Turkey and Bulgaria to sign cinema agreement

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

The first part of agreement signing event held at the Ceylan Intercontinental hotel, was attended by Culture and Tourism Vice-Minister Abdurrahman Arıcı, Property Rights General Manager Abdurrahman Çelik, Cinema General Manager Ali Atlıhan. AA photo

Bulgarian Culture Minister Vejdi Rashidov has said he would like to see Turkish and Bulgarian cinema better present themselves in the world arena.

Turkish and Bulgarian film producers gathered in Istanbul yesterday to sign an agreement titled “Common agreement on production of films,” which holds great promise for the film industry in both countries. Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Rashidov said Turkey and Bulgaria have a lot in common in terms of culture and history. “The relationship between Turkey and Bulgaria has developed a lot in recent years,” he said.

Turkey has a long cinematic history, Rashidov said. “Bulgarian cinema also reached a very good place, and has developed a lot in recent years. One of the best things that socialism bequeathed to us is our large cinema center.”

Bulgaria’s Cinema Center is now enjoying very active use, Rashidov said. “We have turned Bulgaria into a cinema center with this center.”

Rashidov also commented on the agreement between Turkish and Bulgarian producers. “This agreement may trigger Turkish and Bulgarian cinema to take their place in European cinema and in Europe, and will also strengthen their presence in world cinema. This meeting is very important. I think this live meeting between producers is more important than signing a piece of paper.”

Artists, actors and directors from the two countries should also meet, Rashidov said. Bulgaria would like to invite Turkish directors and producers to a meeting in Bulgaria soon, he said.

Turkey and Bulgaria will also sign a new agreement covering the protection and return of cultural entities, Rashidov said. In order to develop cultural exchange and support between the two countries, a new Turkish culture center will open in Sofia, he said. “There will be a new Bulgarian culture center in Istanbul as well.”

The gathering, held at the Ceylan Intercontinental hotel, was attended by Culture and Tourism Vice-Minister Abdurrahman Arıcı, Property Rights General Manager Abdurrahman Çelik, Cinema General Manager Ali Atlıhan. The signing ceremony, held the same evening, was also attended by Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay.

Cinema: a strategic art
Films Turkey has co-produced with other countries have achieved great success throughout the world, Arıcı said. “Cinematic co-productions have to be supported in order to support the multicultural environment in Europe. This is a must.”The agreement between Bulgaria and Turkey will also support the multiculturalism, Arıcı said. “ For us cinema is a strategic art form.”