Born in Istanbul, Kerem Ayan moved to Paris in 1992 and studied film at the Ecole Supérieure de Réalisation Audiovisuelle and Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7. He was assistant director and in charge of the cultural page at Radio France Internationale for four years. He started working for the Cannes Film Festival in 2001 and meanwhile organized the International Literary Adaptation Market in Monaco. In 2005 he launched the Political Films Festival in Barcelona and directed it for three years. Since 2006 he has been the assistant director of the Istanbul Film Festival.

Bulgu Öztürk was appointed assistant director of the Festival. Azize Tan will continue her support for the festival as advisor. The Istanbul Film Festival is organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV).