Zeki Ökten

Zeki Ökten — Biography

Zeki Ökten (4 August 1941, Istanbul – 19 December 2009, Istanbul) was a Turkish film director and screenwriter. A graduate of Haydarpaşa High School, where he took part in theatre work as a student, he entered cinema in 1961 as an assistant director on Nişan Hançer's Acı Zeytin and went on to assist directors such as Lütfi Akad, Halit Refiğ, Memduh Ün and Atıf Yılmaz.

After directing his first film, Ölüm Pazarı (1963), he spent nine more years as an assistant before making his name with Kadın Yapar (1972) and Bir Demet Menekşe (1973). He became known for blending social issues with comedy in films such as Kapıcılar Kralı (1976), Çöpçüler Kralı (1977), Sürü (1978), Düşman (1979), Faize Hücum (1982), Pehlivan (1984) and Ses (1986).

His films won numerous awards in Turkey and abroad, including three Golden Orange awards, the Sutherland Trophy and the Golden Leopard. He was married to the actress Güler Ökten. Ökten died in Istanbul on 19 December 2009.