Mehmet Aktaş
Founder & Artistic DirectorGründer & Künstlerischer LeiterAvakar & Rêveberê Hunerî
Mehmet Aktaş is a writer and producer as well as the founder and CEO of mîtosfilm. Aktaş was born in Turkey in 1966 and grew up in Istanbul. He has lived in Germany since 1995, where he founded the distribution and production company mîtosfilm in Berlin, which focuses on international co-productions. Aktaş was able to celebrate successes as an author and producer. His most recent production, INN THE BLIND SPOT (2023), premiered at the 73rd Berlinale in February, and has won many international international awards, including the FIPRESCI AWARD at the 42nd Istanbul International Film Festival. Theatrical release is set for January 2024. THE EXAM (2021) by Shewkat Amin Korki, premiered at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival where it won the FIPRESCI AWARD. MEMORIES ON STONE (2014) by director Shawkat Amin Korki, for which Aktaş both wrote the screenplay and produced the film, won various awards at film festivals around the world, including Best Film of the Arab World at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, Best Film at the 52nd Antalya International Film Festival and the UNESCO Prize at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. It was Iraq's submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars. Aktaş is well known for films like Bahman Ghobadi’s No one Knows about Persian Cats (2009), which won the “Un Certain Regard“ award at the film festival in Cannes. His production RESEBA - THE DARK WIND (2016), for which Aktaş also wrote the screenplay, was awarded as Best Muhr Fiction Feature at the Dubai International Film Festival and won the Grand Newcomer Award in Mannheim-Heidelberg, as well as the UNESCO PRIZE for Human right. The film is Iraq's official Oscar submission for 2018. The feature film HOUSE WITHOUT DACH by Soleen Yusef also received international awards. It won the Grand Jury Prize in Montreal and was honored with the prestigious First Steps Award for best full-length feature film in Germany. His production DAS MILAN-PROTOKOLL by Peter Ott celebrated its premiere at the 66th Mannheim-Heidelberg Film Festival. The documentary he produced, THE LEGEND OF THE UGLY KING, about the life of the Turkish-Kurdish filmmaker Yilmaz Güney, directed by Hüseyin Tabak, was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival and was awarded the Granit Prize at the 51st Hof Film Festival. His latest production The Exam by Shawkat Amin Korki was shown in the Crystal Globe Competition in Karlovy Vary and won the Critics' Prize FIPRESCI there.
FILMOGRAPHY (Selection)
IN THE BLIND SPOT
2023 I Fiction I 117 min I Germany
Producer
Director: Ayse Polat
Production: mîtosfilm Co-Production: WDR / ARTE
World Premiere: Berlinale 2023 (Encounters Section)
Awards (selection):
42nd Istanbul International Film Festival: FIPRESCI Award, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Golden Tulip for Best Film
THE RAIN BRIDE
2022 I Fiction I 97 min I KRG-Iraq
Co-writer and producer
Director: Hussein Hassan
Supported by Cultural Ministry of Kurdistan Regional Government
World premiere: Gothenburg Film Festival 2023
THE EXAM
2021 I Fiction I 89 min I KRG-Iraq, Germany
Producer
Director: Shawkat Amin Korki
Production: mîtosfilm and Masti Films
Supported by Cultural Ministry of City of Culture, Suleymaniya
World Premiere: Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2021
Awards (selection):
Oscar Entry - Iraq 2021
Karlovy Vary IFF: FIPRESCI Award
Tirana IFF: Best Screenplay
Santa Barbara IFF: Best Film
THE LEGEND OF THE UGLY KING
2017 I Documentary I Germany / Austria
Producer
Director and author: Hüseyin Tabak
Production: mîtosfilm, Aichholzer Filmproduktion, MarangozFilm
Funding: FFA, ORF, Austrian Film Institute, Hamburg FF
World premiere: 42nd Toronto International Film Festival
THE MILAN PROTOCOL
2016 I Feature Film I Germany
Producer
Director and author: Peter Ott
Production: mîtosfilm, WDR, HR / ARTE, MMC Movies
World Premiere: 66th Mannheim-Heidelberg IFF
SOMETHING USEFUL
2016 I Feature Film I Turkey I Germany I France I Netherlands
Co-producer
Director: Pelin Esmer
Production: sine film, mars production, mîtosfilm, Les Films de l’Après Midi, Topkapi Films
World Premiere: Istanbul Film Festival 2017
HOUSE WITHOUT A ROOF
2016 I Feature Film I Germany I Kurdistan
Producer
Director: Soleen Yusef
Production: mîtosfilm, SWR, ARTE, Essence Film GmbH
World Premiere: Munich Film Festival 2016
Awards:
Montreal WFF – Grand Jury Prize
Filmfest München – Best Production
First Steps Award – Best Full-Length Feature Film
PeaceFilmPreis – Osnabrück
RESEBA – THE DARK WIND
2016 I Feature Film I Kurdistan I Germany I Qatar
Producer and author
Director: Hussein Hassan
Production: mîtosfilm
World Premiere: 4th Duhok IFF
Awards (selection):
Mannheim-Heidelberg IFF – Grand Newcomer Award
Dubai IFF – Best Muhr Feature
Asia Pacific Screen Awards – UNESCO Award
Vesoul IFF – Audience Award
Dhaka IFF – FIPRESCI Prize
GULÎSTAN, LAND OF ROSES
2015 I Canada I Germany
Producer
Director: Zayne Akyol
Production: Périphéria Productions & mîtosfilm
World Premiere: Vision du Réel
Festival: HOT DOCS DOC ALLIANCE AWARD
MEMORIES ON STONE
2014 I Feature Film I 97 min I Kurdistan I Germany
Producer and author
Director: Shawkat Amin Korki
Oscar Entry Iraq
World Premiere: 49th Karlovy Vary IFF
Awards (selection):
Abu Dhabi FF – Best Film of the Arab World
Asia Pacific Screen Awards – UNESCO Award
Cinedays Skopje – Best Director
Fantasporto IFF – Best Film, Best Screenplay
Peace on Earth FF – Best Feature Narrative
River Run FF – Best Film
Asian World FF – Special Jury Award
Antalya IFF – Best International Film
Duhok IFF – Best Director
Festivals (selection):
Busan IFF, Kolkata IFF, Santa Barbara IFF, Cine del Sur, Moscow IFF, Filmfest Munich
SONG OF MY MOTHER
2014 I Feature Film I 100 min I Turkey I France I Germany
Producer
Director: Erol Mintas
Awards (selection):
Sarajevo FF – Heart of Sarajevo Award
Antalya IFF – Best Feature Debut
LETTER TO THE KING
2014 I Feature Film I 90 min I Norway
Author
Director: Hisham Zaman
Awards (selection):
Amanda Award – Best Screenplay
Göteborg IFF – Dragon Award
Lecce European Cinema – FIPRESCI Prize
BEFORE SNOWFALL
2013 I Feature Film I 100 min I Norway I Germany I Kurdistan
Producer
Director: Hisham Zaman
World Premiere: Tromsø IFF
Awards: Göteborg IFF, Tribeca FF, Amanda Award (6 noms), Prishtina FF, Abu Dhabi FF
NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT PERSIAN CATS
2009 I Doc-Fiction I 106 min I Iran I Germany
Producer
Director: Bahman Ghobadi
World Premiere: Cannes – Un Certain Regard, Special Jury Prize
APRES LA CHUTE
2009 I Fiction I 63 min I Germany I France
Producer
Director: Hiner Saleem
World Premiere: Locarno 2009
THE LAND OF LEGEND
2008 I Feature Film I 73 min I Iran I Germany
Producer
Director: Rahim Zabihi
World Premiere: Locarno 2008
CLOSE UP KURDISTAN
2007 I Documentary I 104 min I Germany
Producer
Director: Yuksel Yavuz
World Premiere: Crossroads of Europe Lublin – Special Mention
DOL
2007 I Feature Film I 90 min I Kurdistan I Germany I France
Producer
Director: Hiner Saleem
World Premiere: Berlinale – Forum Section
WAR IS OVER
2004 I Documentary I 52 min I Iran I Germany
Producer
Director: Bahman Ghobadi
World Premiere: Leipzig Documentary & Animation Festival
Mehmet Aktaş ist Autor und Produzent, sowie Gründer und Geschäftsführer von mîtosfilm. Aktaş wurde 1966 in der Türkei geboren und ist in Istanbul aufgewachsen. Seit 1995 lebt er in Deutschland, wo er in Berlin den Verleih und die Produktionsfirma mîtosfilm gründete, die sich auf die internationale Koproduktionen fokussiert. Aktaş konnte als Autor, sowie Produzent Erfolge feiern. Seine jüngste Produktion IM TOTEN WINKEL (2023) feierte Premiere bei der 73. Berlinale im Februar, und konnte sich viele internationale Preise sichern, unter anderem den FIPRESCI-Preis beim 42. Istanbul International Film Festival. Der Kinostart ist für Januar 2024 angesetzt. THE EXAM (2021) von Shewkat Amin Korki, feierte seine Premiere auf dem Karlovy Vary Filmfestival und gewann dort den FIPRESCI AWARD. MEMORIES ON STONE (2014) von Shawkat Amin Korki, für den er sowohl das Drehbuch verfasste als auch produzierte, gewann auf internationalen Film Festivals zahlreiche Preise. Darunter Best Film of the Arab World bei dem Abu Dhabi Film Festival, Bester Film bei dem 52. Antalya International Film Festival, sowie den UNESCO PRIZE bei den Asia Pacific Screen Awards für „Diversity“. Der Irak wählte MEMORIES ON STONE zum offiziellen Oscar-Kandidaten. Aktaş ist bekannt für Filme wie Bahman Ghobadi's NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT PERSIAN CATS (2009), der bei den Filmfestspielen in Cannes den Preis "Un Certain Regard" gewann. Seine Produktion RESEBA – THE DARK WIND (2016), für welche Aktaş auch das Drehbuch schrieb, wurde als Best Muhr Fiction Feature beim Dubai International Film Festival ausgezeichnet und gewann den Grand Newcomer Award in Mannheim-Heidelberg, sowie erneut den UNESCO PRIZE für Menschenrecht. Der Film ist die offizielle Oscar-Einreichung von Irak für 2018. Auch der Spielfilm HAUS OHNE DACH von Soleen Yusef wurde international ausgezeichnet. Er gewann in Montreal den Großen Jurypreis und wurde in Deutschland mit dem renommierten First Steps Award als bester abendfüllender Spielfilm geehrt. Seine Produktion DAS MILAN-PROTOKOLL von Peter Ott hat seine Premiere beim 66. Mannheim-Heidelberg Filmfestival gefeiert. Der von ihm produzierte Dokumentarfilm DIE LEGENDE VOM HÄSSLICHEN KÖNIG über das Leben des türkisch-kurdischen Filmemachers Yilmaz Güney von Regisseur Hüseyin Tabak lief im Toronto International Film Festival und wurde mit dem Granit-Preis bei den 51. Hofer Filmtagen ausgezeichnet. Seine aktuellste Produktion The Exam von Shewkat Amin Korki lief im Crystal Globe Wettbewerb auf Karlovy Vary und gewann dort den Kritiker Preis Fipresci.
FILMOGRAFIE (Auswahl)
IM TOTEN WINKEL
2023 I Fiction I 117 min I Deutschland
Produzent
Regie: Ayse Polat
Production: mîtosfilm Co-Production: WDR / ARTE
Weltpremiere: Berlinale 2023 (Encounters Section)
Awards (selection):
42. Istanbul International Film Festival: FIPRESCI-Preis, Bestes Drehbuch, Bester Schnitt, Golden Tulip für den Besten Film
THE RAIN BRIDE
2022 I Fiction I 97 min I KRG-Iraq
Co-Autor und Produzent
Regie: Hussein Hassan
Supported by Cultural Ministry of Kurdistan Regional Government
Weltpremiere: Göteborg Film Festival 2023
THE EXAM
2021 I Fiction I 89 min I KRG-Iraq, Deutschland
Produzent
Regie: Shawkat Amin Korki
Production: mîtosfilm and Masti Films
Supported by Cultural Ministry of City of Culture, Suleymaniya
Weltpremiere: Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2021
Awards (selection):
Oscar Entry – Irak 2021
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival: FIPRESCI-Preis
Tirana International Film Festival: Bestes Drehbuch
Santa Barbara International Film Festival: Bester Film
DIE LEGENDE VOM HÄSSLICHEN KÖNIG
2017 I Dokumentarfilm I Deutschland / Österreich
Produzent
Regie und Autor: Hüseyin Taban
Produktion: mîtosfilm, Aichholzer Filmproduktion, MarangozFilm
Förderung: FF Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, Österreichisches Filminstitut, ORF
Weltpremiere: 42. Toronto International Film Festival
DAS MILAN-PROTOKOLL
2016 I Spielfilm I Deutschland
Produzent
Regie und Autor: Peter Ott
Produktion: mîtosfilm, WDR, HR / arte, MMC Movies
Förderung: NRW, FF Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, DFFF
Weltpremiere: 66. Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg
SOMETHING USEFUL
2016 I Spielfilm I Türkei I Deutschland I Frankreich I Niederlande
Co-Produzent
Regie: Pelin Esmer
Produktion: sine film, mars production, mîtosfilm, Les Films de l’Après Midi, Topkapi Films
Förderung: Hubert Bals, Türkisches Kulturministerium, Netherlands Film Fund, Eurimages, World Cinema Fund
Weltpremiere: Istanbul Film Festival 2017
HAUS OHNE DACH
2016 I Spielfilm I Deutschland I Kurdistan
Produzent
Regie und Autor: Soleen Yusef
Produktion: mîtosfilm, SWR, arte, Essence Film GmbH
Weltpremiere: Filmfest München 2016
Awards:
Montreal WFF – Jury Grand Prize
Filmfest München – Beste Produktion
First Steps Award – Bester abendfüllender Spielfilm
Friedensfilmpreis – Osnabrück
RESEBA – THE DARK WIND
2016 I Spielfilm I Kurdistan I Deutschland I Katar
Produzent und Autor
Regie: Hussein Hassan
Produktion: mîtosfilm
Weltpremiere: 4. Duhok International Film Festival
Awards (Auswahl):
Mannheim-Heidelberg – Grand Newcomer Award
Dubai IFF – Best Muhr Feature
Asia Pacific Awards – UNESCO Award
Vesoul IFF – Audience Award
Dhaka IFF – FIPRESCI Preis
GULÎSTAN, LAND DER ROSEN
2015 I Kanada I Deutschland
Produzent
Regie: Zayne Akyol
Produktion: Périphéria Productions, mîtosfilm
Weltpremiere: Vision du Réel
Festival: HOT DOCS – Doc Alliance Award
MEMORIES ON STONE
2014 I Spielfilm I 97 min I Kurdistan I Deutschland
Produzent und Autor
Regie: Shawkat Amin Korki
Oscar-Entry Irak
Weltpremiere: 49. Karlovy Vary Film Festival
Awards (Auswahl):
Abu Dhabi FF – Best Film of the Arab World
Asia Pacific Screen Awards – UNESCO Award
Cinedays Skopje – Best Director
Fantasporto IFF – Best Film, Best Screenplay
Peace on Earth FF – Best Feature Narrative
River Run FF – Best Film, Best Main Actor (Hussein Hassan), Best Editing
Asian World FF – Special Jury Award
Antalya IFF – Best International Film
Duhok IFF – Best Director
Festivals (Auswahl):
Busan IFF, Kolkata IFF, Santa Barbara IFF, Cine del Sur, Moscow IFF, Filmfest München
SONG OF MY MOTHER
2014 I Spielfilm I 100 min I Türkei I Frankreich I Deutschland
Produzent
Regie: Erol Mintas
Awards (Auswahl):
Sarajevo FF – Heart of Sarajevo Award für Best Film
Antalya IFF – Best Feature Film Debut, Best Music, Best Main Actor (Feyyaz Duman), Best Supporting Actor (Aziz Capkurt)
Mehmet Aktaş nivîskar û produser e. Herwiha avakar û rêvebirê Mîtosfilmê ye. Aktaş, sala 1966an li Tirkiyeyê ji dayik bûye û li Stenbolê mezin bûye. Ji sala 1995an ve li Almanyayê dijî, li Berlînê şerîkeya belavkirin û çêkirina filman Mîtosfilm ava kir ku balê dikişîne ser berhemên navneteweyî. Aktaş, kariye serkeftina xwe wekî nivîskar û her wisa wek produser pîroz bike. Senaryoya Memories On Stone (2014) ya Shawkat Amin Korki, ji aliyê Mehmet Aktaş ve hat nivîsandin û ew çêkerê filmê ye jî. Filmê di festîvalên filman yên navneteweyî da gelek xelat wergirtine. Bo nimûne: – Di Festîvala Filman ya Abu Dhabi da: "Best Film of the Arab World" – Di 52yemîn Festîvala Filman a Navneteweyî ya Antalya da: "Best Film" – Xelata "UNESCO PRIZE" li Ekrana Asya-Pasîfîkê ya "Pirrengî"yê. Dewleta Iraqê, Memories On Stone wek berbijêra fermî ya Oscarê hilbijart. Aktaş bi filma Bahman Ghobadî No One Knows About Persian Cats (2009) tê naskirin ku di Festîvala Filman a Cannesê da xelata "Un Certain Regard" girt. Reşeba – The Dark Wind (2016), ya ku senaryoya wê ji aliyê Mehmet Aktaş ve hatiyê nivîsîn, di Festîvala Filman ya Dubaî ya Navneteweyî da xelata "Best Muhr Fiction Feature" girt û li Mannheim-Heidelberg Xelata Grand Newcomer Award girt û herwiha "UNESCO PRIZE", xelata ji bo mafê mirovan wergirt. Film, ji bo şandina fermî ya Iraqê ji bo Oscarê sala 2018an hat hilbijartin. Filma metrajdirêj HAUS OHNE DACH ya Soleen Yusef xelatên navneteweyî jî stendin. Xelata Jûriyê ya Mezin li Montrealê girt û bi First Steps Award a ji bo çêtirîna filma metrajdirêj li Almanyayê hate xelatkirin. Berhema wî DAS MILAN-PROTOKOLL ya Peter Ott pêşandana xwe li 66emîn Festîvala Filman a Mannheim-Heidelberg pîroz kir. Belgefilma DIE LEGENDE VOM HÄSSLICHEN KÖNIG, ya li ser jiyana derhênerê kurd Yilmaz Güney ji aliyê derhêner Huseyîn Tabak ve hatiye çekirin, di Festîvala Filman a Navneteweyî ya Toronto da hate nîşandan û di 51emîn Festîvala Filman a Hofê da xelata "Granit-Preis" girt. Berhema wî ya dawîn The Exam ya Shewkat Amin Korki di pêşbaziya Crystal Globe da li Karlovy Vary hate pêşandan û li wir xelata rexnegiran "FIPRESCI" girt.
FILMOGRAF (hilbijartin)
EXAM (Ezmûn)
2021 | fîlmê dirêj | Almanya | Kurdistan
Hilbetîn
Derhêner: Shewkat Amin Korkî
Hilberîn: mîtosfilm bi Masti Films re di hilberîna hevpar de bun: Almanya, Herêma Xweser Kurdistan – Iraq, Qatar
Pêşandana cîhanî: 55. Festîvala Navneteweyî ya Karlovy Vary
DOL
2007 | fîlmê dirêj | 90 min | Kurdistan | Deutschland | Frankre
Hilberîner fransî
Derhêner: Hiner Saleem
Premiyera cîhanê: Berlinale – Forum
DIE LEGENDE VOM HÄSSLICHEN KÖNIG
2017 | belgefîlm | Almanya / Avusturya
Hilberîner
Derhêner û nivîskar: Hüseyin Taban
Hilberîn: mîtosfilm, Aichholzer Filmproduktion, MarangozFilm
Fînansekirin: Filmförderung HHSH, Österreichisches Filminstitut, ORF
Pêşandana cîhanî: 42. Toronto IFF
DAS MILAN-PROTOKOLL
2016 | fîlmê dirêj | Almanya
Hilberîn
Derhêner û nivîskar: Peter Ott
Hilberîn: mîtosfilm, WDR, HR / ARTE, MMC Movies
Fînansekirin: NRW, HHSH, DFFF
Pêşandana cîhanî: 66. Mannheim-Heidelberg IFF
SOMETHING USEFUL
2016 | fîlmê dirêj | Tirkiye | Almanya | Fransa | Hollanda
Hev-hilberîner
Derhêner: Pelin Esmer
Hilberîn: sine film, mars production, mîtosfilm, Les Films de l’Après Midi, Topkapi Films
Fînansekirin: Hubert Bals, Wezareta Çanda Tirkiyê, Netherlands Film Fund, Eurimages, World Cinema Fund
Pêşandana cîhanî: Festîvala Stenbolê 2017
HAUS OHNE DACH
2016 | fîlmê dirêj | Almanya | Kurdistan
Hilberîn
Derhêner û nivîskar: Soleen Yusef
Hilberîn: mîtosfilm, SWR, ARTE, Essence Film GmbH
Pêşandana cîhanî: Festîvala Munîhê 2016
Xelat:
Montreal WFF – Jury Grand Prize
Filmfest München – Beste Produktion
First Steps Award – Bester Abendfüllender Spielfilm
Friedensfilmpreis – Osnabrück
RESEBA – THE DARK WIND
2016 | fîlmê dirêj | Kurdistan | Almanya | Qatar
Çêker û nivîskar
Derhêner: Huseyîn Hesen
Hilberîn: mîtosfilm
Premiyera cîhanî: 4. Duhok IFF
Xelat:
Mannheim-Heidelberg – Grand Newcomer Award
Dubai IFF – Best Muhr Feature
Asia Pacific Awards – UNESCO Award
Vesoul IFF – Audience Award
Dhaka IFF – FIPRESCI Preis
GULÎSTAN, LAND DER ROSEN
2015 | Kanada | Almanya
Hilberîn
Derhêner: Zayne Akyol
Hilberîn: Périphéria Productions Inc., mîtosfilm
Festîval: HOT DOCS DOC ALLIANCE AWARD
MEMORIES ON STONE
2014 | fîlmê dirêj | 97 min | Kurdistan | Almanya
Çêker û nivîskar
Derhêner: Shawkat Amin Korki
Oscar Entry: Iraq
Premiyera cîhanî: 49. Karlovy Vary IFF
Xelat:
Abu Dhabi FF – Best Film of the Arab World
Asia Pacific Awards – UNESCO Award
Cinedays Skopje – Best Director
Fantasporto IFF – Best Film, Best Screenplay
Peace on Earth FF – Best Feature Narrative
River Run FF – Best Film, Best Main Actor (Hussein Hassan), Best Editing
Asian World FF – Special Jury Award
Antalya IFF – Best International Film
Duhok IFF – Best Director, Best Feature Length
Festîval:
Busan IFF, Kolkata IFF, Santa Barbara IFF, Cine del Sur, Moscow IFF, Filmfest München
SONG OF MY MOTHER
2014 | fîlmê metrajdirêj | 100 min | Tirkiye | Fransa | Almanya
Hilberîner
Derhêner: Erol Mintas
Xelat:
Sarajevo FF – Heart of Sarajevo Award für Best Film
Antalya IFF – Best Feature Film Debut, Best Music, Best Main Actor (Feyyaz Duman), Best Supporting Actor (Aziz Capkurt)