Mehmet Aktaş, a multi-talented individual with a diverse array of creative pursuits, hailing from Turkey but now calling Germany his home, has made a name for himself as a prominent filmmaker, producer, author, and journalist.
After successfully completing his law studies in the vibrant city of Istanbul, Aktaş made the bold decision to relocate to Germany in the mid-1990s, where he was astonished by the glaring absence of recognition for Near Eastern cinema, particularly Kurdish cinema, among both the general German population and various institutions.
This realization served as a catalyst for Aktaş, who responded to this oversight by establishing the pioneering Kurdish Film Festival in Germany in the year 2002. Notably, the festival received crucial support from the Hauptstadtkulturfonds, a testament to the significant impact Aktaş's initiative had on the cultural landscape of Germany.
Aktaş, through his esteemed film production company, mîtosfilm, has been responsible for bringing numerous feature films to the big screen, showcasing his exceptional talent and dedication to the craft. One such notable film is "Close up Kurdistan" (2007),a captivating production directed by the renowned Yüksel Yavuz. The following year, Aktaş worked on "Land of Legend" (2008),a thought-provoking film directed by the skilled Rahim Zabihi.
Mîtosfilm assumes a dual role, not only serving as a vital conduit for cinematic expression but also functioning as a prominent film distributor, with a specific focus on showcasing the works of innovative and pioneering Turkish, Kurdish, Iraqi, and Iranian filmmakers. Since the year 2004, the company has made a concerted effort to bring these unique and captivating cinematic experiences to German audiences, with a notable slate of releases including the critically acclaimed "Turtles can fly" (2004),the poignant "Two Girls from Istanbul" (2005),the powerful "Süt" (2008),and the thought-provoking "Min dît" (2010).
Aktaş has also penned the screenplay for Hisham Zaman's sophomore feature film, titled "Letter to the King", which premiered in 2014 and went on to receive the esteemed Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film at the Goteborg Film Festival in the same year.
In addition, Mîtosfilm's most recent production, "Memories on Stone", was brought to life by director Shawkat Amin Korki and co-written by Aktaş and Korki. This cinematic masterpiece was honored with the prestigious Best Film from the Arab World award at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival in 2014.
Korki's exceptional direction did not go unnoticed, as he was awarded the Best Director prize at the Cinedays Skopje – 13th Festival of European Film. The film was subsequently released in Swiss cinemas by Trigon Film in November 2014.
Since the year 2011, it has been a remarkable coincidence that Aktaş has simultaneously assumed the esteemed position of artistic director for the esteemed Duhok International Film Festival, a prestigious event that has been making waves in the cinematic world for years.
