The government provided TL 29 million in subsidies to improve the Turkish film industry in 2011.

In response to a written parliamentary question from Republican People’s Party (CHP) Ankara deputy Aylin Nazlıaka, Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay announced that the ministry provided TL 29 million in subsidies to the Turkish film industry last year.

Underlining that the ministry granted subsidies for domestic films, including documentaries, animation films and short movies in 2011, Günay noted they also aim to encourage foreign moviemakers to shoot films in Turkey.

“Since 2011, 573 foreign moviemakers have expressed their desire to shoot film in Turkey and only three of them have failed to obtain the necessary permissions from the relevant agencies,” Günay said.

Günay also commented on the bureaucratic obstacles that foreign moviemakers face in Turkey. If a foreign moviemaker wants to shoot a film in Turkey, he or she must get permission from several state departments, including the General Staff, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Finance, the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and the Department of National Palaces, depending on the place that will be used as a film set or for scenes.

However, he said, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is trying to do its best to facilitate the bureaucratic process for foreign moviemakers who want to shoot their movies in Turkey.

“In addition to the subsidies provided for foreign producers by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the ministry also pays close attention to the needs and problems of foreign producers and tries to reply to all applications for permission to film in Turkey as soon as possible,” he said.