Six Countries by 2027: Istanbul Bets on a Turkic Film Market
Six countries, joint production platforms, and a 2027 deadline. That is the target Türkiye’s cinema authorities set this week in Istanbul, where filmmakers and industry representatives from across the Turkic world met at the Turkic World Cinema Summit, held alongside the 6th Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival (3–7 November 2026). With 56 films, more than 150 international guests, a first Türkiye–Kyrgyzstan pitching session and open talk of bringing Hollywood shoots to Central Asia, the festival is turning into something bigger than a screening programme: an attempt to build a shared film market from the Bosphorus to the steppe.
In brief
- Goal announced in Istanbul: joint production platforms involving six Turkic countries by 2027.
- The 6th Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival runs 3–7 November 2026 in Istanbul: 56 films, 30 in competition across three categories.
- First-ever Türkiye–Kyrgyzstan pitching event: four film projects selected for support.
- Organised by the International Cinema Association under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, supported by TÜRKSOY, TRT and the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA).
- All screenings are free; awards are presented on 7 November at the Atatürk Cultural Centre (AKM).
What happened at the Turkic World Cinema Summit?
Officials and producers discussed co-productions, regional cooperation, AI and how to attract foreign shoots, and set a six-country target for 2027. The summit took place on 4 November in the Grand Ballroom of The Marmara hotel in Istanbul. According to Daily Sabah, citing Anadolu Agency (AA), the agenda covered four themes: expanding co-productions, strengthening cooperation between the region’s film industries, the impact of artificial intelligence on cinema, and presenting the Turkic world’s shared heritage to international audiences.
Birol Güven, Türkiye’s Director General of Cinema at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said the potential of joint productions in the Turkic world has not been fully used, and called the region’s cinema “a volcano on the verge of eruption.” He said Türkiye and Kyrgyzstan had already taken concrete steps, that the aim is to set up joint production platforms with six countries by 2027, and that work is under way to persuade major American producers to shoot films in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Türkiye.
How big is the festival this year?
56 films, five venues, three competitions and around 450 professional participants.
| Item | 2026 edition |
|---|---|
| Dates | 3–7 November 2026, Istanbul |
| Films screened | 56 |
| Competition | 30 films: 10 feature fiction, 10 documentary, 10 short films |
| Guests | 150+ international guests, about 300 industry professionals from Türkiye, plus academics |
| Venues | Atlas 1948 Cinema, AKM Yeşilçam Cinema, Emek Cinema, Istanbul University Faculty of Communication, Sadabat Hall at Istanbul Commerce University |
| Tickets | Free for all screenings |
| Prizes | Turna Kuşu (Crane) statuettes; feature awards for best film, director, screenplay, actress and actor; 1st–3rd prizes for documentary and short film |
| Organiser | International Cinema Association, under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (with the Cinema General Directorate) |
| Supporters | TÜRKSOY, TRT, Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) |
The short film competition is new this year. The programme also includes sections such as Contemporary Human Stories, Historical Panorama, Turquoise Documentary and animation screenings. The opening night on 3 November at Atlas Cinema gave the Turkish premiere of the Kyrgyz biopic Aytmatov, about writer Chinghiz Aitmatov, directed by Kanıbek Kalmatov and produced by Timurlan Tashiev.
Why does a Türkiye–Kyrgyzstan pitch matter for business?
Because it turns diplomatic declarations into real project financing. On 5 November, for the first time, filmmakers pitched projects at The Marmara Meeting Center to a joint Türkiye–Kyrgyzstan jury, and four projects were selected for support. The festival also operates a Korkut Ata Film Production Support Fund for selected projects; the amounts have not been published.
The step builds on a longer track. In December 2025, Birol Güven and Kyrgyz Deputy Minister of Culture Marat Tagaev discussed joint film projects in Ankara and agreed to continue “Kyrgyz Cinema Days” in Türkiye and “Turkish Cinema Days” in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyz producers gain access to Turkish crews, post-production and distribution; Turkish producers gain new stories, landscapes and markets.
Where did the Korkut Ata festival come from?
It was born from a 2021 joint declaration that promised a Turkic World Film Fund and co-production agreements. At the first edition in Istanbul in 2021, Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism hosted culture officials from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The joint declaration announced at AKM included creating a Turkic World Film Fund, easing joint production agreements, cooperation on film archives, transfer of know-how and mutual film weeks.
| Edition | Host |
|---|---|
| 1st (2021) | Istanbul, Türkiye |
| 2nd (2022) | Bursa, Türkiye |
| 3rd–5th | Baku (Azerbaijan), Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), Aktau (Kazakhstan) |
| 6th (2026) | Istanbul, Türkiye; the ministry says the festival will now stay in Istanbul |
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced in September that the festival will be held in Istanbul from now on. Entries were open to filmmakers from Turkic republics and communities and from member and observer states of the Organization of Turkic States.
What role does AI play?
A cautious but open one. On 7 November at Atlas Cinema, a panel titled “Artificial Intelligence in Cinema and the Digital Transformation of Ancient Narratives” brings together Birol Güven, academics Serdar Öztürk and Şebnem Özdemir, filmmaker Ozan Sihay and members of the AI team of Ay Yapım, one of Türkiye’s biggest drama producers. Güven told reporters that AI had been used in the festival’s opening film, stressing that this does not mean the state fully backs or rejects the technology: Türkiye is cautious about AI but will not turn its back on it.
How does this connect with Türkiye’s screen export boom?
Türkiye already sells drama to the world; Korkut Ata is about building a regional production base around it. Turkish officials say drama exports passed $1 billion in 2025, with series reaching about one billion viewers in roughly 170 countries. In February 2026 the ministry announced up to $100,000 per episode broadcast abroad, easier permits and free access to state-owned locations. Central Asian audiences are among the most loyal viewers of Turkish series, which makes co-productions with Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan a natural extension of that business. The involvement of TGA, the tourism promotion agency, shows that the state also sees the festival as a destination-marketing tool.
Our take
For producers and studios: the six-country platform target and the new pitching format are early signals of co-production money and treaties. Companies with Central Asian partners should prepare projects now, ahead of 2027.
For tourism and destination brands: TGA’s support and the push to bring foreign shoots to Türkiye, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan point to film tourism and location services as growth areas, from hotels and transport to fixers and equipment rental.
For sponsors and event organisers: a free, state-backed festival with 450 professionals, five venues and an awards night at AKM is an accessible platform for brands targeting Turkic-speaking markets, and Istanbul as a permanent home makes multi-year partnerships realistic.
For distributors: watch the award winners on 7 November. Turkic-language films with festival laurels and state support are good candidates for regional streaming and TV packages.
FAQ
When is the Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival 2026?
From 3 to 7 November 2026 in Istanbul. The closing and award ceremony is on 7 November at AKM.
How many films are shown?
56 films, of which 30 compete in three categories: feature fiction, documentary and short film.
Are tickets free?
Yes, all screenings are free of charge.
Who organises the festival?
The International Cinema Association under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, with support from TÜRKSOY, TRT and TGA.
What is the 2027 goal?
Setting up joint production platforms with six Turkic countries by 2027, according to Director General of Cinema Birol Güven.
Which projects received support?
Four projects were selected at the first Türkiye–Kyrgyzstan pitching event; their titles and support amounts have not been published.
Sources
- Daily Sabah: Istanbul summit aims to boost co-op in Turkic cinema (5 November 2026)
- Hürriyet Daily News: Korkut Ata Turkish World Film Festival returns to Istanbul
- Habertürk: Korkut Ata Türk Dünyası Film Festivali İstanbul’a dönüyor
- Milliyet: Türk dünyasıyla sinema alanında ortak bildiri imzalandı (2021)
- Kabar: Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye discuss joint film projects in Ankara
- Xinhua via The Star: Türkiye offers cash incentives to boost overseas sales of its TV dramas
- Yeni Şafak: Türkiye highlights global reach of Turkish TV series exports
This article is for information only. Figures and plans are based on statements by organisers and officials reported in the press; award results and support amounts were not available at the time of publication.
