Melis Birder

Melis Birder moved to New York in 1994. She became interested in documentary filmmaking at the New School for Social Research in New York, where she graduated from. She completed her Master′s degree in Media Studies at the same school. After working in many different jobs, she started her documentary career as an educator and run video programs at various NYC public schools. She has also been commissioned to direct and produce documentaries for libraries and other community groups dealing extensively with social issues. In 1998, she co-founded inHouse projects with Berke Baş in New York. Birder directed TV program "The Show" and shot several documentary films such as "Missing Bird," "Crossing Brooklyn." Her first independent documentary film is "The Tenth Planet: A Single Life in Baghdad" (2005). Birder has received several awards for her documentary films: she won the "Best documentary film" award in the 46th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival with her film "Visitors" in 2009. She received a jury special award for her film "Bağlar" (2015) in the 15th !f Istanbul International Independent Films Festival. Birder currently lives and works in Istanbul and New York.

Films as a cinematographer:
2009, The Visitors (Documentary)
2006, The Tenth Planet: A Single Life in Baghdad (Documentary short film)
2005, A Song for Daniel (Short film)

Films as a director:
2015 Bağlar (documentary)
2009, The Visitors (documentary)
2006, The Tenth Planet: A Single Life in Baghdad (Documentary short film)

Film as an editor:
2006, The Tenth Planet: A Single Life in Baghdad (Documentary short film)
Film as a producer:
2009, The Visitors (Documentary)

Reference: imdb.com, kameraarkasi.org, d-word.com, ifistanbul.com, tenth-planet.org