Roya Ismael is a Syrian filmmaker, writer, and visual artist based in Istanbul. Her artistic journey belongs to a young generation of filmmakers combining academic cinema studies with practical work in directing, photography, editing, and visual communication.

She studied Cinema and Television at Gaziantep University alongside Media and Communication studies at Anadolu University, where she later pursued master’s degrees in Visual Communication Design and Cinema & Television, developing a strong interest in contemporary cinematic language and visual storytelling.

Her experience moves between directing, cinematography, editing, screenwriting, and digital visual production. She participated in television and media productions in Turkey, including work within the production team of the drama series War of Roses, while also working in photography and digital media production.

Alongside her production work, she directed several independent short films, including:

• The End of The Pavement
• Where Am I
• Last Canson
• An Infinity Cinema
• Rose and Bread

She also contributed to other film projects in multiple creative roles including screenwriting, editing, sound, and acting, building a multidisciplinary understanding of independent short filmmaking.

Her artistic approach reflects a strong visual sensibility shaped by contemporary cinema, photography, and modern visual arts, often focusing on intimate details, emotional realism, and everyday human experiences.

At the 4th edition of the Kobani International Film Festival 2023, Roya Ismael participated as a member of the Narrative Films Selection Committee, representing a young cinematic voice working between academic film studies and contemporary visual production.