Biography

Tolga Karacelik (1981, Istanbul) is one of the promising new generation Turkish directors who is known for his own unique style. After receiving law degree in Turkey he studied film in New York City. In addition to writing and directing five short films that were screened and awarded in various festivals domestically and internationally, he wrote and directed music videos and worked as director of photography on a documentary feature. His award winning feature debut "Toll Booth" has screened at numerous prestigious festivals. He was one of the youngest directors to win Golden Orange (Best First Film, Best Actor and Best Cinematography), a prestigious Turkish Film Festival. It was selected as the opening film for Global Film Initiatives Global Lens 2012 series, and screened in more than 35 cities across the US and Canada, in institutions like Smithsonian and MoMA, New York. His second feature "Ivy" premiered in Sundance and continues its festival circuit at prestigious festivals, and acclaimed highly by the critics worldwide. "Butterflies" won The Binger award at Meetings on the Bridge Film Development Workshop and was selected for Sundance Lab and CineLink Co-Production Market. It also won the Grand Jury Award for World Cinema - Dramatic at Sundance Film Festival 2018.