Aksel Ustun
Actor, author and director
Credit: Harcourt
"Aksel Ustun is a Franco-Turkish actor, author, and director. He embodies the fusion of diverse cultures and an unwavering passion for art and cinema. At 15, he began studying theater and film and enrolled at a dramatic arts conservatory.
As an actor, Aksel Ustun quickly stood out on the French scene. He became a familiar face to viewers thanks to roles in hit Canal+ series such as “Braquo” (2016), “Les Revenants” (2012), and “Engrenages” (2012).
In cinema, he shone on screen in films such as “Ibrahim” (2020, Dir. Samir Guesmi), “L’Art de la Fugue” (2013, Dir. Brice Cauvin), the comedy “Le Lion” (2020, Dir. L. Colbeau-Justin), and “Geronimo” (2012, Dir. T. Gatlif), selected for the Cannes Film Festival in 2014.
Fluent in five languages, Aksel has leveraged his international career with representation in England, Turkey, and Brazil. His international projects include the series “Rio Connection” (2023, Globoplay), “Bob Marley One Love” (2024, Dir. Reinaldo Marcus Green), “Operation Fortune” (2023, Dir. Guy Ritchie), “Top Boy” (2019, Netflix), “Gangs of London” (2020, HBO), among others.
He has also performed in Parisian theaters such as Ariane Mnouchkine’s Cartoucherie and the Théâtre du Rond-Point with Pipo Delbono. In addition, he explores screenwriting and won an audiovisual competition at the Théâtre du Rond-Point with a parody commercial titled “R²”, which he also directed. His teachers praised him with a special mention for his play “The Special Envoys”.
Aksel has also directed music videos for various artists, as well as short and medium-length films, some of which have been selected and awarded at international festivals. He also co-produced the short film “Stone Cars”, by Reinaldo Marcus Green, which competed in the Cinéfondation selection at the Cannes Film Festival. He currently has two series in development. His first feature film, “Washing Machine”, is produced by Alain De la Mata, founder of Bluelight in England and Wild Bunch.
Beyond his artistic career, Aksel Ustun is involved whenever possible in humanitarian and community initiatives. He taught theater classes in favelas during his time in Brazil, collaborated with the Mille Visages Association in France, is dedicated to turtle protection in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, is involved with elephant hospitals in Thailand, and regularly takes part in Art Football’s activities—an organization that seeks to provide access to education and shelter for children."