Gonca de Haas was born in Mannheim in 1985 to a Turkish working-class family, an experience that deeply shaped her determination and artistic vision. She pursued her passion for the arts, training at the prestigious Otto Falckenberg School in Munich, where she graduated in 2010. Her talent was quickly recognized, and in 2015, she became a Berlinale Talent, taking part in the Sarajevo Talent Campus. This marked the beginning of a successful career, with her films being showcased at major international festivals, including Locarno, Sarajevo, and the Berlinale.

In 2019/2020, Gonca received a coveted writer’s grant from the University of Television and Film Munich for “Anna, Vater, Kind”, marking the start of her rise as a screenwriter. She continued to gain recognition with further scholarships for “Malina”, a coming-of-age drama, and “Rüzgar Baba”, a family drama, solidifying her voice as a distinctive and versatile storyteller.

Her career reached new heights in 2023 when she won both the Grimme Prize and the New German Cinema Award at the Hof Film Festival, alongside the ensemble of “Im Feuer – Sisters Apart” and “Rohbau”. These accolades highlighted her ability to collaborate and elevate the work of others in her projects.

Based in Munich, Gonca de Haas has built a reputation for creating authentic, emotionally resonant narratives that dive into culturally rich, complex themes. “Torn” marks her debut as a director, showcasing her evolving talents and further establishing her presence in the German and international film scene.