Filming in Türkiye
TURKISH CINEMA INDUSTRY
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t is widely accepted that the film depicting the destruction of the Ayestefanos monument in Istanbul on November 14, 1914, recorded by Fuat Uzkınay, a soldier with the army, marks the beginning of the Turkish Cinema. Subsequently, production continued in collaboration with Special Production Companies, giving rise to a specific cinematic approach rooted in Turkish literature adaptations and historical films. The subsequent years of production have largely revolved around these core themes. An increase in the number of movies marks the period between 1960s-1975 which in now called the Golden Age of Turkish Cinema. The 1960s marked the pinnacle of production efficiency in Turkish cinema, a period characterized by the consistent release of high-quality Turkish films, coinciding with the emergence of a distinct national identity in cinema. However, in the 1970s, the growing interest in television began to draw audiences away from cinemas, leading to the closure of many movie theaters and a contraction in the film industry. Starting in the 1980s, the “star system” waned, and films were no longer identified by their lead actors but rather by their directors, signifying a transformation in Turkish cinema. The Turkish cinema industry faced the economic crisis in the 1990s, and production dropped to fewer than ten films per year. In the 2000s, changes in audience preferences were observed, prompting notable shifts in storytelling among filmmakers. The technical quality of Turkish films reached international standards, and Turkish films began attracting audiences numbering in the millions.
complishments on the international stage. Turkish films have won awards at some of the world’s most prestigious international events such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Moscow, and Tokyo Film Festivals, as well as the Asia Pacific Film Awards, increasing its profile worldwide. In recent years, with the rise in both the audience and film numbers, a growing diversity in production, and the accumulation of international awards, Turkish cinema is steadily advancing on its path to establishing itself as a recognized brand.
CINEMA LAW
Dozens of TV series are produced in Türkiye every year, and these series are exported to more than 150 countries. It is estimated that Turkish TV series, marketed all over the
The Turkish film industry has been incentivized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism since 2005. The purpose of these incentives is to promote the development of the cinema sector, increase the number of high-quality and original productions, and introduce new directors, producers, actors, and screenwriters to the industry. As a result of this support, the quantity of domestic films released has increased from 18 in 2004 to 189 in 2022, and the number of viewers increased from 29 million in 2004 to 35.8 million in 2022. In 2022, the domestic film share reached 51%, compared to 9% in 2002. In recent years, Turkish cinema has not only achieved success in production and at the box office but has also secured significant ac-
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TURKISH SERIES
One of the most important manifestations of the growth of the audiovisual sector in Türkiye after the 2000s has been TV series. Growing fast enough to become an industry in its own right in a short period of time and gaining an international dimension, the series film sector has not only presented the most watched programs on national televisions, but also turned into productions that are exported across borders.
