Biography

Born in 1964 in Famagusta, North Cyprus, Dervish Zaim graduated from Warwick University. He took a course in independent film production, organized in London by the Hollywood Film Institute. In 1995 his first novel won the prestigious "Yunus Nadi" literary prize in Turkey. Tabutta Rövasata (Somersault in a Coffin) is his debut as director and screenwriter.
- IMDb mini biography by: deen_o146

Dervis Zaim graduated from Bogazici University (Istanbul) with an economics degree and then from Warwick University (UK) with an MA in cultural studies.

His debut feature Tabutta Rovasata (Somersault In A Coffin), made in 1997, won him international recognition and numerous awards at leading festivals worldwide. This was followed in 2000 by Filler ve Cimen (Elephants and Grass), which achieved similar success at national and international festivals. His third feature, Camur (Mud), considers the ethnic problem in Cyprus and won the UNESCO Award at the Venice Film Festival in 2003.

Next came Cenneti Beklerken (Waiting for Heaven, 2006), Nokta (Dot, 2008) and Golgeler ve Suretler (Shadows and Faces, 2011), a trilogy reflecting on three of Turkey's traditional art forms. In between, he co-directed Paralel Yolculuklar (Parallel Trips), a 2003 documentary on the experiences and legacy of the 1974 war in Cyprus, with Cypriot filmmaker, Panicos Chrysanthou. Devir (Cycle) and Balik (Fish) and Ruya (Dream) are his last films which have been screened in many festivals and won awards.

He is also the author of the 1992 award-winning novel, 'Ares in Wonderland'. Now based in Istanbul, Zaim also lectures on filmmaking at a number of universities.
- IMDb mini biography by: Emre Oskay