Every year on February 25, Koç Group commemorates its founder Vehbi Koç and also presents the Vehbi Koç Award, a part of his legacy, to a new recipient. This year, we wanted to remember Vehbi Koç with a film that reflects his measured and modest tone—true to his signature style—by using his own voice.
Vehbi Koç, known not only for laying the foundations of industry in Turkey but also for his contributions to social development, has always inspired interest through his worldview, work philosophy, and lifestyle. How he grew from running a small shop in Ankara to leading enterprises that shaped 10% of the national economy, and the critical decisions he made along the way, have been the subject of many books and films.
Although many years have passed since his death in 1996, Vehbi Koç's unique thoughts continue to influence new generations. For this year’s Vehbi Koç Award Ceremony, we wanted to step outside conventional methods and sought a humble yet impactful way to create a film using the new possibilities offered by technology.
We compiled archival voice recordings from interviews Vehbi Koç had given in the past. These recordings were cleaned and edited in the studio. Rearranging his sentences on topics like national issues, industry, and the younger generations into a meaningful whole felt like bringing his ideas—if not the man himself—back to life. Through this process, we realized that to "commemorate" Vehbi Koç is truly to "understand" him.
