Ulduz Madatkhanova is an Azerbaijani filmmaker with a strong interest in identity, memory, and cultural heritage. She moved to Turkey in 2014 to study film directing at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, where she graduated in 2018. Since then, she has directed several short films and worked in various key roles including executive producer, art director, and assistant director. Her experience as an editor on the acclaimed Turkish-Georgian documentary Memtevri deepened her connection to nonfiction storytelling. In 2020, she directed her first short documentary Roots, a personal exploration of the disappearing Lezgi ethnic minority—her own heritage. She is currently developing Gudul, a hybrid docu-fiction project that delves into the unique spring rituals of her hometown, Gusar, in northern Azerbaijan. Since 2023, Ulduz has been continuing her film education at the International Film School Cologne (ifs), in the Master’s program Film – Co-Creation and Innovation for Social Change, where she focuses on collaborative and cross-cultural storytelling.
