Mom, Am I an Artist?
Guest Speaker: Emre Erdoğdu
Moderator: Mine Özgüle
Time: 20:00 - 21:30
Sometimes you watch a film, read a book, or stumble upon a song—and something stirs inside you. It feels as though something has begun. Maybe it’s the first time you ask yourself: “Could I be an artist too?”
This talk series follows the traces of exactly those moments.
Together, we explore how one artwork can spark another, how artists draw nourishment from other artists, and how a song, a scene, or even a single sentence can leave a lasting mark. We talk about inspiration as something that can weigh heavily on you until you create—and about encounters with what we see, hear, and read: how they make us feel, whether they change us, and in what ways.
Bringing together artists from different disciplines, this series opens space to talk about their encounters, their sources of inspiration, the moments when they paused to think, where they broke, and where they rebuilt themselves.
And then, echoing that familiar question we know from Lale Müldür, it rises quietly from within us once more: "Mom, Am I an Artist?"
Emre Erdoğdu (b. 1990) moved to Istanbul for his university studies, but soon left formal education to focus on his main pursuit: cinema. After directing several short and mid-length films, his debut feature Kar was released in 2017 and received significant critical attention. Following this promising debut, his second feature Beni Sevenler Listesi won major awards, including Best Film and Best Actor at the Istanbul Film Festival, as well as Best Cinematography at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
While continuing to develop a distinct cinematic universe of his own, Erdoğdu has also worked as a director and writer on various television and film projects. He is currently developing the TV series Aslı Veli, which he will both write and direct, alongside his upcoming feature film Yansın Geceler.
Feature Films
Kar / Writer – Director / 2017
Beni Sevenler Listesi / Writer – Director / 2021
Aşkın Yüzü / Director / 2025
TV Series
Bonkis (Season 1) / BluTV / Director / 2021
Sadece Arkadaşız / Exxen / Director / 2023
Short & Mid-Length Films
İnsanlık Tarihinin İlk Günü / Writer – Director / 2014
Kuzgun / Writer / 2016
Her Şey Olması Gerektiği Gibi / Writer / 2020
Theatre
İçimdeki Yangın / Director / 2021
* The event will take place at Bant. Mag Havuz / Bina.
Address: Caferağa, Kadife Sk. No:26, 34710 Kadıköy/İstanbul
* To participate in this talk, you can register via the “Register” button on the event page and obtain your free invitation. Registrations will open 3 days before the event (on February 15, 2026, at 20:00), at which time the “Register” button will become visible. Participation is free and limited to 50 attendees.