Yilmaz Guney

Quick Facts

• Region: Adana Province, Turkey
• Born: April 1, 1937, Yenice (Adana)
• Died: September 9, 1984, Paris, France
• Known for: Films Umut, Sürü, Yol; Palme d’Or (1982)

Overview

Yilmaz Guney was a Turkish-Kurdish director, screenwriter, actor, and novelist who became one of the most influential figures in Turkish cinema. His films focused on social realism and the struggles of ordinary people.

He won the Palme d’Or at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival for Yol, a milestone for Turkish cinema.

Life and Work

Guney began his career in the late 1950s and rose to fame in the Yeşilçam film industry. His political activism and controversial reputation made him both celebrated and contested.

Legacy

Guney’s films remain central to the history of Turkish and Kurdish cinema, and his influence continues in contemporary film culture.