Getting filming permission in Turkey
The foreign media members who want to film a documentary or a news story in Turkey need to
get filming permission before they start to work in Turkey.
There are two kinds of filming/journalism permissions given to foreign media members in
Turkey.
1-Documentary film permission for documentary films
2-Temporary press card for news stories

Getting permission for a documentary film
Documentary films permissions are given by Ministry of Culture, Directorate General of
Copyrights and Cinema in Ankara.

(From the website of the office which give documentary film permissions)
One person in the crew should fill in and sign the application form in English or in Turkish
The list indicating the names, surnames, work and home addresses and telephone numbers
and the passport photocopies (not identity card photocopies) of all the persons in the crew
should be enclosed to the form. Please give a number to each person in the list and write the
same number on his/her passport photocopy.

According to the regulation, it is obligatory to have at least one host/guide who is a citizen of
the Turkish Republic during the film shooting. The host’s/guide’s address and telephone
numbers must be written.

The documents should be sent to our fax (++90 312) 310 00 63 to the attention of “Danisma
ve Degerlendirme Subesi” at least two weeks before the date of entry of the crew into Turkey
and then your Turkish host/guide should call us to confirm that we have received the
documents and to ask if there is anything else to do.

Then, the permission document will be sent to you by fax. Please don’t forget to write your fax
number with your country’s code number.  

And at last, before beginning to shoot the film in Turkey, you should apply to the
Governership or the Directorate of Culture and Tourism of the cities where you will shoot the
film.   

Ministry of Culture and Tourism - Directorate General of Copyrights and Cinema -
Consultation and Evaluation Section     Fax: (++90 312) 310 00 63     Tel: (++90 312) 310 03
21 / 310
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Temporary press card for news stories
Temporary press cards are given to journalists by Prime minister press office in Ankara,
Istanbul or Diyarbakir in some cases they give in other cities too.

(From Prime Minister press office's website)

Foreign members of the media coming to Turkey on a temporary mission (for a period of up to
3 months) should apply to the Directorate General of Press and Information (DGPI) for press
credentials which are valid for three months.
Documents Required for Temporary Accreditation

1)    Application Form For Temporary Accreditation
2)    Letter of authorisation from the applicant’s organization confirming his/her assignment to
Turkey, including the purpose and length of his/her visit.
3)    Letter of introduction from the Embassy or Consular Office (in Turkey) of the country
where the organization is based  confirming his/her status as a member of the media.
4)    Photocopy of passport.
5)    Three passport-size photographs.
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Filming in east and southeastern Turkey
Kurdish is spoken language in southeastern Turkey and most of the people speak Turkish as
well but some people especially older people and ladies don't speak Turkish. If you are
planning to film a documentary or a news story in southeastern Turkey, it is better if you have
a fixer or translator who speak Kurdish, it also will make people you want to talk to feel more
comfortable.
About me
I have been working as a freelance fixer for
foreigner media in Turkey since 1999. I am
based in Istanbul and Diyarbakir but  can work
anywhere in Turkey and in Northern Iraq. I
speak Kurdish, English, Turkish, German and
Persian. I also can arrange camera crew,
equipment and transportation and can help you
to get filming permission.

If you are planing to film a documentary or a
news programme in Turkey and would like to
know more about filming in Turkey, please don't
hesitate to contact me. I will be happy to write
you back.
Memet Aksakal
Mobile Phone: +90 533 334 77 96
memet@memetaksakal.com
HOME
Work
Filming for Bloomberg tv, Istanbul April 2008
Interview with Deputy Prime Minister Mrs. Edibe
Sozen for BBC Scotland, Istanbul May 2007
Working for Bloomberg tv at Turkey-Iraq border,
Habur-Silopi, November 2007
Filming for Welsh TV,  Gallipoli September 2007
Interview with mayor of Fatih Mr. Mustafa Demir about
Sulukule project for BBC Scotland. August 2008
Filming in Sulukule for BBC Scotland. Istanbul,
August 2008
Moqoble Kurdish camp in northern Iraq, July 2008
This camp is near moqoble village between Zakho
and Duhok near smel town. The Kurds who live in this
camp have ran away from Syria in  March 2004 when
Syrian government troops killed more than 50 Kurds.  
With Canadian documentary film maker Simcha
Jacobovici during filming Struma documentary
Istanbul 2000.
Experienced freelance fixer in Turkey for news stories and documentary films
Kirkuk stadium in Northern Iraq where Kurdish
refugees live. Kirkuk, March 2009
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Filming Worm huntres documentary for
Gulliver Media Australia. Hasankeyf, April 2009
In Marmaray Tunnel, Mage builder Documentary.
for discovery channel  Istanbul, January 2009
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2009
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Honour Killings in Turkey
Date: October 2009 Location: Diyarbakir, Elbistan and Malatya: Company: ITN, UK
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Turkey's  Democratic solution, Kurdish peace process
Date :October 2009 Location:  Ankara and Diyarbakir Company: BBC Scotland
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Turkey-Armenia Relations and new agreement
Date: October 2009 Location: Istanbul, Bursa Company: Neewsweek, Russia
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Photo Journalism
Date: September 2009 Location: Diyarbakir Photographer: Daimon Xanthopoulos
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Eva's trail, from Ethiopia, to western Europe, a documentary about people, cultures and transitions
Date: September 2009 Location: Diyarbakir, Erzurum, Yagan and Eyupler (Eyyiba) Villages in Erzurum.
Company: The Enterainment Group / Telesaurus Brussels Broadcaster: VRT
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The Mega builders (A documentary about istanbul Marmaray project) Part 3
Date: August-September  2009 Location: Istanbul Company: Barna-Alper Productions Toranto Broadcaster:
Discovery channel
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Photo Journalism about power of Military
Date:August 2009 Location: Istanbul, Diyarbakir, a village in Lice, Diyarbakir.
Photographer: Timo Vogt
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European commission, European Destinations of  Excellence
Date: August 2009 Location: Kars Kucuyuk lake  Company: MEDIA CONSULTA International Holding AG,
Berlin Germany
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Documentary about Mitreya
Date: July 2009 Location: Nemrud, Arsameia in Adiyaman area Company: Mitreya Project,  Berlin Germany.
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Photo Journalism about entertainment in Kurdish area
Date: June 2009 Location: Diyarbakir  Photoghraper: Philip Cheung
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Culture, art and developments in Diyarbakir
Date: May 2009 Location: Diyarbakir Company: ARTE Tv  France
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Worms Hunters (a documentary about earth worms and earth worms scientists)
Date: April 2009 Location: Diyarbakir, Hasankeyf, Mardin Company: Gulliver Media Australia Broadcaster:
National geographic
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Photo Journalism in Diyarbakir and in Kirkuk in Northern Iraq (Kurdish refugee camp in Kirkuk stadium)
Date: March 2009 Location: Diyarbakir- Kirkuk, Photoghraper: Meiko Herrmann
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Kurdish children in prisons, local elections in Turkey and tourism in Mardin
Date: March 2009 Location: Diyarbakir and Mardin Company: GPD Dutch news agency, Journalist Jessica
Mass
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An internal film for Paxar Teslo Tekstil Urunleri San ve Tic. A.S.
Date: March 2009 Location: Istanbul Company: I-motus, interactive motion London UK
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The Mega builders (A documentary about istanbul Marmaray project) Part 2
Date: January 2009 Location: Istanbul Company: Barna-Alper Productions Toranto Broadcaster: Discovery
channel
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2008
Photo Journalism
Date: October 2008 Location: Diyarbakir Photoghraper: Anne Holmes
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Latest developments in Diyarbakir about Kurdish problem
Date: October 2008 Location: Diyarbakir Company: GPD Dutch news agency, Journalist Jessica Mass
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The Mega builders (A documentary about istanbul Marmaray project)
Date: August 2008 Location: Istanbul Company: Barna-Alper Productions, Toranto Broadcaster: Discovery
channel
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Guns in Turkey and shootings at the weddings
Date: July 2008 Location: istanbul Company: BBC Scotland
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Rehabilitation project for Gypsy neighbourhood Sulukule in istanbul
Date: July 2008 Location: istanbul Company: BBC Scotland
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Photo Journalism in Northern Iraq
Date: July 2008 Location: Diyarbakir, Erbil, Sulemani  Photoghraper:  Jon Vidar
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Photo Journalism in Northern Iraq
Date: July 2008 Location: Diyarbakir, Erbil, Sulemani  Photoghraper:  Andrew  Nelles
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Welcome to my world (Documentary)
Date: July 2008 Location: Istanbul and Zonguldak Company: Looshorse. Broadcaster: Irish TV
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Foreign investment in Turkey
Date: April-May 2008 Location: Istanbul, Ankara, Kayseri Company: Bloomberg TV
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Turkish government lifted headscarf ban
Date: February 2008 Location: Istanbul Company: BBC Scotland
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2007
Turkey's threat to invade northern Iraq
Date: November 2007 Location: Istanbul, Ankara, Diyarbakir, Cizre, Silopi Company: Bloomberg
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Photo journalism project in southeastern Turkey and Northern Iraq
Date: November 2007 Location: Silopi,  Zakho, Erbil (Northern Iraq Company: Russian Journalists
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Kurdish conflict
Date: October 2007 Location: Istanbul, Diyarbakir Company: Canadian Journalist Christopher Frey
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Ancient city of Miletus
Date: October 2007 Location: Miletus Company: Scottish Television
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Welsh men in Gallipoli war
Date: August-September 2007 Location: Gallipoli (Canakkale) Company: Welsh Television
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Turkish Parliament Election
Date: July 2007 Location: Istanbul Company: Bloomberg TV
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Raising Nationalism in Turkey
Date: May 2007 Location: Istanbul, Ankara, Trabzon Company: BBC Scotland
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2006
Prisoners hunger strike in Turkey (Documentary)
Date: April 2006  Location: Istanbul, Gaziantep Company:  Wildfire Films, Dublin
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Turkish journalists trials
Date: January 2006 Location: Istanbul Company: BBC Scotland
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Pope's Turkey visit
Date: November 2006  Location: Istanbul Company: BBC Scotland
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2005
Milan-Liverpool champions League final game
Date: May 2005 Company: ITN Location: Istanbul
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Turkey's possible EU membership
Date: December 2005 Location: Istanbul Company: BBC Scotland
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2004
Honour killings and women rights in Turkey
Date: December 2004 Location: Istanbul, Ankara Company: BBC Scotland
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MRSA Virus in Turkey hospitals
Date: September 2004 Location: Izmir Company: BBC Scotland
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Putting the Fun into Fundamental, search of the remains of Noah's Ark. (Documentary)
Date: August 2004 Company: Stempede, London Location:  Istanbul, Erzurum, Dogubeyazit Broadcaster:
Channel 4
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Buildings safety in Istanbul
Date: February 2004 Location: Istanbul Company: BBC Scotland
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2003
Attacks on British Consulate and HSBC bank in Istanbul
Date: November 2003 Location: Istanbul Company: BBC
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Turkey-UK national teams football game
Date: October 2003 Location: Istanbul Company:  BBC
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Possible US troops deployment in Turkey
Date: February-March 2003 Location: Istanbul Ankara Company: BBC Scotland
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2001
King Midas' Feast, a documentary film about King Midas and the food of the time.
Date: 2001 Company: Yap films Leeds Location: Ankara, Polatli  Broadcaster: Channel 4
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Funeral of a Kurdish refugee has been killed in Glasgow and Kurdish refugees
Date: August-Steptember  2001 Company: Location: Istanbul, Gaziantep, Diyarbakir Company: BBC Scotland
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GLADIATRIX, ( A documentary about women warriors)
Date: January 2001 Company: Yap films Leeds Location: Terme, Giresun Broadcaster: Channel 4
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Refugees trail, Maggie O'Kane and film maker Fiona Lloyd-Davis followed the refugee trail.
Date: May 2001 Company: Guardian Newspaper,
(Winner of a European Online Journalism award for the best investigative
reporting using video and audio in 2001)
Location: Dogubeyazit in Eastern Turkey, Turkey-Iran Border, Istanbul
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2000
Besiktas-Leeds United football game
Date: September 2000 Location: Istanbul Company: BBC
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Struma, a 90 minutes documentary film by Simcha Jacobovici  about a sunken refugees ship in Black sea
Date: August 2000 Company: Yap films Toronto Location: Istanbul, Black sea Broadcaster: Chanel 4, HBO,
History channel
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Galatasatay-Leeds United football game
Date: April 2000 Location: Istanbul Company: BBC
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1999
Earthquake in Turkey
Date: August 1999 Location: Istanbul,  Adapazari, Yalova, Golcuk, Izmit, Cinarcik Company: Channel 4
Filming Alevis Prayer in a Cem House for
ITV. Malatya, October 2009
Interview for BBC Scotland. Diyarbakir,
October 2009