Derin Çelik

Derin Çelik is a writer/director from Istanbul, Turkey based in Los Angeles, CA. Self-described as the son of failed immigrants, Derin spent the first few years of his life in the United States before he and his family returned to Istanbul. His films and writing focus on relationships formed and connections made during times of extreme chaos. He blends realism and surrealism to address issues such as immigration, political corruption and community abandonment.

After earning his BA in Economics and Film at New York University, Derin worked as the Creative Production Coordinator at Braven Films under Academy Award winner producer Frida Torresblanco. He directed, produced and edited various branded work, commercials and music videos before he decided to shift his focus to narrative projects and pursue an MFA in Directing/Screenwriting at the Columbia University’s School of the Arts.

During the program, Derin wrote and directed four short films. He also wrote his feature A Poison Tree, a Western set in LA about two Middle Eastern neighbors, as well as his tv pilot Tea, a half-hour 1980s dark comedy about the nuclear fallout from the Chernobyl crisis in Turkey. His hour-long pilot Salton Sea was the recipient of 2024 Alfred P. Sloan Screenwriting Grant. Currently, he is in post-production for his short Artıklar (Remainders) and in development for his first feature Kurban (The Sacrifice).