Born in Turkey, Eylem Kaftan completed a B.A. in Philosophy at Bogazici University in Istanbul and a Masters degree in Cinema at York University in 2002. At York University, she worked as a teaching assistant and wrote her thesis on the identity crisis in post-1980 Turkish cinema. Her first documentary Faultlines which investigates the aftermath of the earthquake, which hit Turkey in 1999, won Best Short Film and the Jury Prize at the Planet Indie Film Festival in Toronto. Kaftan recently completed an one-hour documentary, co-produced with the National Film Board, about her personal journey into the honour-killing of her aunt in a small Kurdish village in Turkey. The film will soon be broadcast on Vision TV and Télé-Québec. She is also co-directing an important film about Montreal's non-status Algerians for the Quebec broadcaster Télé-Québec. Kaftan contributed to several Canadian documentaries on social and political issues ranging from immigration, women's rights, mental illness to culture shock. Kaftan wrote, directed, edited and collaborated on several short films, among which are the award winning shorts of Turtle Productions.

DOCUMENTARIES

2004 Vendetta Song
Director, Writer, Researcher
DLI Productions, co-production with the National Film Board, Télé-Québec, VisionTV, Knowledge Network and CIDA

2003 This is Our Home (in development)
Co-director, Co-writer
Productions Multimonde with TeleQuebec, Telefilm and Sodec

2003 Les Femmes contre la guerre (Women against the war)
Co-director, Editor, Cinematographer
Productions Multimonde. Featured at the International Women's Day in Montreal, 2003

2001 Faultlines
Director, Writer, Editor, Co-cinematographer, Co- producer
Best short film Award and Jury Award, Planet Indie Festival in Toronto, 2002

FICTION

2004 TeaTime
Co-director, Co-writer, Editor Turtle Productions, FilmBlitz 2880 in Montreal (Featured on www.SilenceonCourt.com)

2004 Mille Fois
Co-director, Co-writer, Editor
Turtle Productions

2004 Etres
Co-director, Co-Cinematographer, Editor
Turtle Productions, Le Grand Prix (Best film Award) Vue D'Afrique in Montreal (72 Heures Chrono)

2003 Caressing Time
Co-director, Co-Cinematographer, Editor
Turtle Productions (Award of Excellence) Le Prix D'Excellence FilmBlitz 2880 in Montreal