New Turkish productions find new fans during the first half of year

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Many films have gained success in foreign countries, such as ‘Kelebeğin Rüyası,’ (Dream of a Butterfly), directed by Yılmaz Erdoğan (R). Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ (L) also starred.

Turkish cinema has increased its fans and also its box office numbers during the first half of the year. During the first six months of last year, 54 percent of cinemagoers preferred to view Turkish films, while in the first half of 2013 this number increased to 64 percent. Turkish cinema income has increased 38 percent to 153.3 million Turkish Liras.

According to Culture and Tourism Ministry Cinema General Directorate officials, the number of films hitting the screens in Turkey increased by 10 percent to reach 26.1 million.

Turkish film audiences have increased by 32 percent to become 16.8 million. During the first half of the year many Turkish productions attracted more viewers than foreign productions. A total of 156 films hit the screens and 40 of them were Turkish productions. In the first six months of 2012, the Turkish production movie-watching rate was only 54, but in 2013 this increased to 64 percent.

Most Turkish films viewed in May

In the first six months of 2013 the box office figure rose by 14 percent to become 253.8 million liras. This also indicated that Turkish production revenue increased by 38 percent to reach 153.3 million liras.
The five most popular productions were all Turkish films, and seven of the 10 most-watched films were local. Turkish productions attracted 16 million people to cinemas. May 17 and 23 marked the week the most Turkish films were watched. During the week of February 22 and 28 ticket sales were the highest and total of 1.3 million people watched Turkish films.

Important examples from world cinema also affected cinemagoer figures. However, even though Hollywood productions were numerous, during the first half of the year five of the 40 Turkish productions sold more than 1 million tickets. On the other hand, the hugely successful Cem Yılmaz’s “CM101MMXI Fundamentals” reached the top of the list with 3.8 million viewers. The second place on the list went to Şahan Gökbakar’s “Celal ile Ceren” (Celal and Ceren) with 2.8 million viewers.

Movies of the First half of 2013

“Selam” (Hello), directed by Süleyman Levent Demirkale, hit the screens during the last week of March and was the third-most-watched movie of the year.

The Culture and Tourism Ministry supported 11 movies out of the 40 Turkish productions. Many films have gained success in foreign countries, such as “Kelebeğin Rüyası, (Dream of a Butterfly) “Taş Mektep” (Stone School), “Mahmut ile Meryem” (Mahmut and Meryem) and Erdem Tepegöz’s film “Zerre” (The Particle), which competed in late June in the main contest of the 35th Moscow Film Festival – one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world – and won the Best Film Award at the event. “Yük” (Burden), “King’s Road: Olba Kingdom,” “Winds,” “Çanakkale: The End of the Road” and “Grapes of Hope” are other films that hit foreign film festivals.