Born in 1959 in Istanbul, Turkey, Nuri Bilge Ceylan is a director, screenwriter, and photographer whose contemplative storytelling, existential themes, and striking visual compositions have redefined the international arthouse landscape.
Celebrated for his masterful, humanist cinema and meticulous visual language, Ceylan received numerous international awards.
Ceylan's relationship with the Cannes Film Festival, in particular, has shed light on him as one of the most celebrated auteurs in the festival's history.
Ceylan's early masterpiece Uzak (Distant) was honoured in Cannes with both the Jury Grand Prix (Grand Prix du Jury) and the Best Actor Award in 2003, announcing his arrival on the world stage. He then won the Best Director Award at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival for his film Three Monkeys.
In 2011, his film Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2011) shared yet another Cannes' Grand Jury Prize with The Kid with a Bike. And when he returned to Cannes in 2014, he won the top award, Palme d'Or, for Winter Sleep.
More recently, About Dry Grasses (2023) earned the Best Actress Award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, with the award going to Turkish actress Merve Dizdar for her performance in a supporting role, as Nuray.
Through these achievements, Ceylan has come to embody the very essence of world cinema — blending philosophical inquiry with painterly imagery, and bridging traditions between Europe and the Middle East. His films remain touchstones for cinephiles, critics, and filmmakers worldwide.
Ceylan heads CIFF Jury
As Jury President, Ceylan will lead a distinguished panel of international filmmakers, artists, and industry leaders in selecting the Golden Pyramid and other top awards of the Festival's International Competition. The full jury and official selection will be announced in the weeks leading up to the festival.
"Nuri Bilge Ceylan's cinema is a standard-bearer for artistic excellence," commented Hussein Fahmy, the CIFF's President. "His selection as Jury President reflects the festival's commitment to championing bold, visionary filmmaking and to positioning Cairo as a dynamic meeting point for the world's most exciting cinematic voices."
In his turn, artistic director Mohamed Tarek commented: "Ceylan's films engage deeply with character, place, and time—values at the core of CIFF's curatorial approach this year. He is a filmmaker we have long awaited in Cairo, and it is an honour to finally welcome him to lead our International Jury. His presence will inspire a powerful dialogue around cinema's possibilities."
CIFF
Founded in 1976, the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) is the oldest and only FIAPF-accredited competitive feature film festival in the Arab world and Africa.
The CIFF presents a carefully curated selection of international and regional films, world and MENA premieres, industry programmes, and public events that celebrate cinematic innovation and foster cultural exchange.
The 46th edition of the festival will take place between 12 and 21 November 2025.
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