Early Winter by Özcan Alper

 

Early Winter by Özcan Alper [1] (TR, 2025, 92')

When war erupts between Russia and Ukraine, a Turkish couple's surrogacy plan takes an unexpected turn, forcing their surrogate, Lia—a young artist of Ukrainian and Georgian descent—to stay in Istanbul longer than planned. As tensions grow over Lia’s bond with the baby, the couple decides to send her back, but Lia instead chooses to return to Georgia. What begins as a simple journey to the Georgian border transforms into a three-day passage where Lia and Ferhat, the husband, confront their fears and redefine their ideas of family and belonging. 

Credits

Directed by Özcan Alper; Written by Uğur Aydedim; Produced by Soner Alper; Cinematography by Yağız Yavru; Co-Produced by Sky Films

Cast: Timuçin Esen & Leyla Tanlar

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[1]  Özcan Alper (born 1975) is a Turkish film director and screenwriter of Hemshin descent.

He studied at Trabzon Lisesi. In 1992, he moved to Istanbul to study at Istanbul University Engineering Faculty in the Physics Department and then moved to Istanbul University Literature Faculty where he studied History of Sciences and graduated in 2003.

Since 1996, he was interested in films and took part in workshops organized by Mezopotamya Culture Center, the Nâzım Culture House (now renamed Nâzım Hikmet Culture Center). Starting 2000 started assisting in films under the supervision of film director Yeşim Ustaoğlu.

After being assistant director in the short Toprak, he filmed Momi as his first short film as main director. He also shot the documentary Tokai City'de Melankoli ve Rapsodi in Japan following it with yet another documentary entitled Bir Bilimadamıyla Zaman Enleminde Yolculuk.

In 2008, Alper released his first long feature Sonbahar (Autumn in Turkish) with multiple awards as a newcomer. He followed that with another critically acclaimed film Gelecek Uzun Sürer (English title Future Lasts Forever) that has also won important awards.

Filmography

Director

2006: Saklı Yüzler (as assistant director)

2007: Sonbahar (director), English title Autumn

2011: Gelecek Uzun Sürer, English title Future Lasts Forever

2015: Rüzgarın Hatıraları, English title Memories Of The Wind

Screenwriter

2007: Sonbahar (director), English title Autumn

2010: Kars Öyküleri

2011: Gelecek Uzun Sürer, English title Future Lasts Forever

2015: Rüzgarın Hatıraları, English title Memories Of The Wind

Shorts

1999: Toprak as assistant director (short film)

2001: Momi, director (short film)

Documentaries

Tokai City'de Melankoli ve Rapsodi

Bir Bilimadamıyla Zaman Enleminde Yolculuk

Actor

2011: Fotoğraf

Awards

For Sonbahar (Autumn)

2008: Won "Best Film" and "Jury Award" at the 15th Adana Altın Koza Film Festivali, Turkey

2008: Won NETPAC Award at the Avrasya International Film Festivali

2008: Won "C.I.C.A.E. Award" at Locarno International Film Festival

2008: Won "Silver Prometheus" at the Tbilisi International Film Festival

2009: Won "Best film" at the Ankara International Film Festival

2009: Won "Best director" at the Ankara International Film Festival

2009: Won "Best director" at the Sofia International Film Festival

2009: Won "FIPRESCI Prize" at the Yerevan International Film Festival

2009: Won "Jury Special Prize" for Best Film at the Yerevan International Film Festival

2009: Won "Best First Film" at the 2nd Yeşilçam Awards

2009: Nominated for "European Discovery of the Year" at the European Film Awards

2022: Received the Directors award from the Bogazici Film Festival, he dedicated the prize to Sebnem Korur Fincanci, the president of the Turkish Medical Association.[3]

For Gelecek Uzun Sürer (Future Lasts Forever)

At the Adana Altın Koza Film Festival

Best Director

Best Actor

Yılmaz Güney Award

At the Malatya International Film Festival

Best Film

Best Director

Best Musik

At Kerala International Film Festival

"FIPRESCI Best Film Award"