Born and raised in Dortmund, Yasemin Şamdereli immediately went to the University of Television and Film in Munich after graduating from high school. During her studies, she was an assistant director on two international film productions by Jackie Chan.
Her graduation film, KISMET, was shown at several major film festivals and won the Short Tiger Award. After directing two television films, her first feature film, ALMANYA - WELCOME TO GERMANY, premiered at the 2011 Berlinale and won numerous awards, including two Lolas for Best Screenplay and Best Documentary.