Serhat Karaaslan was born in a mountain village in Turkish Kurdistan. As a child, he dedicated his Sunday evenings to watching the Western films broadcasted on TV, cursing the power blackouts that often disrupted his viewing. He developed a passion for cinema first through Yılmaz Güney’s films. While studying Pharmacy – as cinema was an unattainable dream – he bought pirated DVDs under the counter, and later made a short film about these very people who sold pirated DVDs under the counter. And this is how it all started. He directed one feature film & four shorts awarded in festivals including Sundance, TIFF, Locarno, Karlovy Vary. His debut feature Passed by Censor (Cannes Cinéfondation Residency) premiered at the 2019 Karlovy Vary FF (Critics Award). His latest work, the short film The Criminals, had its world premiere at Sundance in 2021 (Special Jury Award). It was selected in 160+ festivals, won 50+ awards, was screened on arte, La Rai, Mubi, Criterion, inter alia, and was shortlisted at the Oscars & Césars 2022.