Tolga Ornek embarked on his illustrious career by crafting, producing, and directing a string of award-winning documentaries, including ATATURK (1998),MOUNT NEMRUD: THE THRONE OF THE GODS (2000),THE HITTITES (2003),and GALLIPOLI (2005),which garnered international recognition and critical acclaim. GALLIPOLI, in particular, achieved remarkable success, ranking as the fifth highest-grossing film in Turkey in 2005 and receiving theatrical releases in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. In recognition of his outstanding work, Tolga was honored with an Order of Australia honorary medal by the Australian government.
In 2008, Tolga co-wrote, produced, and directed his first feature film, CARS OF THE REVOLUTION, a true story about the production of the first Turkish car in 1961. The film received widespread critical acclaim and won numerous international awards. This was followed by THE LOSERS CLUB, which Tolga co-wrote, produced, and directed, released in March 2011. Inspired by a cult, irreverent radio show from the 90's, the film became a box office and cult phenomenon, earning a spot as one of the best Turkish films ever produced.
Ornek's third film, LABYRINTH, a present-day espionage thriller supported by the European film fund, Eurimages, Turkish Ministry of Culture, and Germany's HessenInvestFilm, was released in 2012 in Turkey and several territories in Europe and South America. LABYRINTH received both critical and popular acclaim, paving the way for Tolga's move to Los Angeles, where he began working on THE SYNDICATE, a new international TV show about a secret DEA Task force determined to take down an international heroin syndicate smuggling drugs from Afghanistan to Europe.
In 2013, Tolga directed a romantic comedy based on his own experiences, YOUR STORY, and in 2016, he adapted and directed the Turkish version of the Mexican hit INSTRUCTIONS NOT INCLUDED. Throughout his career, Tolga has written, produced, and directed ten films across a wide range of genres, shooting on location in Turkey, Egypt, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand.
