Serkan Nihat is a Turkish–British filmmaker based in London. He began as an assistant editor on UK television dramas, transitioned into directing commercials and branded content, and later made his feature directorial debut with the political drama Exodus, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won multiple awards.
Serkan Nihat | |
|---|---|
 Nihat at a film set in 2023 | |
| Born | Edmonton, London, England |
| Occupation | Film director · Screenwriter · Producer · Editor |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Website | www |
Career
editNihat worked as an assistant editor on UK television productions, including Spooks, Broadchurch, Taboo, and Law & Order, where he specialized in digital post-production workflows.
Advertising
editIn the 2010s, he directed commercials for brands like Barclays, Unilever, and John Lewis. In 2018, he won a Silver Dolphin at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards for a Barclays campaign.[1]
Exodus (2025)
editNihat's debut feature, Exodus, premiered in the European Film Market at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival.[2] It then opened the London Independent Film Festival (LIFF) on 19 April 2024 and won Best Drama Feature.[3]
Exodus also received Best Drama Feature at the Touchstone Independent Film Festival and the Special Jury Prize at the Montreal Independent Film Festival.[4]
Nihat co-wrote Exodus with Erkan Çıplak and Refik Güley, collaborating with cinematographer Tom Bryan.[3]
Themes and reception
editNihat's work frequently addresses themes of political realism, migration, and identity. In an interview with T‑Vine, he described Exodus as aiming to “give a human face to the migration issue.”[3]
Phil Hoad of The Guardian praised the film's ambition but noted that its characters felt emblematic rather than fully developed.[5]
Awards
edit| Year | Festival | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | London Independent FF | Best Drama Feature | Exodus | Won |
| 2024 | Touchstone Independent FF | Best Drama Feature | Exodus | Won |
| 2024 | Montreal Independent FF | Special Jury Prize | Exodus | Won |
| 2018 | Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards | Silver Dolphin | Armed Forces Campaign | Won |
References
edit- ↑ T‑VINE (27 September 2018). "Director Serkan Nihat wins Silver Dolphin at Cannes". Archived from the original on 23 July 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ↑ "Exodus social genocide narrative premieres in Berlin". 13 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- 1 2 3 "Director Serkan Nihat on Exodus". April 2024. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ↑ "EXODUS award winner". Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ↑ Phil Hoad (1 July 2025). "Exodus review – broadside against Erdoğan's Turkey".
External links
edit- Serkan Nihat at IMDb