One of the World's First Female Directors: Cahide Sonku

Cahide Sonku, who began her career as an actress in the 1930s, made history as the first female star of Turkish cinema by achieving great fame with Aysel Bataklı's film Damın Kızı (The Damın Kızı). Sonku, who had already achieved a successful career with her films, completed her 1949 film "Fedakâr Ana" (Fellow Mother) when director Seyfi Havaeri became ill. This film marked Cahide Sonku's directorial debut. After founding Sonku Film in 1950, she pioneered women in the film industry, producing films such as Vatan ve Namık Kemal (1951), Beklenen Şarkı (1953), and Büyük Sır (1956).

Grave of Cahide Sonku, Zincirlikuyu Cemetery, Istanbul.

Cahide Sonku (born Cahide Serap; 27 December 1912 – 18 March 1981) was a Turkish actress, model, writer and the first female film director in Turkey. Sonku was the founder of her own movie production company, Sonku Film, in 1950. She was thrice married and divorced.

Sonku' first theater and cinema experience was during her secondary school education. She was accepted into Darülbedayi when she was only 16 years old, and in time she took her place among the most popular actors of Istanbul City Theatres. She started acting with "Seven Village Zeynebi" first at the People's Houses Theater, then at the Istanbul Municipality Conservatory, and then at Darülbedayi (1932-City Theaters), discovered by Muhsin Ertuğrul who was an important figure in Sonku's career.

Sonku founded the production company "Sonku Film" in 1950 and however went bankrupt in 1963 due to a fire that burned down the company building. She continued working at the City Theater through Muhsin Ertuğrul's influence, then left and struggled with alcohol addiction in the last years of her life.

Sonku received the Turkish Film Critics Association service award in 1979 and died in 1981 at the Alkazar Cinema in Istanbul, at the age of 61. She was buried in Zincirlikuyu Cemetery. Cahide Sonku Prize is awarded in her memory at the annual Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival.

Cultural depictions

• In 1989, the series Cahide is based from life of Cahide Sonku. It starring Hale Soygazi as Cahide.

• In 2013, the short film "Kayıkçı" starring Merih Fırat as Cahide.

• In 2014, the short film "100-5=Cahide" starring Farah Zeynep Abdullah as Cahide.

•  In 2016, the short film "Cahide" starring İpek Bilgin as Cahide.