Derin Emre is a writer and filmmaker, whose work concerns many facets of displacement, globalization, and the individual. His works are both highly personal and heavily referential.

Born and raised in Istanbul, he has graduated from New York University with a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Comparative Literature. Right after, by a complete coincidence that derailed his projected career, he co-founded Yes Theory, a Youtube channel with now ten million subscribers, that gave Derin a unique perspective on contemporary media. After quitting Yes Theory, Derin worked on essay films in various formats, casting an analytical eye to the changing world. Currently, his video essays are released by CBC Docs, and Occupation Double, Mon Amour was chosen as one of the best video essays of 2025 by Sight and Sound. 

Derin is also a guest speaker at universities and panels, such as University of Virginia and McGill University, regarding archival/desktop cinema and the digital landscape.

Filmography:

• Tsundoku’s Revenge / video essay / 2026 (presumed release) / director, writer, editor
• I’ve Kept You to Myself / archival desktop film / 2023–2027 (in development) / director, writer, editor
• Occupation Double, Mon Amour / video essay / 2024 / director, writer, editor
• My Name is Derin Emre: An Auto-Portrait of Love and Television / feature essay film / 2017–2019 / director, writer, editor
• Everything Outside / feature film / 2016 / co-writer

Festivals and Awards:

• Occupation Double, Mon Amour / Sight and Sound / Video Essay / 2025 / Best Video Essays of 2025
• I’ve Kept You to Myself / EthnoKino Film Festival / Archival Desktop Film / Bern, Switzerland / 2023 / Proof-of-concept Screening
• Everything Outside / Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) / Feature Film / Vancouver, Canada / 2018 / Screening