım (I Exist / I Am For in Turkish) and defying stereotypical perceptions that women cannot exist in professions associated with men. This 20-minute digital documentary film showcases the stories of the members of Turkey's most important women's football team Besiktas and depicts the history of women's football in Turkey. Film reached more than 3 Million audience in first week on YouTube
2020
Platform: KickStarter
Presented by: MIOPS
Production: Independent
Credit: Filmmaker
Produced by: MIOPS
MIOPS is a leading manufacturer of creative camera products. In a 5-minute digital film, 25 different features of the product are showcased through highly cinematic footage. This campaign was the fourth Kickstarter campaign of MIOPS, following three very successful campaigns. They raised $536,890 through this campaign with the help of 2,225 backers, marking the highest result the company has ever achieved.
2019
Platform: National Geographic Turkey
Presented by: Finish
Production: Cornerman
Credit: Director
Produced by: National Geographic
Global water crisis threaten some of the biggest metropolitan cities of the world such as Istanbul. This 45 minute documentary film tries to find a solution to this gloomy situation with the guidance of the host. Despite being prepared for broadcast on the National Geographic channel, this film has been broadcasted on all national channels in Turkey. In the first year of release, film reached over 85 million viewers. In 2023, the documentary was officially added to the curriculum of middle school students by the Turkish Ministry of National Education.
2018
Platform: DASDAS Theatre
Presented by: DASDAS Theatre
Production: Independent
Credit: Filmmaker
Produced by: Independent
The Persians is an ancient Greek tragedy written during the Classical period of Ancient Greece by the Greek tragedian Aeschylus. This 5 minute short film made as a promotional short film and adapted to screenplay based on original text.
2017 - 2022
Platform: YouTube
Presented by: Zeynep Dilara
Production: Independent
Credit: Founder + Content Creator
Produced by: Independent
"You Can Write" (Yazabilirsin) is Turkey's first fully independent online education program on creative writing, story-telling and scriptwriting. This program shares educational content, archive, knowledge and motivational support via official web site www.yazabilirsin.com, YouTube and Instagram.
This educational digital video series reaches viewers through a YouTube channel consisting of an average of 54 video contents, each around 15 minutes long.
2016
Platform: National Television
Presented by: Dogus Otomotive
Production: Bocek Yapim
Credit: Director + Writer
Produced by: McCann Ericson