Bioghaphy
Halil Kardaş, a graduate of Istanbul’s Yıldız Technical University, has been actively working as a producer in the film and television industry since 2010. In 2011, he attended a course of workshops at YapimLab, and went on in 2013 to produce his first feature-length picture, Yozgat Blues, which world-premiered at the San Sebastian Film Festival.
In a move to build his credentials and expand his network of international contacts, he successfully completed the EAVE (European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs) training program, one of Europe's leading programs for producers, in 2022. Towards the end of 2024, Kardaş was invited to become the EAVE National Coordinator for Turkey with effect from the beginning of 2025.
In his selection of projects, Kardaş makes it a mission to discover new talent. As a result, he often works with first and second-time directors. He is also drawn to stories that have an element of universality to them, stories that are able to speak to audiences from different cultures. This approach is also reflected in his working practices. Kardaş generally favors structuring projects as cross-border collaborations, his motivation being the opportunity for cultural exchange as well as the exchange of ideas, knowledge, creativity and experience. He also recognizes the value of fostering long-term relationships with co-producers, creative and production crews.
In 2018, Kardaş founded his own independent production outfit, Film Code Productions. He has since produced a variety of work ranging from short films, features and documentaries to commercials and productions for national and international television networks and digital platforms. Drawing on his extensive connections within, and experience of the domestic industry, he has also developed a strong global business network with the offer of minority co-production and line production services to foreign producers wishing to shoot in Turkey.
His work to date has won Kardaş many awards at leading national and international film festivals. One of his most recent pictures, Cloves and Carnations, debuted at the 35th Tokyo Film Festival in 2022, while his 2018 film, The Announcement, picked up Special Jury Prize in the Orizzonti section of the 75th Venice Film Festival, where it world-premiered.
Through his company, Film Code, Kardaş remains committed to developing and producing original, high-quality films at the national and international level, as well as to helping new talent, voices and perspectives to find a space on the big screen, small screen and digital platforms alike.
Filmography
FOREVER THIRTY-THREE - 2023 - Producer: Halil Kardaş - Director: Murat Pay
29th Sarajevo Film Festival, 2023 -World Premiere
CLOVES & CARNATIONS - 2022 - Producer: Halil Kardaş - Director: Bekir Bülbül
35th Tokyo Int. FF-World Premiere
THE HERO IN ME - 2021 - Producer: Halil Kardaş - Director: Sinan Sertel
28th International Adana Film Festival - 2021- World Premiere
9th Bosphorus Film Festival - Film-Yön Best Director
THE HOOP - 2021 - Producer: Halil Kardaş - Director: Ahmet Toklu
51.Giffoni Film Festivali-İtalya-2021- World Premiere
THE MUTE - 2019 - Executive Producer: Halil Kardaş - Director: Murat Pay
25th Sarajevo Film Festival, 2019 - World Premiere
THE ANNOUNCEMENT - 2018 - Producer: Halil Kardaş - Director: Mahmut Fazıl Coşkun
75th Venice Film Festival - 2018 - World Premiere
THE PIGEON THEIVES - 2018 - Executive Producer: Halil Kardaş, - Director: Osman Doğan
37th Istanbul Film Festival – 2018 - Başka Sinema Distribution Award
25th Adana Film Festival- 2018 – Best Editing and Best Supporting Actor
ONCE UPON A CHILD - 2016 - Executive Producer: Halil Kardaş – Director: Sinan Sertel
11th Tahran Int. FICTS Festival - 2018 – Best Film and Screenplay Award
YOZGAT BLUES - 2013 - Producer Halil Kardaş - Director Mahmut Fazıl Coşkun
61.San Sebastian Film Festival - 2013 - World Premiere