Öykü Karayel praises Özcan Deniz after emotional ‘Son Yemek’ premiere

Özcan Deniz receives all the praise from Öykü Karayel after the premiere.

Öykü Karayel has spoken warmly about her experience working with Özcan Deniz, revealing that her respect for the actor and director grew after they met and began working together on ‘Son Yemek’. The Turkish actress shared her thoughts during the film’s premiere at the 63rd Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, where the production received an emotional response from the audience.

The film had its Türkiye premiere on October 29 at the Atatürk Cultural Center’s Aspendos Hall in Antalya. It was included in the festival’s National Gala selection, bringing Deniz and several of his co-stars together for the special screening.

Öykü Karayel and Helin Kandemir Praise Özcan Deniz

Speaking after the screening, Karayel explained that she had enjoyed working with Deniz and developed even greater respect for him through the experience.

She also praised the way he introduced the story to the cast, describing his explanation as gentle and sincere. After watching the completed film for the first time at the festival, she felt that the final result captured the warm and heartfelt story he had originally described.

Helin Kandemir, who also appears in the film, shared her positive feelings about working with Deniz, saying she was very happy to have been part of the project.

Their comments added a personal touch to the event, highlighting the positive experience shared by members of the cast.

Özcan Deniz Opens Up About Acting and Directing

Deniz attended the premiere alongside his co-stars and took part in a discussion following the screening. The actor, who also wrote and directed ‘Son Yemek’, spoke about the challenge of handling both responsibilities in the same production.

He explained that he usually tries to avoid acting in films he directs, and that he spent around a year considering other actors for the project before deciding to take on the role himself.

Deniz also described the difficulty of performing in front of the camera while simultaneously directing the scene. As he explained, the challenge is not simply acting, but having to perform opposite a co-star while also carrying the responsibility of directing.

His wife, Samar Dadgar, was also present at the festival. She appears in the film as part of its cast.

What Is ‘Son Yemek’ About?

Written and directed by Özcan Deniz, ‘Son Yemek’ tells the story of Bekir and Sebahat, a young pianist whose lives become connected after their paths cross during a secret mission.

Years later, Sebahat invites four neighbors to dinner and begins telling them the story of her great love with Bekir. Their relationship is shaped by passion, separation, longing, and reunion, as the film explores how love can survive the challenges of time.

The 122-minute romantic drama stars Deniz and Karayel alongside Tilbe Saran, Nejat İşler, Ceyda Düvenci, Gonca Vuslateri, Helin Kandemir, and Özgür Emre Yıldırım.

‘Son Yemek’ Release Details

Produced by Sky Film, Mahzen Media, and Net Yapım, ‘Son Yemek’ is scheduled to premiere on Prime Video on November 19, 2026.

Its Golden Orange screening marked its first presentation to Turkish audiences, giving festivalgoers an early opportunity to see the new project before its streaming debut.

With Karayel and Kandemir expressing their appreciation for Deniz and the film receiving an emotional response at its first Turkish screening, ‘Son Yemek’ has already attracted attention ahead of its upcoming release.