Ülkü Uzun

Ülkü Uzun is a Turkish film director, producer, and screenwriter whose work is rooted in the rich traditions of Turkish cinema. A graduate of the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Cinema-TV Department, she belongs to a generation of filmmakers who learned the craft directly from the founding masters. She considers the legendary Lütfi Akad, Duygu Sağıroğlu, Halit Refiğ, and Sami Şekeroğlu as her true masters, and their mentorship remains the cornerstone of her artistic and technical approach. Industry Leadership: LOKOMOTİF©

In 1998, together with her husband Serdar Pehlivanoğlu, she co-founded LOKOMOTİF© Film Production. The company played a pivotal role in introducing new technologies and high-end equipment into the Turkish film and advertising industries during the early 2000s, spearheading significant changes and setting new industry standards. Between 1998 and 2019, through LOKOMOTİF KAMERA©, they provided the technical infrastructure for 116 feature films, contributing to the visual foundation of contemporary Turkish cinema.

Creative Career & Filmography

Throughout her career, Uzun has transitioned seamlessly between roles as a director, screenwriter, and producer. Her early work involved key positions in award-winning short films such as Julia Sax (1993) and Tiraj (1995). She established her directorial voice with projects like Dönüş (1994), Sonbahar (1995), and X Kuşağı (1998).

Her production expertise is highlighted by her work on the feature film 5 Silahşörler (2020) and the futuristic short Dünya 2222 (2018). Notably, her contributions to the industry were recognized with a "Special Thanks" in the major feature film Where’s Firuze? (Neredesin Firuze, 2004).

Current & Upcoming Projects

Currently, Ülkü Uzun remains a driving force in production and development. She is actively working on several high-profile projects in pre-production, including the historical drama An Gorta, Hilal & Star (Co-Producer), Andelip (Director/Writer), and Uçarı (Producer/Writer).

Filmography

Producer / Executive Producer

An Gorta, Hilal & Star (Feature Film) – Co-Producer (Pre-production)

Uçarı (Feature Film) – Producer (Pre-production)

5 Silahşörler (Feature Film, 2019) – Producer

Dünya 2222 (Short, 2018) – Executive Producer

Orhon Murat Arıburnu (Documentary, 2000) – Executive Producer

X Kuşağı (Short, 1998) – Producer

Director & Writer

Andelip (Feature Film) – Director / Writer (Pre-production)

X Kuşağı (Short, 1998) – Director / Writer

Sonbahar (Short, 1995) – Director / Writer

Dönüş (Short, 1994) – Director / Writer

Art Direction & Visuals

Dünya 2222 (Short, 2018) – Art Director

Çiviler (Short, 1991) – Art Director

Assistant Direction & Production Management

Yumurta (Short, 1998) – First Assistant Director / Production Manager

Tiraj (Short, 1995) – First Assistant Director / Production Manager

Duyarsızlık (Short, 1994) – First Assistant Director / Production Manager

Julia Sax (Short, 1993) – First Assistant Director / Production Manager

Karasevda (Short, 1992) – Assistant Director / Production Manager

Çiviler (Short, 1991) – First Assistant Director / Production Manager