Tolga Örnek

Tolga Ornek started his career writing, producing and directing the award-winning documentaries ATATURK (1998), MOUNT NEMRUD: THE THRONE OF THE GODS (2000), THE HITTITES (2003) and GALLIPOLI (2005) all of which have been distributed internationally to great critical acclaim. GALLIPOLI was the fifth highest grossing film in Turkey in 2005 and has been theatrically released in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. In recognition of his documentary, Tolga was awarded an Order of Australia honorary medal by the Australian government. In 2008, he co-wrote, produced and directed his first feature film, CARS OF THE REVOLUTION, based on the true story of the production of the first Turkish car in 1961. The film received critical acclaim and has won many international awards. Tolga's next film THE LOSERS CLUB which he co-wrote, produced and directed, was released in March 2011. Inspired by a cult, irreverent radio show from the 90's, the film, upon its release, became a box office and cult phenomenon and has been listed as one of the best Turkish films ever produced. Ornek's third film, which he wrote, directed and produced, LABYRINTH, a present-day espionage thriller supported by the European film fund, Eurimages, Turkish Ministry of Culture and Germany's HessenInvestFilm, was released in 2012 in Turkey and several territories in Europe and South America. LABYRINTH has received critical and popular acclaim and has paved the way for Tolga's move to Los Angeles where he's slated to begin THE SYNDICATE, a new international TV show he's created about a secret DEA Task force determined to take down an international heroin syndicate smuggling drugs from Afghanistan to Europe. In 2013, Tolga directed a romantic comedy based on his own experiences, YOUR STORY, and in 2016 he adapted and directed the Turkish version of the Mexican hit INSTRUCTIONS NOT INCLUDED. Tolga has written, produced and directed ten films across a wide range of genres in very diverse locations such as Turkey, Egypt, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. Tolga has lived in the US for more than 14 years in Rhode Island, Florida, Washington DC, New York as well as three years in London and two years in Italy. He lives in Los Angeles.