Tolga Karacelik is a highly acclaimed Turkish director, renowned for his distinctive filmmaking style, which has garnered widespread recognition and accolades within the industry.
After completing his law degree in Turkey, Karacelik pursued his passion for filmmaking by studying in New York City. During this time, he honed his writing skills by crafting short stories and poetry.
In addition to his writing and directing endeavors, Karacelik has also made a name for himself in the world of music videos and documentary filmmaking. His impressive portfolio includes directing and writing five short films that have been showcased at numerous festivals, both domestically and internationally, and have received numerous awards and accolades.
Karacelik's feature film debut, Toll Booth, premiered at various prestigious festivals, including the Golden Orange Awards, where he won awards for best first film, best actor, and best cinematography. This achievement marked a significant milestone in his career, as he became one of the youngest directors to receive such recognition.
Toll Booth went on to be selected as the opening film for the Global Film Initiatives Global Lens 2012 series, and was subsequently screened in over 35 cities across the United States and Canada, including institutions such as the Smithsonian and the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York.
Karacelik's subsequent feature film, IVY, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and has continued to garner critical acclaim and recognition at various prestigious festivals around the world.
His next project, Butterflies, was selected for the Sundance Lab and CineLink Co-Production Market, and went on to win the Grand Jury Award for World Cinema - Dramatic at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018.
In addition to his work as a director, Karacelik is also a published poet and short story writer, and has contributed to various literary magazines. He is a versatile filmmaker who continues to work on a wide range of projects, including short films, music videos, and feature films, and has also taken on roles as a producer, screenwriter, and actor.
In his personal life, Karacelik tied the knot with actress Tugçe Altug on October 3, 2018, in Bozcaada. In 2022, he directed the Netflix series Yakamoz S-245.
