New support projects to be made for film sector

ISTANBUL

The Culture and Tourism Ministry starts a new project to support Turkish cinema. 2012 will be the beginning of a new and different process for Turkish cinema,” said Culture Ministry Cinema General Director Mesut Cem Erkul, according to Anatolia news agency. (Image from the movie 'Honey').

The Culture and Tourism Ministry is preparing to form a new mechanism to support Turkish films of all genres.

“2012 will be the beginning of a new and different process for Turkish cinema,” said Culture Ministry Cinema General Director Mesut Cem Erkul, according to Anatolia news agency.

“We should take action and start new initiatives. This month we will gather with different people from the sector and discuss what can be done to revive Turkish cinema,” he said.

The new mechanism is slated to be put into operation in 2012, Erkul said, adding that Turkish cinema had increased its efforts on the issue since Law No. 5224 “Evaluating Cinema Films and Classifying and Supporting Turkish Cinema” was enacted in 2004. “However, in 2011 the activities on these issues slowed down,” he said.

It is now time to accelerate the work on these issues, Erkul said, adding that it was necessary to do something new in cinema.

Art movies are experiencing many problems in terms of reaching the public, Erkul said. “We also have problems in terms of royalties for films broadcast on television,” he said, adding that the ministry was closely watching these problems, but added that there was currently little vision in terms of solving the problems.

“After the necessary amendments are made, the history of Turkish cinema will be written again,” said Erkul, adding that 2012 would be a new era in terms of Turkish cinema. “We want to prepare a convenient base for those who would like to create movies in Turkish cinema.”

This will be the first part of the large project, Erkul said. “We also want to make the right evaluations in terms of budgeting. This means the state giving its support to the cinema sector. The support will continue.”

However, this time we will assist the cinema sector with a different type of supporting mechanism, said Erkul, adding that blockbuster films would receive a different type of support.

“We know distributors have some problems. They say they need to have more promotion and advertisement. We want to address these problems,” he said.

New projects

“When we look at the projects since 2004 we can say that only 10 percent of our plans were carried out, however in 2011, we have achieved 60 or 70 percent,” said Erkul, adding that there was more to come. “If the sector includes a distribution mechanism to the ministry’s support program, the cinema sector will rise again in Turkey,” he said.

Turkey, a popular destination for foreign film producers in recent years, will continue to increase its popularity in 2012 with new arrangements that will make it easier for producers to film here, Anatolia news agency reported. The ministry will also support foreign producers who shoot films in Turkey.

“There will be 5 to 25 percent financial support for foreign producers who shoot films in the country. But the films should meet certain criteria. Work on new regulations continues,” said Erkul.

Foreign production companies have been focusing on Turkey, Erkul said. “Starting in February, more big Hollywood productions may be filmed in Turkey. The new ‘James Bond’ is being filmed here right now and shooting for ‘Taken 2’ and ‘Ghost Rider’ have already finished.”

Erkul said foreign producers took their budgets into consideration when selecting a country to shoot a film and Turkey had not had regulations on filming in the past. “Previously, there were only tax returns for foreign producers. From now on, there will be financial support given to foreign producers in exchange for the inclusion of certain factors about Turkey,” he said.

A movie is an entertainment tool and art, Erkul said. “Everyone should find something from themselves within the two hours they watch a movie. That’s why we need to encourage people to watch movies in the cinemas.”

In the past people liked to watch movies about history and different genres of movies drew the most interest because those movies always promote feelings, he said, adding that they aimed to encourage people to watch movies again.