Umut Aral

Last updated
Umut Aral
Born (1976-06-26) 26 June 1976 (age 48)
Istanbul, Turkey
Alma mater Galatasaray High School
Boğaziçi University
Occupation(s)Film director, Screenwriter, Producer

Umut Aral (born 26 June 1976) is a Turkish film director, producer, and screenwriter [1] best known for the Netflix Original The Protector., [2] [3] Love 101, [4] [5] Who Were We Running From? and his feature debut on esports 'Good Game: The Beginning'. [6] [7] [8]

Contents

Early life

Umut Aral was raised in Istanbul, Turkey. He attended Galatasaray High School and studied management at Boğaziçi University. He began making filmmaking at a young age. Started shooting short films at the age of thirteen. [9] He can speak English, French and Turkish.

Career

He is an established director in the commercial world, directed 300+ TV commercials, [10] working for clients such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Mercedes-Benz, McDonald's, Nivea, Vodafone, [11] Unilever, [12] Nestle [13] Nutricia [14] and QMobile. [15]

In 2017 Aral directed a docudrama for Galatasaray S.K. Museum. [16] and also one episode of Turkish streaming platform BluTV original anthology series 7 Faces [17] which is currently streaming on SBS Australia [18] and HBOMax Latam. [19]

In 2018, Aral directed the first Turkish language Netflix Series The Protector starring Çağatay Ulusoy, Ayca Aysin Turan, Hazar Erguclu and Okan Yalıbık for 4 consecutive seasons. The Protector became the 6th of most watched ‘Non- English TV shows’ in UK [20] and 10th in US. [21] The same year he also directed the first licensed [22] esports feature film Good Game: The Beginning starring Mert Yazıcıoğlu, Afra Saraçoğlu and Kerem Bürsin. [23]

In 2020, Aral directed 4 episodes for the second and final season of Netflix Original Love 101 a Turkish teen comedy-drama, starring Mert Yazıcıoğlu, Kubilay Aka, Alina Boz, Selahattin Paşalı, İpek Filiz Yazıcı, Pınar Deniz, Kaan Urgancıoğlu and Ece Yüksel. [24]

In 2022, he directed 4 episodes for Yakamoz S-245, [25] the spin-off of Belgian apocalyptic sci-fi thriller Into The Night starring Kivanc Tatlitug, Ozge Ozpirincci and Ertan Saban. [26] Yakamoz S-245 has been watched 22 million hours in four days following its global launch on Netflix. [27] The series was reported to be the third most watched non-English TV series on Netflix. [28]

In 2023, he directed the limited series, a psychological thriller based on Perihan Magden's book Who Were We Running From? [29] starring Melisa Sözen and introducing Eylül Tumbar. The story of the series is about a mother (unnamed) and daughter (named Bambi) running from a mysterious past. [30] [31] The series was ranked #3 in the US, #4 in the UK, #2 in France and globally #1 as Non-English TV Shows on Netflix and stayed in the list for 4 weeks. [32] [33] The series has achieved a high viewership, accumulating almost 93 million hours on the platform. [34]

In 2024, he produced and directed a feature length sports documentary 'Arda Turan: Confrontation' for Amazon Prime about the controversial football player Arda Turan. The documentary features international football superstar guest speakers from Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona such as Neymar, Andrés Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Koke, Ivan Rakitic, Filipe Luis, Diego Simeone, and Miguel Ángel Gil Marín [35] .

He has been a speaker and educator, invited as a guest speaker to global organizations like YPO and by universities to run workshops on filmmaking. [36]

Umut Aral is also The Chairman of Board of Members of Mithat Alam Education Foundation and Mithat Alam Film Center [37] - the 'cinematheque', a prestigious cultural center in Istanbul. [38] [39]

Filmography

YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerNotes
2000thirtyfourYesYesYes Short Film
2006Crash [40] YesYesYes Short Film
20177 FacesYesNoNoBluTV SBS HBOMax TV Series
2018Good Game: The Beginning [41] YesNoNoFeature Debut
2018-2020 The Protector YesNoNo Netflix Original
2021 Love 101 YesNoNo Netflix Original
2022 Yakamoz S-245 [42] [ circular reference ]YesNoNo Netflix Original (Spin-off of Into The Night) [43]
2023Who Were We Running From? [44] [45] YesNoNo Netflix Original adapted from Perihan Mağden
2023Karantina [46] YesNoNoCreated by Adi Hasak starring James Franco [47]
2024 Arda Turan: Confrontation [48] YesNoYes Amazon Prime Documentary
2024Deha [49] [50] YesNoNo Show TV TV Series

Awards

Good Game: The Beginning (2018)

Awards include Best Feature Film Award in Beirut International Children & Family Film Festival, Special Jury Remi Award (Family /Children Section) in WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, Young Audience Award (Teen Arena) in Sarajevo International Film Festival, Award of Excellence Special Mention (Children / Family Programming) in Accolade Global Film Competition. [51]

Crash (2006)

Awards include Best Director Award in L'Isola del Cinema Festival Del Corto, Global Audience Award in CON-CAN Movie Festival, Best Foreign Film Award in Action/Cut Short Film Competition, Best Fiction & Special Audience Awards in Boston Turkish Film Festival, Best Film Award in Metro Group National Short Film Competition, Best Film Golden Cat Award in Izmir International Short Film Festival, Jury Special Award in !f Istanbul AFM International Independent Film Festival and official selections in Locarno International Film Festival, Drama International Short Film Festival, Raindance Film Festival.

thirtyfour (2000)

Awards include Best Short Film Award in İFSAK Short Film Festival, Best Short Film Award in Cine5 National Short Film Competition and Best Short Film Award in Marmara University Short Film Competition.

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References

  1. ↑ "Meet Umut Aral: A pioneer filmmaker". North America TEN.
  2. ↑ "Netflix'in ilk Türk yapımı dizisi Hakan: Muhafız yabancılardan nasıl tepki aldı?". BBC News Türkçe.
  3. ↑ "Netflix Top 10: From 'The Protector', and 'Sacred Games' to 'Money Heist', the top non-English shows on Netflix". Meaww.
  4. ↑ "Why 'Love 101' is an Underrated Netflix Teen Gem". Collider. 9 October 2021.
  5. ↑ "Love 101 season 2 review – more Turkish teen drama". ReadySteadyCut. 30 September 2021.
  6. ↑ "Interview with Umut Aral on Good Game: The Beginning". Espornext. 11 June 2020.
  7. ↑ "Interview with Umut Aral on Good Game: The Beginning". Diken. 18 November 2018.
  8. ↑ "Here comes the very first movie on esports". BrandAge.
  9. ↑ "Sinema benim için öykü anlatmaktır". Bosphorus University. 10 January 2019.
  10. ↑ "Interview with Umut Aral". Campaign TR.
  11. ↑ "Vodafone Arena Film Directed by Umut Aral". Soccerbible.
  12. ↑ "One step will change the world upside down". Mediacat. 8 August 2018.
  13. ↑ "Letters to Nesquik". Mediacat. 12 March 2018.
  14. ↑ "Definition of Being a Mother by Aptamil Nutricia". Mediacat. 27 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "Turkish actress Esra Bilgic gains popularity in Pakistan". Gulf News.
  16. ↑ "Screening of a short docudrama on Galatasaray SK's history". Galatasaray SK.
  17. ↑ "Review of 7 Faces: Music of Life". Filmloverss.com. 9 October 2017.
  18. ↑ "Dark Series set in Istanbul (7 Faces)". Sydney Morning Herald. 21 April 2019.
  19. ↑ "HBO Max takes 7 Faces to Lat Am". C21Media.net.
  20. ↑ "Netflix Issues First Top 10 List in the U.K., With 'Our Planet' and 'The Perfect Date' on Top". Variety. 9 May 2019.
  21. ↑ "Netflix Unveils Its Most-Watched International Series & Films In America". Deadline. 10 December 2020.
  22. ↑ "Iyi Oyun / Good Game: The Beginning ~ Now on Netflix". North America TEN.
  23. ↑ "Interview with Umut Aral on Esports and League of Legends". XOXO Digital.
  24. ↑ "Love 101 Season 2 Review: Lives worth living". North America TEN. 6 October 2021.
  25. ↑ "Apocalyptische Netflix-serie 'Yakamoz S-245' aangekondigd". Serie Totaal.
  26. ↑ "Netflix veröffentlicht Trailer zur türkischen Serie Yakamoz S-245". News Slash.
  27. ↑ "Netflix announced: How many views has Yakamoz S-245 been watched?". News Text Area.
  28. ↑ "'Yakamoz S-245', Netflix'in en çok izlenen dizilerinin arasına girdi". Gazete Duvar.
  29. ↑ "Everything You Need to Know About 'Who Were We Running From?'". Netflix Tudum. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  30. ↑ "Turkish show Who Were We Running From? debuts on OTT to mixed reviews". The Times of India. 2023-03-29. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  31. ↑ "Who Were We Running From? season 2 — Everything you need to know". Digital Spy. 2023-03-27. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  32. ↑ Meek, Andy (2023-04-05). "Who Were We Running From is a new Turkish thriller that Netflix viewers can't get enough of". BGR. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  33. ↑ ""Qui fuyons-nous ?", la série turque aux accents de polar qui cartonne sur Netflix". Telerama.
  34. ↑ "What We Watched: A Netflix Engagement Report". Netflix.com.
  35. ↑ "'Arda Turan: Yüzleşme' Premieres on Prime Video on August 16 - Episode". 2024-07-19. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  36. ↑ "Umut Aral: Filmmaking is all about storytelling". Bosphorus University News. 10 January 2019.
  37. ↑ "Home for Cinephile Students". Cumhuriyet Newspaper.
  38. ↑ "Ian McKellen's MasterClass in Bosphorus University as a part of Istanbul Film Festival hosted by Mithat Alam Film Center". Bosphorus University. 10 January 2019.
  39. ↑ "List of Guests". Mithat Alam Film Center.
  40. ↑ "Far Out Meets: Umut Aral, the director behind the critically acclaimed short film 'Crash'". Far Out Magazine. 8 July 2020.
  41. ↑ "Interview with Umut Aral on ESports and League of Legends". XOXO Digital.
  42. ↑ "Yakamoz S-245".
  43. ↑ "First Still Images from Yakamoz S-245". Gazete Duvar. 15 February 2021.
  44. ↑ Magden, Perihan. Whom were we running from?. ISBN   978-9752897908.
  45. ↑ "NETFLIX TURKEY PRESENTS A PREVIEW OF THE UPCOMING SLATE". About.Netflix. Netflix.
  46. ↑ "Adi Hasak Unveils Karantina Drama Series". World Screen.
  47. ↑ "James Franco Starring In Middle Eastern Crime Drama Series Penned By 'Shades Of Blue' Creator Adi Hasak – Mipcom Cannes". Deadline.com.
  48. ↑ Rédaction, La (2024-03-19). "Prime Video annonce la sortie d'un documentaire sur le footballeur turc Arda Turan". SPORT-TV (in French). Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  49. ↑ mh-musings (2024-09-24). "Deha Episode 1 Review". mh-musings. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  50. ↑ ker_def (2024-09-14). "The Deha series has started to attract great attention in every aspect! – Turkish TV Series" . Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  51. ↑ "Winners May 2019". Accolade Global Film Competition.
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