Kenan Ormanlar was born in Yugoslavia, raised in Istanbul and has lived in Germany since 1960. He studied at the German Institute for Film & Television (DIFF), the College of Optical & Photographic Technology (FOF) and was among the first graduates of the College of Television & Film (HFF) Munich. He has since freelanced as a cinematographer, filmmaker and producer in Germany and Turkey. With his academic background, he has lectured at numerous seminars, as well as returning to the HFF Munich, where he was a guest lecturer from 1975-1991.