Balahan Gürel

Balahan Gürel, born December 27th, 1996 in Istanbul, is a Turkish filmmaker. He started his career in theatre, worked in numerous plays and studied acting before film. One of the early adopters of online education, he graduated with distinction from Toronto Film School's Writing for Film&TV program. His debut short Love, Death and Tomatoes, a dark comedy on absolute love, screened at some of the prestigious platforms around the world, including Oscar® qualifying festivals. His second short, The Big Flight, a film about soulmates fueled by jazz music, made its world premiere at 33rd Girona Film Festival, national premiere at 22nd Izmir International Short Film Festival and continues its festival journey. A fellow of 2022 Meetings on the Bridge, the Istanbul Film Festival's industry platform, Balahan is developing his first feature film. His films explore stories of love, family, and human nature; with intimate and crafted performances, story, and form at the core of his filmmaking approach.