Movie director
(B. 4th August 1941, Istanbul – D. 19th December 2009,
Istanbul) Having graduated from Haydarpaşa High School, he performed as an
amateur actor for a while. He embarked his career in cinema when he worked as
the co-director in the movie Acı Zeytin by Nişan Hançer in 1961. In 1963
Can Pazarı was his first try-out as a director. In 1972 his career as a director
literally began with the movie Can Pazarı. In 1976 he drew attention
with his plain, smooth narration in the comedy named Kapıcılar Kıralı.
For a while, he produced comedies, such as Çöpçüler Kralı (1977), Sevgili
Dayım (1977).
Zeki Ökten was
regarded among the second new generation movie-makers after Osman Seden, Ömer
Lütfü Akad, Metin Erksan, Memduh Ün, Halit Refiğ and Atıf Yılmaz. He filmed Sürü,
screenplay by Yılmaz Güney, in 1978, with which he won many important rewards
for his epical and rhythmical narration at home and abroad. He also earned two
special rewards in Berlin Film Festival with the movie, Düşman,that he
adopted from Güney’s script in 1980. In 2006, he won the honor prize in Turkiye
Yazarlar Derneği (T.N.Turkish Writers' Association)
MAIN WORKS:
Ölüm Pazarı (1963),
Kadın Yapar (1972), Bir Demet Menekşe (1973), Hasret (1974),
Hanzo (1975), Kapıcılar Kralı (1976), Çöpçüler Kralı (1977),
Sürü (1978), Düşman (1979), Faize Hücum (1982),
Davacı (1986), Düttürü Dünya (1988), Güle Güle (1999),
Çinliler Geliyor (2006).
