A native of Turkey, Onur Karaman spent time as a child in Algeria before returning to his homeland and then permanently moving to Canada with his family at the age of eight. He studied at Champlain College where he developed his passion for filmmaking. He wrote, directed and produced experimental short films including Le Ride (2006), Stations (2009), R’en-donner (2010) and L’histoire d’un malade (2011). Over the years, Onur has gone back to Turkey several times; his lingering memories of the country of his childhood continue to inspire his filmmaking, in conjunction with influences from contemporary filmmakers from all over the world. His first feature film, La Ferme des Humains (The Urban Farm) (2013), evokes the vicious circle of hypocrisy and selfishness and was premiered successfully at the 2013 Festival du Nouveau Cinéma. Là où Atilla passe… is his second feature film.
Karaman Productions
The mission of Karaman Productions is to produce films that expose viewers to different cultures and ideas, thus allowing people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures to better know themselves and to find a path towards greater inner peace. There are many films that address the notions of “accepting” or “understanding” the Other. However, we forget the obvious fact that to other people, we are the Other, and that opening up to the world requires an awakening of our own conscience.
Là où Atilla passe… is a film that aims to appease the feeling of estrangement that we all face at some point in our lives… given the inescapable fact that we will all one day lose someone or something dear to us, if not our own lives. Why do we love certain things and hate others, and why are we thus conditioned when we are all connected, and share such powerful bonds? This notion continually escapes us, as we go about our lives like rolling waves, ever crashing on shores and rocks, capsizing ships—even when these ships are the very people we love. Karaman Productions wishes to help build an emotional bridge leading to the discovery of our own inner “Other.” It aspires to encourage us in our collective self-realization, rooted in the beauty of life, filled as it is with poetry, emotion, yet, a touch of bitterness.
