Umut Dağ – the son of Kurdish parents and a graduate of the Vienna Film Academy, where he studied under Michael Haneke and Peter Patzak – sees film as a voice for those who have long remained invisible in Austrian cinema.

With his multi-award-winning films Papa, Kuma (opening film of the Berlinale Panorama) and Risse im Beton (Cracks in Concrete) (Berlinale Panorama Special), he has established himself as one of the most distinctive storytellers in contemporary Austrian cinema. His works are characterised by precise observation, emotional power and social relevance.

Dağ remains true to his signature style on television too: the ARD film Das Deutsche Kind as well as productions such as Tatort – Rebecca and the widely acclaimed series Am Anschlag – Die Macht der Kränkung -which won Best Director at the Romy Awards and received 6 more nominations- demonstrate his ability to portray complex characters and social fractures with equal intensity. Die Welt wrote: “German television hasn’t produced anything better than this series for a long time.” For his direction, he received the Romy – Best Directing Television.

His international debut followed in 2019 with two episodes of the international series Vienna Blood, which was honoured with the Romy International Award. For Polizeiruf 110: Widerfahrnis (Magdeburg), the German Crime Festival honoured him with the Special Award for Direction.

Umut Dağ’s most recent credits include the ORF/ZDF series Im Schatten der Angst – Der Skorpion and the ARD Degeto/ORF mini-series Gnadenlos. He is based in Vienna and is currently in production on a drama/thriller series for a global streaming service.

Umut lives in Vienna.