Kendinin Avcısı / Hunter of Self

dir. Batuhan Yalaz

producers: Aycan Aluçlu & Emir Melek

co-producer: Ülkü Solak Yalaz

“Hunter of Self” follows the life and tragic passing of Soner Egesel, one of Turkey’s most accomplished classical guitar virtuosos, as it sheds light on the system that failed him. 

From his youth in Ankara’s vibrant conservatory halls to his internationally lauded performances with the Bilkent Guitar Trio, Egesel rose to represent the cultural promise of a nation. Yet, behind his radiant stage presence and his dedication to the guitar lay silent battles and struggles neither the state’s scant cultural policies nor a neglectful industry would acknowledge.

Through intimate interviews, rare archival footage, and a careful unraveling of his personal world, “Hunter of Self” seeks to understand why an artist revered for his mastery would take his own life in a modest hotel room in a small Anatolian city in 2020. The film examines the shadows lurking beneath his cheerful public persona: the quiet despair, mounting isolation, and oppressive conditions that ultimately turned his art into a cage rather than a sanctuary.

In telling Egesel’s story, the documentary exposes systemic issues within Turkey’s fragile cultural sector—where musicians, composers, and performers struggle amid economic instability, societal indifference, and a glaring absence of supportive policies. As the pandemic intensifies pre-existing challenges, “Hunter of Self” poses urgent questions: How does a society fail its artists so profoundly? What are the costs when talent, once nurtured, is left to fend for itself?

More than a portrait of a single musician, “Hunter of Self” confronts the heartbreaking reality of a cultural ecosystem in crisis, urging us to see beyond the applause and recognize the delicate, often invisible burdens carried by those who bring beauty into the world.

workshops:

IDFAcademy, 2024

RotterdamLab, 2025