Comment biography Eduardo de Jesus, 04/2005
Makes short films, documentaries, installations, and experimental video since the eighties, having been featured and awarded in several festivals and exhibitions. As a teacher, Özgüven has taught at the Academy Istanbul, the Beykent University, and the Marmara University. Presently, he teaches at the Istanbul Bilgi University.
From 1990 until 2002, along with Petra Holzer and Walter Pucher, Özgüven promoted a series of International Video Production Workshops aimed at fostering video production among young people. Over 200 youths from more than 20 countries participated in the workshops. These participants would later become multipliers who could use the knowledge that they had acquired in their native countries. The workshops, as well as Özgüven's work, were structured around video production, but featured strong political and social overtones.
From 1995 until 1996, Ethem directed the International Documentaries and Short Films Festival, in Antalya. From 1997 until 1999, he also directed the The Environmental Scenario and Production Awards.
His art work has been featured in festivals such as the Ebensee International Film Festival (Austria, 1991), the International Interforum Festival (Nuremberg, 1997), and the Ifsak Film Festival (Istanbul, 1993, 1994 and 1996), among others.
Özgüven's work was featured in retrospective exhibitions and festivals such as the Kologne Film Festival (Germany, 1993), the Akunst Film Woche (Austria, 1994), the Interforum Film Festival (Germany, 1995), the Mediawave International Film Festival (Hungary, 1996), the Ankara International Film Festival (Turkey, 2000), the Kecksemet International Film Festival (Hungary, 2000), and the Istanbul International Film Days (2003), among others.