"...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."
Hi there,
My name is Zeynep Dilara.
I am an independent filmmaker, writer.
I was born and raised in Turkey then I left my country in 2023, 1st of March for creating in a more bigger, more richer and advanced industry.
I am living in Brooklyn, New York.
Since I got my first prize in a TV project directing contest in 2016, I am an independent filmmaker and writer who has built her career on what she call; “Mindful Cinema”
I got my first official support from Ministry of Culture's General Directorate of Cinema in Turkey as a screenwriter in 2017 and since then I am also an independent educator on YouTube.
I've been sharing information and resources on the platform called "Yazabilirsin" (en. You Can Write) by web blog posts, YouTube video posts and Instagram feed posts in Turkish with writer candidates in Turkey.
Now I am working on my next narrative film project and filming digital mini documentary series for artists' studios, museums and galleries of New York.
I portray myself as a visionary. Because as you are about to see, behind the everything I do there is a desire to spread a vision.
Filmography
2022
SILE
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
MEGA MOVE
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
I EXIST
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
FLEX
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
25 LITER
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 was broadcast on all national and international channels in Turkey. In the first year of release, film reached over 60 million viewers. It began to be used as educational material in all schools. In 2023, the documentary was officially added to the curriculum of middle school students by the Turkish Ministry of National Education.
2018
THE PERSIANS
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
YOU CAN WRITE (YAZABILIRSIN)
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
TRAFFIC IS LIFE!
Platform: National Television
Presented by: Dogus Otomotive
Production: Bocek Yapim
Credit: Director + Writer
Produced by: McCann Ericson