FATIH AKIN - Writer / Director

Team Deakins

James Ellis Deakins

Tv & Film, Film Interviews

4.9 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 28 January 2026

⏱️ 92 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 178 - Fatih Akin - Writer / Director

In this extended episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with writer and director Fatih Akin (AMRUM, IN THE FADE, HEAD-ON). Born in Hamburg, Fatih wrote his first script at 18 during religion lessons, and after selling the screenplay a year later, he's been writing, directing, and producing films ever since. In addition to discussing his process as a filmmaker, we also learn what it's like to make movies within the German system. During our conversation about THE EDGE OF HEAVEN, Fatih reveals the extensive restructuring of the film's story in the edit, and while discussing IN THE FADE, Fatih reflects on the events that led to casting Diane Kruger in the film's lead role. Fatih's latest film, AMRUM, is based on the childhood memories of late director Hark Bohm, and we learn how Hark not only inspired Fatih to make movies in his hometown but also convinced him he was the right person to tell a story about the end of the Third Reich, set on a remote German island. Plus, Fatih reveals the influence of Bruce Lee's films and martial arts philosophy on his work.

Recommended Viewing: AMRUM, IN THE FADE, THE EDGE OF HEAVEN

This episode is sponsored by Picture Shop & Aputure

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi and welcome to season two of the Team Deacons podcast, a collection of informal conversations
0:10.1	between Roger and James Deacons and a guest.
0:13.7	We never know where the conversation will take us, so listen in and see where it goes.
0:22.0	This episode is brought to you by Picture Shop, whose colorists have created looks for many of
0:28.6	the world's biggest films, acclaim series, and celebrated independent and festival projects.
0:35.8	Picture Shop is proud to be a creative partner
0:38.5	to the artists behind the camera
0:40.2	who trust us to help shape their final vision.
0:44.2	Visit PictureShop.com to get in touch
0:47.2	and mention Team Deacons for special rate consideration.
0:55.5	This episode is sponsored by Aperture and its new Storm XT-52, the industry's most powerful
1:03.6	LED point source light.
1:06.0	Brighter than a 6K HMI empowered by Aperture's revolutionary Blair light engine, the Storm XT-52 is both a tunable
1:15.5	white light and also the brightest ever adjustable color LED. Storm XT-52, unrivaled output, only from
1:25.8	aperture.
1:29.3	Today we're speaking with the director. His credits include Goodbye Berlin in the Fade and the upcoming Amram. We're pleased to welcome Fatie Akin. Fetit, thank you for doing this. We're very excited to talk to you. Thank you. Thank you for having you.
1:46.8	We'd like to start with our normal question, which is, how did you get to where you are today?
1:51.9	Is it something that you felt you were going to do from a child, or did you have another plan in mind and then find it accidentally?
2:00.2	What's your story?
2:02.3	Well, I always, I mean, I always wanted to be a filmmaker.
2:08.4	Since I was a little kid, there was a key moment in my life, I think, when I was six
2:15.9	years old, that was in the very late 70s. I had a cousin. He was a bit
	...

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