Fatih Akin

Fatih Akın (born 25 August 1973) is a Turkish-German film director, screenwriter and producer of Turkish descent. He has won numerous awards for his films, including the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival for his film Head-On (2004), Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival for his film The Edge of Heaven (2007), and the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film for his film In the Fade (2017). Akin was born in Hamburg to Turkish parents. He has one brother, Cem Akin, who works as an actor. He attended the University of Fine Arts of Hamburg to study visual communications and graduated in 2000. Akin has been married to German-Mexican actress Monique Obermüller since 2004. The couple live in Hamburg-Altona, close to where he was raised. They have two children. Akin made his debut as director of a full-length film as early as 1998 with Short Sharp Shock (Kurz und schmerzlos), which brought him the "Bronze Leopard" award at the Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland and the "Pierrot", the Bavarian Film Award for Best New Director in Munich the same year. Since then he has directed feature films such as In July (Im Juli) in 2000, We forgot to go back (Wir haben vergessen zurückzukehren) in 2001 and Solino in 2002. His fourth film, Head-On (Gegen die Wand), starring Sibel Kekilli, was a major success in 2004 and received several prizes, among them the Golden Bear award at the Berlin Film Festival and the "Best Film" and the "Audience Award" at ...

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Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul (2005)

Award-winning director Fatih Akin takes us on a journey through Istanbul, the city that bridges Europe and Asia, and challenges familiar notions of east and west. He looks at the vibrant musical scene which includes traditional Turkish music plus rock and hip-hop.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST:  Orhan Gencebay  •  Alexander Hacke  •  Baba Zula  •  Sezen Aksu

Award-winning director Fatih Akin takes us on a journey through Istanbul, the city that bridges Europe and Asia, and challenges familiar notions of east and west. He looks at the vibrant musical scene which includes traditional Turkish music plus rock and hip-hop.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST:  Orhan Gencebay  •  Alexander Hacke  •  Baba Zula  •  Sezen Aksu

Head-On (2004)

With the intention to break free from the strict familial restrictions, a suicidal young woman sets up a marriage of convenience with a forty-year-old addict, an act that will lead to an outburst of envious love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST:  Birol Ünel  •  Sibel Kekilli  •  Catrin Striebeck  •  Güven Kıraç

With the intention to break free from the strict familial restrictions, a suicidal young woman sets up a marriage of convenience with a forty-year-old addict, an act that will lead to an outburst of envious love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST:  Birol Ünel  •  Sibel Kekilli  •  Catrin Striebeck  •  Güven Kıraç

Polluting Paradise (2012)

Villagers in Turkey's Black Sea village of Camburnu struggle with the government's decision to turn their community into a garbage dump.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST: 

Villagers in Turkey's Black Sea village of Camburnu struggle with the government's decision to turn their community into a garbage dump.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST: 

The Experiment (2001)

Das Experiment is a shocking psycho thriller about the potential for brutality that humans hide. Even more shocking is the fact that it’s based on an actual occurrence — a 1971 psychological experiment at Stanford University that was aborted prematurely when the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Oliver Hirschbiegel
CAST:  Moritz Bleibtreu  •  Christian Berkel  •  Oliver Stokowski  •  Wotan Wilke Möhring

Das Experiment is a shocking psycho thriller about the potential for brutality that humans hide. Even more shocking is the fact that it’s based on an actual occurrence — a 1971 psychological experiment at Stanford University that was aborted prematurely when the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Oliver Hirschbiegel
CAST:  Moritz Bleibtreu  •  Christian Berkel  •  Oliver Stokowski  •  Wotan Wilke Möhring

Visions of Europe (2004)

Twenty-five films from twenty-five European countries by twenty-five European directors.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Greenaway  •  Małgorzata Szumowska  •  Stijn Coninx  •  Christoffer Boe  •  Šarūnas Bartas  •  Laila Pakalnina  •  Jan Troell  •  Aki Kaurismäki  •  Francesca Comencini  •  Fatih Akin  •  Tony Gatlif  •  Martin Šulík  •  Béla Tarr  •  Aisling Walsh  •  Damjan Kozole  •  Christos Georgiou  •  Miguel Hermoso  •  Teresa Villaverde  •  Constantine Giannaris  •  Theo van Gogh  •  Barbara Albert  •  Andy Bausch  •  Saša Gedeon  •  Arvo Iho  •  Kenneth Scicluna
CAST:  Alan Rees  •  Safia Aggoune  •  Abel Alves  •  Agneta Ulfsäter-Troell

Twenty-five films from twenty-five European countries by twenty-five European directors.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Greenaway  •  Małgorzata Szumowska  •  Stijn Coninx  •  Christoffer Boe  •  Šarūnas Bartas  •  Laila Pakalnina  •  Jan Troell  •  Aki Kaurismäki  •  Francesca Comencini  •  Fatih Akin  •  Tony Gatlif  •  Martin Šulík  •  Béla Tarr  •  Aisling Walsh  •  Damjan Kozole  •  Christos Georgiou  •  Miguel Hermoso  •  Teresa Villaverde  •  Constantine Giannaris  •  Theo van Gogh  •  Barbara Albert  •  Andy Bausch  •  Saša Gedeon  •  Arvo Iho  •  Kenneth Scicluna
CAST:  Alan Rees  •  Safia Aggoune  •  Abel Alves  •  Agneta Ulfsäter-Troell

Trickser (1997)

After a successful bank robbery, Erik and Bingo have to part again. While Erik is stuck in a demolition house with his booty and broken foot, Bingo believes Erik has settled with the money. The accomplices become bitter rivals.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Oliver Hirschbiegel
CAST:  Dominique Horwitz  •  Eva Haßmann  •  Jochen Nickel  •  Roman Knizka

After a successful bank robbery, Erik and Bingo have to part again. While Erik is stuck in a demolition house with his booty and broken foot, Bingo believes Erik has settled with the money. The accomplices become bitter rivals.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Oliver Hirschbiegel
CAST:  Dominique Horwitz  •  Eva Haßmann  •  Jochen Nickel  •  Roman Knizka

The Last Flight (1999)

In an apartment building in Nuremberg, Germany, a night amongst four young adults has just begun. Talk, laughter, and a few intravenous shots to escape and fly towards another place. But one amongst them seems to have not returned from his trip. The jury speaks: ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Silvana Lombardi  •  Gerd Lombardi
CAST:  Fatih Akin  •  Walter Hanek  •  Sabine Radebold  •  Adam Bousdoukos

In an apartment building in Nuremberg, Germany, a night amongst four young adults has just begun. Talk, laughter, and a few intravenous shots to escape and fly towards another place. But one amongst them seems to have not returned from his trip. The jury speaks: ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Silvana Lombardi  •  Gerd Lombardi
CAST:  Fatih Akin  •  Walter Hanek  •  Sabine Radebold  •  Adam Bousdoukos

Kismet (1999)

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DIRECTION:  Andreas Thiel
CAST:  Steffen Wink  •  Fatih Akin  •  Jule Ronstedt  •  Axel Milberg

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DIRECTION:  Andreas Thiel
CAST:  Steffen Wink  •  Fatih Akin  •  Jule Ronstedt  •  Axel Milberg

A Goddamn Job (2001)

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DIRECTION:  Thorsten Wettcke
CAST:  Oliver Korittke  •  Heike Makatsch  •  Thierry van Werveke  •  Anna Loos

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DIRECTION:  Thorsten Wettcke
CAST:  Oliver Korittke  •  Heike Makatsch  •  Thierry van Werveke  •  Anna Loos

Ein krasser Deal (2004)

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DIRECTION:  Daniel Texter
CAST:  Sandra Borgmann  •  Josef Heynert  •  Oliver Korittke  •  Elena Uhlig

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DIRECTION:  Daniel Texter
CAST:  Sandra Borgmann  •  Josef Heynert  •  Oliver Korittke  •  Elena Uhlig

Getürkt (1996)

Akin plays a loser who pretends that he has good dope and finds that he has to deliver in real to a gangster.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST:  Cem Akin  •  Fatih Akin  •  Alper Akkoc  •  Nadire Ilter

Akin plays a loser who pretends that he has good dope and finds that he has to deliver in real to a gangster.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST:  Cem Akin  •  Fatih Akin  •  Alper Akkoc  •  Nadire Ilter

We Have Forgotten to Return Home (2001)

A documentary by Fatih Akin about turkish immigrants in Germany.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST:  Fatih Akin  •  Mustafa Enver Akin  •  Cem Akin  •  Adam Bousdoukos

A documentary by Fatih Akin about turkish immigrants in Germany.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST:  Fatih Akin  •  Mustafa Enver Akin  •  Cem Akin  •  Adam Bousdoukos

Sensin – Du bist es (1995)

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DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST:  Fatih Akin  •  Adam Bousdoukos  •  Sükriye Dönmez  •  Lutz Ulbrich

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DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST:  Fatih Akin  •  Adam Bousdoukos  •  Sükriye Dönmez  •  Lutz Ulbrich

Germany ’09 – 13 Short Films About the State of the Nation (2009)

Thirteen German directors present short films exploring the state of their country.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tom Tykwer  •  Dani Levy  •  Nicolette Krebitz  •  Jan Ole Gerster  •  Fatih Akin  •  Dominik Graf  •  Hans Weingartner  •  Isabelle Stever  •  Hans Steinbichler  •  Christoph Hochhäusler  •  Angela Schanelec  •  Wolfgang Becker  •  Sylke Enders  •  Martin Gressmann  •  Romuald Karmakar
CAST:  Denis Moschitto  •  Kai Strittmatter  •  Peter Jordan  •  Andreas Hofer

Thirteen German directors present short films exploring the state of their country.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tom Tykwer  •  Dani Levy  •  Nicolette Krebitz  •  Jan Ole Gerster  •  Fatih Akin  •  Dominik Graf  •  Hans Weingartner  •  Isabelle Stever  •  Hans Steinbichler  •  Christoph Hochhäusler  •  Angela Schanelec  •  Wolfgang Becker  •  Sylke Enders  •  Martin Gressmann  •  Romuald Karmakar
CAST:  Denis Moschitto  •  Kai Strittmatter  •  Peter Jordan  •  Andreas Hofer

Planet der Kannibalen (2001)

A television reporter searches for alien life forms and gets entangeled in a web of intrigue.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hans-Christoph Blumenberg
CAST:  Florian Lukas  •  Vadim Glowna  •  Barbara Auer  •  Heikko Deutschmann

A television reporter searches for alien life forms and gets entangeled in a web of intrigue.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hans-Christoph Blumenberg
CAST:  Florian Lukas  •  Vadim Glowna  •  Barbara Auer  •  Heikko Deutschmann

Robbery Alla Turca (2005)

With the death of a billionaire engaged in illegal practices, his billion-dollar fortune is up for the grabs. As his art collection is being prepared to be sold at an auction, two Turkish thieves from Germany are hired to steal valuable paintings from the art ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Oğuzhan Tercan
CAST:  Haluk Bilginer  •  Mehmet Ali Erbil  •  Gamze Özçelik  •  Birol Ünel

With the death of a billionaire engaged in illegal practices, his billion-dollar fortune is up for the grabs. As his art collection is being prepared to be sold at an auction, two Turkish thieves from Germany are hired to steal valuable paintings from the art ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Oğuzhan Tercan
CAST:  Haluk Bilginer  •  Mehmet Ali Erbil  •  Gamze Özçelik  •  Birol Ünel

Soul Kitchen (2009)

In Hamburg, German-Greek chef Zinos unknowingly disturbs the peace in his locals-only restaurant by hiring a more talented chef.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST:  Adam Bousdoukos  •  Dorka Gryllus  •  Pheline Roggan  •  Wotan Wilke Möhring

In Hamburg, German-Greek chef Zinos unknowingly disturbs the peace in his locals-only restaurant by hiring a more talented chef.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST:  Adam Bousdoukos  •  Dorka Gryllus  •  Pheline Roggan  •  Wotan Wilke Möhring

Short Sharp Shock (1998)

Gabriel, Bobby and Costa are old friends from Altona, a multicultural hood in Hamburg. Just out of prison, Gabriel wants to turn his back on crime, but the others continue to operate as petty criminals. Friendships are tested as the trio navigate a dark world of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST:  Mehmet Kurtuluş  •  Aleksandar Jovanović  •  Adam Bousdoukos  •  Regula Grauwiller

Gabriel, Bobby and Costa are old friends from Altona, a multicultural hood in Hamburg. Just out of prison, Gabriel wants to turn his back on crime, but the others continue to operate as petty criminals. Friendships are tested as the trio navigate a dark world of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST:  Mehmet Kurtuluş  •  Aleksandar Jovanović  •  Adam Bousdoukos  •  Regula Grauwiller

Solino (2002)

Mysterious

The movie portrays the story of an Italian family emigrated in Germany in the 1970s. Romano (Gigi Savoia), the father, decides to open a pizzeria which, by mutual decision with the wife Rosa (Antonella Attili), will call Solino, leaving his sons Gigi and Giancarlo ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST:  Barnaby Metschurat  •  Moritz Bleibtreu  •  Gigi Savoia  •  Antonella Attili

The movie portrays the story of an Italian family emigrated in Germany in the 1970s. Romano (Gigi Savoia), the father, decides to open a pizzeria which, by mutual decision with the wife Rosa (Antonella Attili), will call Solino, leaving his sons Gigi and Giancarlo ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST:  Barnaby Metschurat  •  Moritz Bleibtreu  •  Gigi Savoia  •  Antonella Attili

The Edge of Heaven (2007)

The lives of six German-Turkish immigrants are drawn together by circumstance: An old man and a prostitute forging a partnership, a young scholar reconciling his past, two young women falling in love, and a mother putting the shattered pieces of her life back together.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST:  Baki Davrak  •  Tuncel Kurtiz  •  Hanna Schygulla  •  Patrycia Ziolkowska

The lives of six German-Turkish immigrants are drawn together by circumstance: An old man and a prostitute forging a partnership, a young scholar reconciling his past, two young women falling in love, and a mother putting the shattered pieces of her life back together.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fatih Akin
CAST:  Baki Davrak  •  Tuncel Kurtiz  •  Hanna Schygulla  •  Patrycia Ziolkowska
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