Ankara, April 14 – The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s General Directorate of Cinema has announced a substantial financial injection into the Turkish film industry, allocating a total of 232.5 million Turkish Liras to support 30 documentary film production projects and 27 feature film projects. This initiative, part of the 2026 support program, aims not only to boost production but also to enhance the quality and international competitiveness of Turkish cinematic works.
Support for Master Directors and Emerging Talents
Among the projects receiving funding is “Yorgun Güneş” (Tired Sun), the new project by Palme d’Or-winning director Nuri Bilge Ceylan. The ministry stated that supporting such acclaimed directors underscores its commitment to increasing the global visibility of Turkish cinema. This approach seeks to enable experienced filmmakers to continue their work while also integrating new generations of cinematographers into the industry.
A notable aspect of the ministry’s 2026 support program is the strong emphasis on animation projects. The animation sector, which has gained momentum in recent years due to technological advancements and public support, is no longer limited to producing content for children. It is evolving into a field that competes in the international market. Projects such as “Aslan Hürkuş Tüm Kahramanlar” (Aslan Hürkuş All Heroes), “Kehribar ile Boncuk: Kayıp Robot” (Amber and Bead: The Lost Robot), “Şeker Fareler-Başlangıç” (Sugar Mice-Beginning), and “Son Peygamber-Hicret” (The Last Prophet-Hicret) were among the animation film production projects supported by the board.
The ministry aims for comprehensive development of the sector by supporting a wide production chain, ranging from animation to short films, and from script development to post-production processes.
Continued Support for Documentary Films
Support for documentary cinema continues this year, with 12 million 590 thousand Turkish Liras allocated to 30 documentary film production projects, as decided in March 2026. These grants play a crucial role in the realization of high-quality documentary film productions in Turkey and the development of the sector in this area. This year’s support for documentaries has seen a significant increase compared to last year.
As of April 2026, the ministry has provided a total of 302 million Turkish Liras in support to 215 projects. This amount has already reached last year’s total support figures. The General Directorate of Cinema’s 2026 support policy prioritizes not only quantitative growth but also qualitative production, international success, and the collective strengthening of all components of the sector. With increased support amounts and diversified project categories, Turkish cinema is advancing to a new threshold in both content production and global competitiveness. The ministry’s support for the cinema sector is set to continue to increase.
In September, support for short and animation film production, scriptwriting, and project development will be discussed. In October, decisions will be made regarding support for feature films, post-production, and co-production projects.
Source: DHA
