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Aslı Özarslan

Director
Aslı Özarslan is a Turkish-German filmmaker known for her documentary work. She has directed films such as "Dil Leyla" and "Gündem." Özarslan has received critical acclaim for her documentaries which often explore themes of identity, belonging, and social issues. While there is limited information available about awards she has won, her impactful storytelling continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.

Films

Dil Leyla

Dil Leyla

By Aslı Özarslan

2016 | 71 min | Documentary

Leyla, a young woman from Germany, campaigns to become the youngest mayor of Turkey - in the town of Cizre, marked by civil war.

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Not in my Backyard

Not in my Backyard

2011 | 87 min | Documentary

Elliott and Teofilo, two released sex offenders in Miami, Florida are not allowed to leave their residence and must stay 750 yards away from schools, parks or other places where children regularly hang out. These requirements make it nearly impossible to find a job or housing. The consequences are homelessness and social isolation. "Bittner's film is worth watching for two reasons. On the one hand, he puts himself in the perspective of the "sex offenders" and thus portrays frighteningly normal ...

Der lange Weg ans Licht

Der lange Weg ans Licht

2008 | 100 min | Documentary

"With a sense of the bizarre, renowned filmmaker Douglas Wolfsperger describes the everyday miracle of childbirth using the example of an East German midwife." (kino.de) Edeltraut Hertel brings children into the world. For nearly 20 years, the midwife has worked in her birthplace of Meerane, a sleepy little town near Chemnitz. In this Saxon province, removed from the focus of world publicity, a proxy war of various health policy representatives is raging. The film illuminates the problems of today's ...

Uncanny Me

Uncanny Me

2022 | 44 min | Documentary

In an era where virtual reality intertwines intricately with our everyday lives, a young model named Lale contemplates an unorthodox solution to her growing disillusionment with the demanding world of modeling. Struck by the idea of creating a digital clone to take her place in the exhausting shoots, Lale embarks on a thought-provoking journey into the realms of identity, freedom, and technological morality. Katharina Pethke's UNCANNY ME unfolds this narrative through a blend of documentary realism ...

My Wonderful West Berlin

My Wonderful West Berlin

2017 | 98 min | Documentary

The newest addition to Jochen Hick's Berlin trilogy about gay life in Germany's capital city - with many current political references. The film explores the roots and the fascination of a city that is still a dream destination and refuge for many gay men from all over the world. Jochen Hick interviews local luminaries such as Romy Haag, Rosa von Praunheim, Ades Zabel and Udo Walz. He and they talk their lives and the struggles they've endured. From the Homosexual Action West Berlin (HAW) to the ...

Meuthen's Party

Meuthen's Party

2017 | 92 min | Documentary

An ultra nationalist right-wing party is on the rise in Germany. Filmmaker Marc Eberhardt follows candidate Jörg Meuthen during the 2016 state elections in Baden-Württemberg. The polite economics professor campaigns as a candidate for the Alternative for Germany party (AfD). This film exposes the startling reach of his seemingly rational rhetoric. Meuthen talks openly with other politicians and with citizens and sympathizers on the street, which is noteworthy in view of the "media-skeptical" attitude ...

Not Yet Over

Not Yet Over

2016 | 63 min | Independent

The film follows various women who strive for medical and social reproductive freedoms and premiered at the International Queer Film Festival Hamburg. While Germany wrestles with abortion laws from the Nazi era, migrant women in this country often struggle with the law and the health care system for their own sexual self-determination. The filmmakers create a condensed setting with four women. One wants a child through artificial insemination, the other wants an abortion, the third wants to become ...

Airless Space

Airless Space

2014 | 20 min | Drama

Hans is 30-year-old bicycle courier who lives in Kreuzberg. Hans is somebody's son and somebody's ex-boyfriend. AIRLESS SPACE is a short film that tells the story of one day in the life of Hans. He goes to work, meets his buddies, everything seems normal. But, in fact, today is his mother's funeral. Instead of going to her funeral, he tries to carry on as if nothing special is happening... AIRLESS SPACE was shown at the Short Film Corner in Cannes and received awards for best camera and best actor ...

Night Shifts

Night Shifts

2010 | 97 min | Documentary

Some people work and live at night by choice, others because fate has compelled them to do so. Still others use darkness to operate in secret. At time when most of the city is asleep, the film accompanies the night active as they go about their business and sheds light on the essence of night in today’s big cities. Director Ivette Löcker's declaration of love for the night. The film looks at the many the different angles of what it means to live and work in darkness.

Zertifikat Deutsch

Zertifikat Deutsch

2009 | 90 min | Documentary

Among other regulations, this law requires non-European immigrants pass a difficult language test (Zertifikat Deutsch) to get citizenship or an extension of their residency permits. Karin Jurschick's film documents one of these so-called integration courses at an adult education center in Cologne. Here language students from China, Somalia, Afghanistan, Marocco and the Dominican Republic try to learn German. (Note: the coursecertificate is now called "Zertifikat Integrationskurs" which encompasses ...

For The Time Being

For The Time Being

2018 | 44 min | Drama

In Daniela Lucato's latest film, the protagonist Roman is plagued by addiction and money problems. An encounter, however, makes him question his the way he has lived his life. After a long and conflict-ridden marriage, Roman finds himself alone. To face his financial problems he decides to sublet one room in his house. Mel is the first person to answer Roman's ad. When Mel moves in, Roman is confronted with by Mel's challenging questions. Roman needs to understand what is happening inside himself, ...