Meet Serkan Aktaş

We were lucky to catch up with Serkan Aktaş recently and have shared our conversation below.

Serkan, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

I treat creativity like a living muscle—it needs daily movement, daily nourishment.

I read every day, because reading feeds my inner world.
I watch films every day, not passively, but actively—studying rhythm, framing, silence, and emotion.
I write every day, even when I’m tired, because writing keeps my mind honest and sharp.

I’ve made many short films, and the fact that they became award-winning works is not an accident—it’s the result of repetition, discipline, and curiosity. Each film taught me something new about storytelling, failure, and precision.

I also keep my creativity alive by learning languages. I study English and Arabic every day. Language opens new ways of thinking; it reshapes how you see time, emotion, and meaning.

And finally, I practice a traditional Turkish instrument, the bağlama, every day. Music connects me to rhythm and emotion in a way words sometimes cannot. It reminds me that creativity is not only intellectual—it’s physical, emotional, and spiritual.

All these habits—reading, watching, writing, filmmaking, learning languages, and playing music—are not separate activities.
They form a daily ecosystem.
That ecosystem is what keeps my creativity alive.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m a filmmaker, writer, and director whose work lives at the intersection of cinema, history, and human transformation.

What excites me most about my work is the process of turning inner change into visual storytelling. I’m drawn to characters who are imperfect, conflicted, and searching for meaning—because that’s where truth lives. Whether I’m working on short films or developing larger projects, my focus is always the same: emotional honesty, strong visual language, and disciplined storytelling.

Over the years, I’ve created numerous short films that have gone on to receive international recognition and awards. Those films weren’t just creative experiments; they were steps in a long, intentional journey of learning—learning how to see better, listen deeper, and tell stories with greater precision.

At the moment, my primary focus is expanding my work into feature-length projects while continuing to write, research, and develop stories with global resonance. I’m especially interested in projects that speak across cultures and languages, and that invite the audience not just to watch, but to reflect.

My brand, if I had to define it, is built on integrity, consistency, and craft. I believe creativity isn’t something that appears suddenly—it’s something you earn through daily practice, patience, and respect for the art form. I’m not chasing trends; I’m building a body of work that can stand the test of time.

Looking ahead, I’m entering a phase of larger collaborations, international partnerships, and new releases, with the goal of bringing more ambitious stories to the screen while staying true to the values that shaped my earlier work.

For me, filmmaking isn’t just a profession.
It’s a lifelong discipline—and a way of understanding the world.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, three things shaped my journey more than anything else: input, output, and consistency.

First: Reading and Watching — building your inner library.
Reading and watching films daily trained my eye and mind. Every book, every film adds a new reference point—structure, rhythm, emotion, silence. Creativity doesn’t come from emptiness; it comes from absorption. The more you read and watch with attention, the richer your inner world becomes.

Second: Writing and Making Films — turning input into output.
Ideas only become meaningful when they are expressed. Writing every day and making films—especially short films—taught me how to transform thoughts into form. Each film, successful or not, was a lesson. The key is not waiting for perfection, but finishing the work. Output clarifies who you are as an artist.

Third: Discipline and Repetition — consistency over talent.
Talent opens the door, but discipline keeps it open. I learned that creativity grows through routine: reading every day, watching every day, writing every day, and making films whenever possible. Repetition sharpens intuition and builds confidence over time.

My advice to anyone early in their journey is simple:
Increase your input, increase your output.
Read more. Watch more. Write more. And most importantly, make your film. Don’t wait for permission, money, or perfect conditions. Each finished work moves you forward.

Progress is not sudden.
It’s cumulative.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes, I’m absolutely open to collaboration at this stage of my journey.

I’m especially interested in working with writers and creative thinkers, but not in a rigid or limiting way. I don’t believe collaboration should be about matching identical ideas—I believe it should work more like chemistry.

In chemistry, hydrogen is flammable and oxygen supports combustion. On their own, they can be destructive. But when they come together through a reaction, they form water—something entirely new, something that extinguishes fire. Water is different from both elements, and in many ways, the opposite of them.

I believe creative collaboration works the same way. When different ideas, perspectives, and temperaments collide, something new and stronger can emerge—something none of the individuals could create alone. I’m open to collaborators who think differently from me, who challenge assumptions, and who bring unexpected energy into the process.

What matters most to me is curiosity, integrity, and a willingness to explore ideas deeply. I’m not interested in creative comfort zones—I’m interested in meaningful reactions.

For those who feel aligned and would like to collaborate, email is the best way to connect with me.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Serkan Aktaş

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
Local Highlighter Series

We are so thrilled to be able to connect with some of the brightest and

Highlighter Series
Who taught you the most about work?

Society has its myths about where we learn – internships, books, school, etc. However, in

Highlighter Series
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?

We asked some of the wisest people we know what they would tell their younger