About Zeki Ökten Zeki Ökten (August 4, 1941 – December 19, 2009) was a Turkish film director.Biography He was born on August 4, 1942 in Istanbul. Zeki Ökten was interested in theatre during his education at the Haydarpaşa High School. He entered his filmmaking career in 1961 as the assistant director of Nişan Hançer directing Acı Zeytin. Zeki Ökten directed his first film Ölüm Pazarı two years later in 1963. However, he stepped back to the post of assistant director as the success expected did not come. He worked then nine years long as the assistant to the renowned directors like Ömer Lütfi Akad, Halit Refiğ, Memduh Ün and Atıf Yılmaz. With his films Kadın Yapar in 1972 and with Bir Demet Menekşe in 1973, written by Selim İleri, he gained recognition. He was honored at the Golden Orange Film Festival in 1977 for directing the film Kapıcılar Kralı. Real success came with the films Sürü (1978) and Düşman (1979), both written by Yılmaz Güney. The film Sürü received nine more international awards, following the honors at the festivals in Locarno 1979 and at Antwerp in 1980. Zeki Ökten received his second Golden Orange award in 1983 for directing the film Faize Hücum. The themes of his films were social problems featured in comedy. Zeki Ökten died on December 19, 2009 following a heart surgery for which he was hospitalized the day before in the American Hospital in Istanbul. He was laid to rest at the Zincirlikuyu Cemetery two days later following a religious funeral cermony held at the Teşvikiye Mosque. Zeki Ökten is succeeded by his wife Güler Ökten, a well-known Turkish actress.