31.10.2026 10:40
Director Mert Can Altun (24), who has congenital cerebral palsy and dystonia and is 90 percent physically disabled, produces films with artificial intelligence, using one hand and three fingers, because he cannot use a camera. Altun's film 'The Lost Claws of Anatolia' took part in a special non-competitive screening at the 63rd International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival. The award-winning young director's goal is to make it to Hollywood with a film about Göbeklitepe.
Mert Can Altun (24), director of 'The Lost Claws of Anatolia', which is featured at the ANTALYA Golden Orange Film Festival, is 90 percent physically disabled and produces films using artificial intelligence technology with one hand and 3 fingers. Altun, who has won awards at national and international festivals, aims to make films in Hollywood.
Born with cerebral palsy and dystonia, director Mert Can Altun, who is 90 percent physically disabled, produces in cinema using AI technology. A graduate of Hasan Kalyoncu University's Radio, Television and Cinema Department, Altun prepares his films at the computer with the only hand and 3 fingers he can use. Mert Can Altun, whose film 'The Lost Claws of Anatolia', created entirely with AI technology, was included in the non-competitive short film special screening program of the 63rd International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, continues his work in cinema despite his physical disability.
HE USES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BECAUSE HE CANNOT HOLD A CAMERA
Altun, who has had cerebral palsy and dystonia since birth due to health problems related to premature birth, does not give up his passion for cinema despite his physical limitations. The director, who has difficulty using a camera in traditional filmmaking, transforms the scenes in his imagination into images by benefiting from AI technologies. Mert Can Altun, who prepares films in science fiction and fantasy genres, also produces animal documentaries.
Stating that his physical disability makes film production difficult for him and that he has become accustomed to these conditions over time, Altun said that AI is an important tool for him. Explaining that he benefits from this technology because he cannot use a camera, Mert Can Altun noted that AI serves the same function for him as a camera and a film set.
HE WON AWARDS AT FESTIVALS
Altun, whose AI-supported works have been featured at national and international festivals, won the Best AI Film Award at the TAYF International Short Film Festival and the first prize in the AI-Supported Documentary Film category at the Turkish World Documentary Film Festival. The director's works were also included in the special selection of the TRT International Documentary Awards and in the short film special screening program of the Adana Golden Boll Film Festival. Mert Can Altun's works, which have attracted interest abroad as well, were exhibited at The Grey Space in the Middle, a culture and arts center in The Hague, the Netherlands.
HIS GOAL IS HOLLYWOOD WITH A GÖBEKLİTEPE FILM
One of Altun's biggest goals, as he continues producing films with AI, is to make a film in Hollywood. The director, who especially wants to prepare a fantasy film about Göbeklitepe, aims to undertake larger projects by combining his imagination with technology. Stating that AI is not only a technology but also a tool that enables people with different conditions to produce, Mert Can Altun emphasized that disabled individuals should have opportunities to reveal their talents. The young director said he aims both to establish a place for himself in the cinema world with his works and to inspire other disabled individuals.
'MY DISABILITY MAKES THINGS DIFFICULT, BUT I DON'T GIVE UP'
Mert Can Altun said, 'I produce films with one hand and 3 fingers using artificial intelligence technologies. My disability generally makes things difficult for me, but I never give up. My goal is to rise to Hollywood with the films I make. I want to make a fantasy film about Göbeklitepe and reach Hollywood. Artificial intelligence is something that is heavily criticized, but since I cannot use a camera, it serves the same function for me as a film set.'
Mert Can Altun, who does not want disabled people to be despised, said, 'There are truly great treasures within them. Let us not cover up those treasures,' and gave disabled people the message 'do not give up.' Mert Can Altun also said that artificial intelligence should be used in a way that benefits society.