The Istanbul-based Turkish writer-director Ela Alyamac’s second feature film “Lost Birds” screenplay was selected by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Margaret Herrick Library’s Core Collection in 2016. “Lost Birds” is the first film shot in Turkey to depict the great tragedy of 1915.

Set against the backdrop of the First World War in a small Armenian village in Ottoman Anatolia, the film follows a young brother and sister who embark on a perilous journey to find their mother. “Lost Birds” was featured in American Cinematographer magazine's September 2015 issue, singing praises to its stunning cinematography. The ten page article was a first for a Turkish Project at the legendary magazine. Admiringly reviewed by the HFPA at the 2015 Golden Globes, “Lost Birds” was premiered at the Egyptian Theatre in LA in 2015 and won the Armin T. Wegner
Humanitarian Award at the Arpa International Film Festival along with best feature film and best director awards. The film was also congratulated by the then governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Alyamac made her debut with “Fairy Dust” (2008), a romantic drama about growing up, making peace with the past and believing in miracles. The film significantly changed how romantic comedies and coming-of-age movies are told in Turkey. Her first short film “Everything”(2001) won best short film award at the Laguna Beach Film Festival.

Alyamac has a Master of Fine Arts in directing and screenwriting from Chapman University. She is currently developing her third feature film “Hello” with her directing partner Aren Perdeci. “Hello” was selected for the residency program of Film Independent’s Global Media Makers 2022 and Alyamac has become a member of the Film Independent community.