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Turkish cinema is an important part of Turkish culture, and has flourished over the years, delivering entertainment to audiences in Turkey, expatriates across Europe, and in rare cases, the USA. The culture of Turkey is diverse combining elements derived from Ottoman, European and Middle Eastern traditions Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Yeşilçam ("Green Pine") refers to the Turkish film industry in the same way that Hollywood refers to American film.


Contents

History

Overview

In terms of film production, Turkey shared the same fate with many of the national cinemas of the 20th century. Film production wasn't continuous until around the 1950s and the film market in general was run by a few major import companies that struggled for domination in the most population-dense and profitable cities such as Istanbul and Izmir. Film theatres rarely ever screened any locally produced films and the majority of the programs consisted of films of the stronger western film industries, especially those of the USA, France, Italy and Germany. Attempts in film production came only from these big importers, which could rely on their strong distribution-system and their theatre-chains that would guarantee them a return-of-investment. Between the years 1896-1945, the number of locally produced films did not even reach 50 films in total, equalling to an average annual film production under one film per year. Compared to the thousands of films that have been imported and screened during the same period, it is hard to speak about a presence of film production in Turkey before the 1950s.

This would rapidly change after World War II. A total of 49 films produced in 1952 meant that within a year, more films had been produced than the Turkish industry could produce during all the previous years. During the 60s, Turkey became the fifth biggest film producer world wide and annual film production reached the 300 film benchmark just at the beginning of the 70s. Compared with the histories of other national cinemas, the achievements of the Turkish film industry after 1950 are still remarkable.

However, the impact of TV and Video as the new popular media and political turmoil in the 70s (often hand in hand with deep economical crises) caused a sharp drop in ticket sales, resulting into a long crisis starting at around 1980 and continuing until the mid-90s. The number of annual ticket sales decreased from a 90 million tickets in 1966 [1] to 56 million tickets in 1984 and only 11 million in 1990 [2]. Accordingly the number of film theatres fell from an approximately 2000 theatres in 1966 [3] to 854 in 1984 and 290 in 1990. [4] During the 1990s the average number of films produced per year remained between 10-15 films, usually half of them not even making it into the theatres.

Since 1995 the situation has improved. After the year 2000, annual ticket sales reached the 20 millions and since 1995, the number of theatres continuously increased to an approximately 500 theatres country-wide. Now, Turkish films attract millions of spectators and top the blockbuster-lists, often surpassing foreign films in terms of ticket sales. However, it is difficult to speak about the existence of an industry, since most films are rather individual projects of directors who otherwise earn their living in Television, Advertising or Theatre. The distribution of these films are mainly handled by foreign companies such as Warner Bros and United International Pictures.

Pre-1950s

Most of the Turkish films produced before 1950 were projects initiated by import companies owned by local families, most notably İpek Film, a daughter company of the İpek Merchandise, an import company that already existed in the 19th century as can be seen in their adverts published in Ottoman literary journals such as Servet-i-Fünun. Another important company in the early era of Turkish cinema was Kemal Film, a company whose continuous presence as a leading import company has been often overseen for a few local films it produced during the 1920s. (It is interesting to note that the founders of Kemal Film bought their first film camera on loan from the Ipek Merchandise). Both companies would be the strongest film distributors until the 1950s and the only companies that were financially sound enough to produce films themselves, with low risks for financial failure as they already were in possession of a distribution-system and theatre chains that guaranteed a return-of-investment.

However, the notable developments of these companies must be seen as necessary adaptations to the technological progress of the western film industries whose films they were importing. One example here being the establishment of the Marmara Dubbing Studio in the early 1930s, when the silent era came to an end in the West and sound-films became the standard, prompting the import-dependant companies to adjust themselves to the new technological requirements.

The big distributors in Istanbul, led by İpek Film and Kemal Film gradually expanded their distribution-system throughout the rest of the country during the 1930s, leading to the so-called "regional system" (Bölge İşletmeleri) which consisted of seven distribution areas with their headquarters being established in the most significant cities in those regions: İstanbul (Marmara Region), İzmir (Aegaean Region), Ankara (Middle Anatolian Region), Samsun (Black Sea Region), Adana (Mediterranean Region), Erzurum (East Anatolian Region) and Diyarbakir (South East Anatolian Region). [5] The Regional System became much more important after the 1950s, when local film production dramatically increased and local films surpassed import-films in both ticket-sales and revenues. This system became the financial fundament of Yeşilçam (often referred to as "Turkish Hollywood), which was the heart of Turkish film production between the years 1955-1975. Turkish cinema is an important part of Turkish culture, and has flourished over the years delivering entertainment to audiences in Turkey, expatriates across After 1965, a so-called "Combined-System" (Kombine Sistem)lead by a trust of some regional leaders is said to have taken control on almost everything regarding production. [6] A leading figure of the trust was producer Türker İnanoğlu who is still active in the media business today, now running Ulusal Film, Turkey's largest TV production company. Türker İnanoğlu (born May 18, 1936 in Safranbolu of the Karabük Province, Turkey) is a Turkish Screenwriter

The first film showing in Turkey was held in the Yıldız Palace, Istanbul in 1896. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches Yıldız Palace is a collection of pavilions and villas in Istanbul, Turkey, built in the 19th and early 20th centuries Istanbul (historically Byzantium and later Constantinople; see the other Names of Istanbul) is the largest city of Turkey Year 1896 ( MDCCCXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Public shows by Sigmund Weinberg in the Beyoğlu and Sehzadebasi districts followed in 1897. Beyoğlu is a district located on the European side of İstanbul, Turkey, separated from the old city (historic peninsula of Constantinople) by the Year 1897 ( MDCCCXCVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Weinberg was already a prominent figure at that time, especially known as the a representative of foreign companies such as Pathé for whom he sold gramophones before he got into the film business. In some sources he is also mentioned as a photographer, again as a result of being one of the representatives of foreign companies such as Kodak-Goldmann.

The first Turkish movie, a documentary produced by Fuat Uzkinay in 1914, depicted the destruction of the Russian monument in Ayastefanos by the public. Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Yeşilköy (prior to 1926 known as San Stefano or Santo Stefano, Greek: Άγιος Στέφανος pronounced Ayios Stefanos The first thematic Turkish films were "The Marriage of Himmet Aga" (1916-1918), started by Weinberg and completed by Uzkinay, "The Paw" (1917) and "The Spy" (1917), both by Sedat Simavi. Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The army-affiliated Central Cinema Directorate, a semi-military national defense society, and the Disabled Veterans Society were the producing organizations of that period.

In 1922 a major documentary film, "Independence, the İzmir Victory," was made about the first war of Independence. Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt in one fashion or another to " Document " reality The same year, the first private movie studio, Kemal Film, commenced operations. A movie studio (aka film studio) is in the established sense of the term a company that distributes films. From 1923 to 1939, Muhsin Ertugrul was the only film director in the country. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Muhsin Ertuğrul ( March 7, 1892 &ndash April 29, 1979) aka Ertuğrul Muhsin Bey, was a renowned Turkish actor and A film director, or filmmaker, is a person who directs the making of a Film. He directed 29 films during this period, generally incorporating adaptions of plays, operettas, fiction and foreign films. Operetta is a genre of light Opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter The influence of the theater dating back to Uzkinay, Simavi, Ahmet Fehim and Karagozoglu is very strong in Muhsin Ertugrul's work.

The years between 1939 and 1950 were a period of transition for Turkish cinema, during which it was greatly influenced by the theater as well as by World War II. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Theatre (or theater, see spelling differences) is the branch of the Performing arts defined by Bernard Beckerman as what "occurs when one World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including While there were only two film companies in 1939, the number increased to four between 1946 and 1950. Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. After 1949, Turkish cinema was able to develop as a separate art, with a more professional caliber of talents. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

The Yeşilçam Era

Yesilçam ("Green pine") is a metonym for the Turkish film industry, similar to Hollywood in the United States, and Pinewood in the United Kingdom. In Rhetoric, metonymy (mɨˈtɒnɨmi is the use of a word for a concept or object associated with the concept/object originally denoted by the word The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located

Yeşilçam is named after Yeşilçam Street in the Beyoğlu district of İstanbul where many actors, directors, crew members and studios were based. Beyoğlu is a district located on the European side of İstanbul, Turkey, separated from the old city (historic peninsula of Constantinople) by the Istanbul (historically Byzantium and later Constantinople; see the other Names of Istanbul) is the largest city of Turkey

Yeşilçam experienced its heyday during the 1950s-1970s, when it produced 250-350 films annually. After the 1970s, Yeşilçam suffered due to the spread of television in Turkey. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic However, Yeşilçam has seen a revival since 2002, having produced critically-acclaimed movies such as Uzak (Grand Prix (Cannes Film Festival), 2003), Babam ve Oğlum and Propaganda. Uzak is a 2002 Turkish Film directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. It was released as Distant in North America The Grand Prix is an award of the Cannes Film Festival bestowed by the jury of the festival on one of the competing feature films

Turkish actors most commonly associated with Yeşilçam include:

Between 1950 and 1966, more than fifty movie directors practiced film arts in Turkey. The Turkish people (Türk Halkı also known as " Turks " ( Türkler) are defined mainly as being speakers of Turkish as a First language Kadir İnanır ( April 15, 1949, Fatsa) is a popular Turkish film Actor and Director. Türkan Şoray (born 28 June 1945, Istanbul) is a Turkish film actress Yılmaz Güney, ( April 1, 1937 — September 9, 1984) was a Kurdish Film director, scenarist, Novelist Kemal Sunal ( 11 November 1944, Malatya - 3 July 2000, İstanbul) was a master of comedy in the Turkish Tarık Akan (born as Tarık Tahsin Üregül in 13 december 1949, Istanbul, Turkey) is a Turkish Filiz Akın (born Suna Akın in 1943 in Ankara, Turkey) is a Turkish film actress Fatma Girik (born December 12 1942 in Istanbul, Turkey) is a Turkish actress and later politician Cüneyt Arkın (born Fahrettin Cüreklibatur on 7 September 1937 at Gökçeoğlu village of Alpu district in Eskişehir, Turkey Adile Naşit ( June 17, 1930 in Istanbul, Turkey – December 11, 1987) was a Turkish actress who played Hülya Koçyiğit (born December 12, 1947 in Kuzguncuk, Istanbul) is a famous Turkish actress Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Omer Lutfi Akad strongly influenced the period, but Osman F. Seden, Atıf Yılmaz, and Memduh Ün made the most films. Ömer Lütfi Akad, aka Lütfi Ömer Akad, (b 1916 is a Turkish Film director, who directed movies from 1948-1974. Osman Fahir Seden usually credited as Osman F Seden ( March 22, 1924 - September 1 1998 in Istanbul) was a Turkish Atıf Yılmaz ( December 25, 1925 – May 5, 2006) was a renowned Turkish Film director, Screenwriter and The film "Susuz Yaz" (Dry Summer), made by Metin Erksan, won the Golden Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival in 1964. Metin Erksan (born İsmail Metin Karamanbey, January 1 1929 in Çanakkale, Turkey) is a Turkish Film director and Art For other uses related to the "Golden Bear" see the Golden bears disambiguation page According to legend the Golden Bear was The Berlin International Film Festival, also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading Film festivals and most reputable media events held in Berlin Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar.

The number of cinemagoers and the number of films made record a constant increase, especially after 1958. Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In the 1960s, cinema courses were included in the programs of the theater departments in the Language, History and Geography faculties of Ankara University and Istanbul University, and in the Press and Publications High School of Ankara University. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Ankara University (Ankara Üniversitesi is a Public university in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. Istanbul University (İstanbul Üniversitesi is Turkey 's main and oldest prestige University. A cinema branch was also established in the Art History Department of the State Fine Arts Academy.

The Union of Turkish Film Producers, and the State Film Archives also were established in the 1960s. The State Film Archives became the Turkish Film Archives in 1969. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. During the same period, the Cinema-TV Institute was founded and annexed to the State Academy of Fine Arts. The Turkish State Archives also became part of this organization. In 1962, the Cinema-TV Institute became a department of Mimar Sinan University. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts (Mimar Sinan Güzel Sanatlar Üniversitesi is a Turkish state university dedicated to the higher education of fine arts Among the well-known directors of the 1960-1970 period are Metin Erksan, Atif Yılmaz, Memduh Un, Halit Refig, Duygu Sağıroğlu, Remzi Aydın Jöntürk and Nevzat Pesen. Halit Refiğ, born on March 5, 1934 in İzmir, is a renowned Turkish Film director, Film producer and Screenwriter Remzi Aydın Jöntürk was a Turkish Film director, Actor, Screenwriter and producer. In 1970, the numbers of cinemas and cinemagoers rose spectacularly. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In 2,424 cinemas, films were viewed by a record number of 247 million viewers.

In 1970, approximately 220 films were made and this figure reached 300 in 1972. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Turkish cinema gave birth to its legendary stars at this period, notable examples being Kemal Sunal, Kadir İnanır, Türkan Şoray and Şener Şen. Kemal Sunal ( 11 November 1944, Malatya - 3 July 2000, İstanbul) was a master of comedy in the Turkish Kadir İnanır ( April 15, 1949, Fatsa) is a popular Turkish film Actor and Director. Türkan Şoray (born 28 June 1945, Istanbul) is a Turkish film actress Şener Şen (born 26 December 1941 in Adana, Turkey) is one of the best Turkish actors son of the actor Ali Şen. After this period however, the cinema began to lose its audiences, due to nationwide TV broadcasts. After 1970, a new and young generation of directors emerged, but they had to cope with an increased demand for video films after 1980. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar)

Decline of Yeşilçam and the Post-Yeşilçam Era

Increased production costs and difficulties faced in the import of raw materials brought about a decrease in the number of films made in the 1970s, but the quality of films improved. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. However, the fall of cinema's popularity continued to fall. In the early nineties, there were barely two or three movies released for a year. During this period, most of the seventies' stars had either moved to TV, or were trying to rebuild the Yeşilçam's former glory. Turkish cinema is an important part of Turkish culture, and has flourished over the years delivering entertainment to audiences in Turkey, expatriates across Some of the notable examples of this era are Eşkıya (English: Guerilla) and Züğürt Ağa (English: Lord Indigent), both starring Sener Sen. Eşkıya ( The Bandit in English) is a 1996 Turkish film directed by Yavuz Turgul, starring Şener Şen and Uğur Both movies were critically and commercially acclaimed.

However, the rise of Yesilçam didn't take place until the release of Vizontele. The film was directed, written, and starred by Yılmaz Erdoğan, who was praised by his long-running sit-com Bir Demet Tiyatro, and his dedication to theatre. Yılmaz Erdoğan (b 1967 Hakkari, Turkey) is a Turkish Film director, scenarist, Poet and Actor from Turkey The movie starred the cast of his usual plays, most notably Demet Akbağ, Altan Erkekli, and Cem Yılmaz. This movie's huge commercial success (watched by 2. 5 million viewers, which earned the movie the most viewed film for its day) brought attention to the industry. A few years later, Cem Yılmaz released his own film, G.O.R.A., which he both wrote and starred in. GORA is a 2004 Turkish comedy film written by Cem Yılmaz and directed by Ömer Faruk Sorak. This, and Vizontele's sequel Vizontele Tuuba' broke Vizontele's records, by achieving 3. 5, and 3 million viewers respectively.

Since then larger-budgeted films produced, notable examples being Kurtlar Vadisi: Irak (English: Valley of the Wolves: Iraq), continuing the story of the controversial series Kurtlar Vadisi, (reached 4 million viewers and still holds the record), Babam ve Oğlum (English: My Father and My Son), Cem Yılmaz's second movie Hokkabaz (English: Magician) . Valley of the Wolves Iraq (Kurtlar Vadisi Irak is a popular Turkish film from 2006 based on a television series of the same name that has been Kurtlar Vadisi ( Valley of the Wolves) is a popular Turkish Media franchise consisting of three different television series one of them aired My Father and My Son ( Babam ve Oğlum in Turkish is a 2005 Turkish film written and directed by Çağan Irmak.

There has been a rise in more experimental films. Notably the film "Türev" was filmed without a prewritten script and even featured candid shots of the actors. "Anlat Istanbul", an ensemble piece divided into five "mini films" got a strong reception.

Legal Issues

Although the need for a Cinema Law has been very often raised throughout the history of the Turkish Republic, until 1986 no specific law or regulation has been developed. While films have been usually treated as goods and were in that regard subject to laws regarding taxation, content-wise they were controlled by commissions that have been often criticized for being mechanism of censorship.

In the 1930s some members of the parliament raised the issue whether films would have a bad impact on children. This was a popular theme at that time, not just in Turkey, but also in the USA for example. (See: Payne Foundation Studies) Later on in the 1960s, a debate around the so-called Baykam-Law became quite famous for the tension it created amongst the parlamentarians and the stakeholders in the industry. In 1977 and 1978 some further discussions for a cinema law have been held, but without any result.

In 1986, finally, a cinema law, though highly criticised by members of the industry and the cinema intelligentsia of that time, has been passed by the parliament and is since then the fundamental legislative document regarding cinema issues in Turkey.

Laws and Regulations

On January 23, 1986, a new cinema law aimed to ensure support for those working in cinema and music. Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Music is an Art form in which the medium is Sound organized in Time. A reorganization of the film industry began in 1987 to address problems and assure its development. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) The Ministry of Culture established the "Professional Union of Owners of Turkish Works of Cinema" the same year.

The "Copyrights and General Directorate of Cinema" was founded in 1989 as well as a "Support Fund for the Cinema and Musical Arts". Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) This fund is used to provide financial support to the film sector.

Rating Systems and Censorship

One of the most interesting studies on the issue of film censorship in Turkey is Alim Şerif Onaran's Sinematografik Hürriyet (Cinematic Freedom), published in 1968 by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but written in 1963 and being the first study in Turkey which received a PhD for a topic related to film. This study is still the most important -if not only- study on the film evaluation methods applied in Turkey before the 1950's. Onaran himself being active as a member of the Film Rating Commission in his younger years, was a true expert on the topic and his research includes also examples of the late Ottoman Period. Ironically, Onaran became one of the most important intellectuals on film in Turkey, owing his wealth of knowledge on early world film history to the years he spent watching the films he was enrolled to evaluate as a committee member.

A very interesting example on the level of absurdness that censorship could reach is mentioned in Çetin Yetkin's book Siyasal Iktidar Sanata Karşı (Political Regime vs Art), published in 1970. It tells the story of a film which was classified as "inappropriate for export" because the Evaluation Committee decided that the film contains "communist propaganda". The film-owner, who applied to the committee for being granted an export-certificate was surprised to see the decision because he mentioned on his application form that his intention was to sell a copy of the film to a distributor in the Soviet Union, the worlds leading communist country at that time. [7]

Important Figures

Directors

Actors

Scriptwriters

Notable films

Classics

Modern era films

Cult films

Commercial successes

List of Turkish films

Further information: List of Turkish films

Major Events

Festivals

Cinema-Related Organizations

Film Schools

Unions, Foundations, Professional Organisations

See also

References

  1. ^ Özön, Nijat (1966) Türk Sineması Kronolojisi 1896-1966. World cinema is a term used primarily in English language speaking countries to refer to the Films and film industries of non-English speaking countries Asian cinema refers to the film industries and films produced in the continent of Asia. İstanbul: Bilgi Yayınları.
  2. ^ T. C. Devlet Istatistik Enstitüsü Eğlence İstatistikleri.
  3. ^ Özön, Nijat (1966) Türk Sineması Kronolojisi 1896-1966. İstanbul: Bilgi Yayınları.
  4. ^ T. C. Devlet İstatistik Enstitüsü Eğlence İstatistikleri.
  5. ^ Abisel, Nilgün (1987) "Yerli Yapımcılık Üzerine Notlar", Türk Sineması Üzerine Yazılar, Ankara: İmge Yayınları.
  6. ^ Abisel, Nilgün (1987) "Yerli Yapımcılık Üzerine Notlar", Türk Sineması Üzerine Yazılar, Ankara: İmge Yayınları.
  7. ^ Yetkin, Çetin (1970) Siyasal İktidar Sanata Karşı, Ankara: Bilgi Yayınları.

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