The Legend of the Ugly King

The Legend of the Ugly King is a German-Austrian documentary film exploring the turbulent life of Kurdish-Turkish actor, director and writer Yılmaz Güney. Written and directed by Hüseyin Tabak, the film traces Güney's cinematic career, his political struggle and the legacy he left behind through archive footage and testimonies from those who knew or admired him.

Alongside major figures of Turkish cinema such as Tarık Akan, Halil Ergün and Tuncel Kurtiz, internationally renowned filmmakers including Costa-Gavras and Michael Haneke also appear to share their perspectives. The documentary had its world premiere in September 2017 as part of the 42nd Toronto International Film Festival. Shot in German, Turkish and English, it focuses on the artistic heritage and exile years of Güney, widely known by the nickname 'the Ugly King', reaffirming his enduring place in film history.