BIO

AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR

Aaron Erol Ozlevi is an award-winning, Los Angeles-based director born in Turkey to a Spanish-speaking household, and he brings a multicultural perspective to his work.

Aaron Erol recently won the Best Director award at the San Francisco International Film Festival, the Chicago Filmmaker Awards, and the South Film and Arts Academy Festival (SFAAF) for his outstanding directorial achievement. His period drama film, EXILE, has won Best Feature Film at the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival, the Niagara Canada International Film Festival, and the South Film and Arts Academy Festival (SFAAF). Additionally, EXILE received an Award of Excellence Special Mention in the IndieFEST Film Awards and won the Best Cinematography award at the International Brightlight Film Festival. The film also secured the award for Best Acting Performance in a Leading Role at the Soho International Film Festival and was selected for screening at the Central Coast International Film Festival, the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival, and the Santa Barbara International Movie Awards.


OVER 100 EPISODES OF DIRECTING ON TV SHOWS, INCLUDING PILOTS

Ozlevi has over a decade of experience and has directed three feature films and over 100 episodes for six different television shows, including pilot episodes in Turkey.

His film ROMANTIC COMEDY 2 was number three overall at the Turkish box office and is currently available on Netflix. His film YOURS TRULY (DONERSE SENINDIR) is available on Amazon Prime. His breakout TV hit, LITTLE LORD, a family comedy/drama, became Turkey’s #1 Most-Watched TV show and won the Best TV Show Golden Butterfly Award (the Turkish equivalent of the Emmys). Ozlevi’s success continued with the Fox TV show HAPPINESS, a college comedy/drama that also led the ratings as the #1 Most-Watched TV show for 17 weeks in Turkey.

GRADUATE OF WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY ACCESS DIRECTORS PROGRAM

In between directing TV and features, Ozlevi collaborates closely with writers, creative directors, and executives and directs commercials for renowned brands such as Pepsi, Nestle, and Lipton. He is a graduate of the DGA and AICP’s Commercial Directors Diversity Program (CDDP) and has been selected for the 2023 Warner Bros. Discovery Access Directors Program.

EARNED MASTER’S DEGREE IN FILM PRODUCTION FROM EMERSON COLLEGE, BOSTON

Ozlevi holds a Master’s degree in TV & Video Production from Emerson College in Boston, where he received two EVVY Award nominations and won the EVVY for Best Documentary Film.

COMMITTED TO CREATING BEAUTIFUL CINEMATOGRAPHIC IMAGES

He has personally studied under distinguished professionals such as Allen Daviau (E.T., Empire of Sun), Russell Carpenter (Titanic, Avatar 2), Karl W. Lindenlaub (Independence Day, Stargate), and Jacek Laskus (The Guardian).

EUROPEAN CITIZEN AND LEGAL US RESIDENT

Ozlevi holds dual citizenship in Spain and Turkey, providing him with European citizenship and access to the entire EU for tax incentives and credits while being a legal resident of Los Angeles in the US with his wife and two children.

TV ACADEMY MEMBER AND USC PROFESSOR SPECIALIZING IN DIRECTING ACTORS

Ozlevi is an active member of the TV Academy, Directors Unit of Actors Studio West, and a devoted supporter of organizations like the Motion Picture & Television Fund. He has recently become an adjunct professor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, teaching Directing Actors to senior students in the Film and Television Production program.