Ali Akarcesme

Biography

Ali Akarcesme is a filmmaker and educator whose work bridges creative practice and critical inquiry in cinema and television.

Since 2016, he has taught film production, history, and media theory, emphasizing industry practice and analytical rigor. Before academia, he worked as a television producer creating non-fiction programming for RCN Cable.

His directing work includes the award-winning short narrative Departures and the current documentary Who Needs Preacher Moss? Between Faith and Funny. His films explore identity, immigration, and underrepresented communities. He remains active in the industry, bringing knowledge and contemporary production methods into the classroom to prepare students for a rapidly evolving media landscape.

Research

•\sFilmmaking (Narrative & Documentary)
•\sDirecting, Cinematography, Editing, Sound
•\sFilm Analysis & Film Theory
•\sCross-Cultural and Contemporary Cinema, Media Theory
•\sAdobe Creative Cloud (Premiere Pro, Audition), Final Draft, CeltX
•\sOnline Learning platforms: Canvas, Brightspace, Blackboard, Zoom
•\sFestival preparation, professional practice, and distribution