Mehmet Ada Öztekin (b. 1976, Antalya) is a Turkish director, screenwriter, writer and translator. During his university years in Antalya and Izmir, he held managerial positions at private radio stations. He produced and presented a radio programme called "Gamli Baykush" ("The Sad Owl"). After his work in radio, his love for cinema brought him to Istanbul, where he began working at a production company. There he met Kaan Çaydamlı and did book translations. At that time Kaan Çaydamlı and Mete Avunduk hosted the radio programme "Kaybedenler Kulübü" ("The Losers' Club") on Kent FM. Öztekin, meanwhile, wrote the screenplay for the "Losers' Club," which would later be made into a film, during those years. The character of Murat, played in the film by Rıza Kocaoğlu, represents him. He has put his signature on many successful projects as both screenwriter and director in commercials, music videos, short films, feature films and series. He is also among the instructors of the Academy 35 Buçuk Art House. His book "Veronica Pompa İstiyor" was published by Altıkırkbeş Publishing House. The film he directed, "Mahmut ile Meryem," is one of the first joint Turkey–Azerbaijan film projects. One of his most talked-about works, the series "Kuzey Güney," has also been broadcast in countries such as Serbia, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Albania and Iran. Öztekin, who has continued to write for magazines in various periods, was the director of the series "Büyük Sürgün Kafkasya," broadcast on TRT 1 during the 2015–2016 season. In 2016–2017 he also directed the series "Bodrum Masalı," broadcast on Kanal D. He is also the director of the film "Martıların Efendisi," whose filming was completed in August 2017. Filming for "Kaybedenler Kulübü Yolda," the sequel to "Kaybedenler Kulübü," began in October 2017 and was completed on 17 November 2017. The film was released in Turkey on 16 March 2018. His film "7. Koğuştaki Mucize," made in 2019, was the most-watched film of the year. The film was selected as Turkey's candidate for the "Best International Feature Film" category at the 93rd Academy Awards.
