Meral Çetinkaya

Meral Çetinkaya was born on March 5, 1945, in Bursa, Türkiye. With a career spanning many years in theatre, cinema, and television, she is regarded as one of the most respected actresses in Turkish performing arts.

Çetinkaya began her artistic career in theatre and performed with important theatre companies such as Dostlar Theatre and Bakırköy Municipal Theatre. She became widely known to audiences for her role as Ayla Hanım in the popular television series Bizimkiler, which aired between 1989 and 2002.

Throughout her long career, Meral Çetinkaya has appeared in numerous television series and feature films, including Saklı Kalan, Urfalıyım Ezelden, Öyle Bir Geçer Zaman ki, Binbir Gece, Çukur, Aziz, İstanbullu Gelin, and Muhteşem Yüzyıl: Kösem.

In 2017, she appeared in the Turkish–South Korean co-production Ayla: The Daughter of War, a film based on a true story from the Korean War. Directed by Can Ulkay and written by Yiğit Güralp, the film stars İsmail Hacıoğlu and Çetin Tekindor. The cast also includes Taner Birsel, Ali Atay, Murat Yıldırım, Büşra Develi, Erkan Petekkaya, Esra Dermancıoğlu, Damla Sönmez, and Altan Erkekli. The film’s music was composed by Fahir Atakoğlu.

With her long and distinguished career and her roles in numerous films and television productions, Meral Çetinkaya continues to be recognized as one of the prominent and respected actresses of Turkish cinema and television.

Awards

2012 – Best Supporting Actress – Öyle Bir Geçer Zaman ki – 3rd Antalya Television Awards

1997 – Best Supporting Actress – Solgun Bir Sarı Gül – 34th Antalya Film Festival

1992 – Best Actress – Suyun Öte Yanı – 4th Ankara Film Festival

1981 – Best Supporting Actress – Hazal – 18th Antalya Film Festival

Filmography

Recent Works

2023

Vatikan’ın Şifresi: Bir Temel Macerası – Feature Film

Aaahh Belinda – Feature Film

Prestij Meselesi – Feature Film

Demir Kadın: Neslican – Feature Film

2022

Darmaduman – TV Series

Sizi Dinliyorum – TV Series

Şeker – Short Film

2021–2022

Aziz – TV Series

İlginç Bazı Olaylar – TV Series

2019–2021

Atiye – TV Series

2019–2020

Çukur – TV Series

Selected Feature Films

Mucize 2: Aşk (2019)

Sibel (2018)

Ayla: The Daughter of War (2017)

Ve Panayır Köyden Gider (2015)

Mucize (2014)

Kadın İşi: Banka Soygunu (2013)

Karanlıktakiler (2009)

Mutluluk (2007)

Vizontele Tuuba (2003)

Vizontele (2000)

Eylül Fırtınası (1999)

Kaç Para Kaç (1998)

Solgun Bir Sarı Gül (1996)

Suyun Öte Yanı (1991)

Uçurtmayı Vurmasınlar (1989)

Bir Yudum Sevgi (1984)

Hazal (1979)

Selected Television Series

Bizimkiler (1989–2002)

Binbir Gece (2006–2008)

Öyle Bir Geçer Zaman ki (2010–2012)

Urfalıyım Ezelden (2014)

Saklı Kalan (2014)

Muhteşem Yüzyıl: Kösem (2015)

İstanbullu Gelin (2018)

Çukur (2019–2020)

Aziz (2021–2022)

Lazar Ristovski

Lazar Ristovski was born on October 26, 1952, in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (present-day Serbia). A graduate of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts at the University of Belgrade, Ristovski has built an exceptional career spanning more than four decades in theatre, film, and television. Over the course of his career he has become one of the most prominent and internationally recognized actors of Balkan cinema.

Ristovski first established himself in the cinema of the former Yugoslavia during the 1980s, quickly gaining recognition for his strong character portrayals and powerful screen presence. His international breakthrough came with the role of Petar “Blacky” Popara in Emir Kusturica’s Palme d’Or winning masterpiece Underground (1995), widely regarded as one of the landmark works of European cinema.

Throughout his career Ristovski has collaborated with some of the most important filmmakers from the region and beyond. His extensive filmography includes significant works such as Pretty Village, Pretty Flame, Cabaret Balkan, Midwinter Night’s Dream, The Optimists, and St. George Shoots the Dragon. His performances are known for their emotional intensity, strong physical presence and ability to portray complex historical and dramatic characters.

Ristovski has also appeared in major international productions, including the James Bond film Casino Royale (2006), further expanding his presence beyond regional cinema.

In addition to acting, Ristovski has developed a notable career as a filmmaker and producer. In 1999 he made his directorial debut with White Suit (Belo Odelo), serving as director, screenwriter, lead actor and producer. The film was presented at the Cannes Film Festival and selected as Serbia’s official submission for the Academy Awards.

As the founder and CEO of the production company Zillion Film, Ristovski has played a significant role in the development of contemporary Balkan cinema. Through the company he has produced numerous feature films and contributed to the emergence of new filmmakers in the region.

Over the course of his career Lazar Ristovski has appeared in more than eighty film and television productions and has received numerous national and international awards for his work. His contribution to cinema as an actor, director and producer has made him one of the most influential figures of modern Balkan filmmaking.

For his outstanding artistic achievements and his lasting contribution to the development and international recognition of Balkan cinema, Lazar Ristovski is honored with the lifetime achievement award at the Balkan Panorama Film Festival.

Selected Filmography

1980s

1981 — Igmanski marš
1984 — Balkan Express 2
1987 — Već viđeno

1990s

1991 — Original falsifikata
1992 — Tito and Me (Tito i ja)
1995 — Underground — dir. Emir Kusturica
1996 — Pretty Village, Pretty Flame (Lepa sela lepo gore)
1998 — Cabaret Balkan (Bure baruta)
1999 — White Suit (Belo odelo) — director / writer / actor / producer

2000s

2001 — A Small World (Mali svet)
2004 — King of Thieves
2004 — Midwinter Night’s Dream
2006 — Casino Royale
2007 — The Optimists
2009 — St. George Shoots the Dragon (Sveti Georgije ubiva aždahu)

2010s

2011 — The White Lions (Beli lavovi) — director / actor
2014 — The November Man
2016 — Train Driver’s Diary (Dnevnik mašinovođe)
2018 — King Petar I

2020s

2023 — Heroes of Halyard (Halijard)

Director

1999 — White Suit (Belo Odelo)
2011 — The White Lions (Beli lavovi)

Selected Awards

1991 — Slavko Lazarević Critics Award — Best Actor
Niš Film Festival

1995 — Grand Prix “Ćele Kula” — Best Actor
for Underground — Filmski Susreti Festival, Niš

1995 — Crystal Prism Award — Best Actor
Serbian Academy of Film Arts

1995 — Golden Mimosa — Best Actor
Herceg Novi Film Festival

1999 — Grand Prix — Best Film
for White Suit — Panorama of European Cinema, Athens

2004 — Grand Prix NAISA — Best Actor
Niš Acting Festival

2006 — Best Actor Award
Valladolid International Film Festival

2014 — Lifetime Achievement Award
Mostar Film Festival

2016 — Golden Arena — Best Actor
Pula Film Festival

2016 — Pavle Vuisić Lifetime Achievement Award
Niš Film Festival

2025 — Lifetime Achievement Award
i-Fest International Film Festival — Palermo