You can find my current CV here —> CV – 2024
Hi! I’m Umay Özgül, born on August 23, 2004, in Izmir, Turkey. I grew up in Istanbul, where I attended Galatasaray High School, one of Turkey’s most prestigious French institutions, completing my education in a bilingual and multicultural environment.
During my school years, I spent summers in England and France, immersing myself in new cultures and honing my language skills. I also pursued my passion for visual storytelling by taking university-level courses in photography and cinematography at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and Kadir Has University in Istanbul.
Currently, I’m studying Cinema and Audiovisual Arts with a minor in Theater at Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris. My love for theater began when I was twelve, and it has remained a cornerstone of my artistic journey. In high school, I was an active member of the theater club and performed at the Sadri Alışık Cultural Center.
As I transitioned into university, I became involved in various short film projects, taking on roles as an actress, dancer, and extra. In my second year, I wrote and directed my first short film, Fabrika Kızı, in Sète, France, followed by Pasaport, a 30-minute short film shot in Istanbul.
In October 2023, after specialized training, I joined Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) as a Venue Assistant for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This experience allowed me to work as a boom operator for the Olympic volleyball matches and as a camera assistant for the Paralympic boccia games. I also had the invaluable opportunity to observe professionals in AMP Visual’s production vans, gaining firsthand insights into the world of live broadcasting.
These experiences solidified my passion for cinema and audiovisual storytelling. I’ve always found clarity and comfort in translating emotions into words, and over time, photography and cinematography became natural extensions of that impulse. Through film, I aspire to weave together words, images, and emotions, crafting stories that transcend language and cultural barriers.