Ayhan Hulagu
Biography
Ayhan Hulagu is a New York–based actor and writer. A former member of Studio Players in Istanbul, he moved to the U.S. in 2017 and founded the US Karagoz Theatre Company and Studio Garage. His shows have toured nearly 40 states across the U.S., and his theatre masterclasses have been hosted by universities such as Cornell, UC Berkeley, Princeton, MIT, Stanford, and Harvard. His projects were featured at international festivals such as the 44th Vancouver Film Festival, the 61st Chicago Film Festival, the 34th Neapolis International Theatre Festival, and the New York Fringe Festival. He is the first artist to bring traditional Turkish theatre’s 700-year legacy to Broadway.
Known For & Full Filmography1 Titles
Movie - 2025, 2h 15m • as Adem
Yakup, a Turkish music teacher seeking political asylum in New York, is trying to keep his head above water as he navigates the US immigration system. Working illegally in a restaurant kitchen with a lively group of fellow immigrants, he is laser focused on laying the groundwork to bring his wife and daughter abroad. In a desperate attempt to expedite the process, he seeks help from a group of shady fellow countrymen who resort to risky methods to get people out of Turkey. But things quickly go sideways and chances to reunite with his loved ones deteriorate by the minute.