Turkey

Turkey has attracted numerous Hollywood, Bollywood and international productions in the past couple of years thanks to its variety of stunning locations and its cash rebate of up to 30%. “My mailbox is exploding with requests from all over the world,” says Chad Ozturk, executive producer at local production outfit Panda Films. “We are even quoting for productions from Belarus and Greece, who don’t usually shoot here. Many in the industry underestimate the locations and talent pool that Turkey can offer. It’s a hidden paradise for cost-­effective production, even more so with our currency drop.”

Turkey has played host to a number of high profile films and series, including Kraven the Hunter, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre, and The Gray Man among others.

Turkey is arguably most famous for the city of Istanbul, which has long attracted film productions that shoot against its picturesque backdrops. Beyond the iconic architecture, Turkey offers a broad range of location options, ranging from the Black Sea mountains in the north to the Taurus mountains in the south, and the high plateau region of Anatolia in the centre. 

There are natural wonders such as Cappadocia, where Hollywood and European films have shot in the past and is like an open-air film studio. Plus, there are beautiful beaches, rocky shores, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, mountains, dry lands, modern architecture and unique cities, towns and villages, all within relatively close distance from each other.

Shooting in Turkey requires permits from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which usually take about two weeks. 

Panda Films have facilitated TV commercial shoots for brands including: Tipico, Unibet, Gatorade, Flunch, Asus, Just Eat for companies like 27KM Berlin, Solab Paris, Cream Paris, Blink London. They have also produced a music video for Skrillex & Nai Barghouti with the production company Iconoclast and serviced the Korean TV Series Reborn Rich and Netflix Originals Undercover's Season 3 exterior shots and shot over 20 commercials for local market brands like Nescafé, Nestlé, Comfort (Snuggle), Peugeıt, Togg, and Carrefour.

"Turkey’s position as a cultural crossroads between East and West, along with its stunning coastlines, beautiful mountains, archaeological sites, and historical landmarks, offers a myriad of settings to bring your cinematic vision to life," says Ozturk.

With four distinct seasons, Turkey welcomes filmmakers year-round, offering a range of atmospheres to suit any narrative. Whether you're drawn to the bustling energy of Istanbul or the tranquil beauty of the countryside, Turkey invites you to unleash your creativity against the backdrop of its rich culture and scenery.

Beyond the iconic architecture of Istanbul, Turkey offers a broad range of location options, ranging from the Eastern Black Sea mountain chain in the north to the Taurus mountains in the south and the high plateau region of Anatolia in the centre.

There are natural wonders like Cappadocia, which is where a lot of Hollywood and European films were shot in the past and is like an open-air film studio. Plus, beautiful beaches, rocky shores, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, mountains, dry lands, modern architecture, unique cities, towns and villages, all within close distance of each other. 

"Turkey is the ideal country to shoot nowadays because of the currency drop," says Osturk at Panda Films. "Imagine a country where you can find all kind of beaches, mountains, valleys, pastures, fields and A-level crew who worked on top class Hollywood and Bollywood productions."

Filming in Turkey requires permits from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which usually takes approximately two weeks. However, producers should keep in mind that the general filming permit is only the first layer of permits; other regulations/permits will need to follow depending on the city of filming.

Turkey has an extensive and cost-effective transportation network with the Turkish Republic State Railways extending 10,985 kilometres across the country, including a high-speed line that connects Istanbul to Ankara. The network of highways and motorways also exceeds 10,000 kilometres.

Airports across Turkey welcome thousands of international flights each week.

First person to contact

Mustafa Selcuk Yavuzkanat, assistant general manager, General Directorate of Cinema
selcuk.yavuzkanat@ktb.gov.tr

Turkey is an inexpensive place to shoot with competitive prices for equipment rental and crew, and offers a favourable exchange rate. If producers are bringing in equipment, it is best to do so with an ATA Carnet. If the crew is hiring locally, it is worth noting that most of the rental houses are based in Istanbul.

The intention is to transform the laid-back Mediterranean beach resort of Antalya into a major shooting hub. The city’s Expo exhibition space was used for the filming of Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre with approval from the local government.

Panda Films produce television commercials for the local market and service all kind of projects for Bollywood, Hollywood, European Cinema, Independent World Cinema, TV shows, travelogues, short films, music videos, branded content, documentaries, line production for films, TV series, and web series. 

"We also do fixer jobs if we really like the idea behind the project. We also like to service photo shoots and photography projects. We always take good care of our clients and they keep coming back," says Panda Films producer Chad Öztürk.

Some of the clients that the local outfit have worked for include: Unilever, Nestlé, Bayer, Frito Lays, Accor Hotels, Excel Entertainment India, Apple, Netflix, TVE Spain, TV8 Malaysia, JTBC Korea, NRK Drama, Renault, Peugeot, Bajaj and much more.

Turkey has an extensive and cost-effective transportation network with the Turkish Republic State Railways extending 10,985 kilometres across the country, including a high-speed line that connects Istanbul to Ankara. The network of highways and motorways also exceeds 10,000 kilometres. Airports across Turkey welcome thousands of international flights each week.

First person to contact

Mustafa Selcuk Yavuzkanat, assistant general manager, General Directorate of Cinema: selcuk.yavuzkanat@ktb.gov.tr