Getting filming permission in Turkey for news and documentaries

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
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 to talk.

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

Info about h ow to go to N orthern

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

T.C. BAŞBAKANLIK
Basın - Yayın ve Enformasyon Genel
Müdürlüğü
Ceyhun Atıf Kansu Caddesi No:122
Balgat / ANKARA / TÜRKİYE
Santral : +90 312 583 60 00
E-mail : webinfo@byegm.gov.tr

İZMİR İL MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ
Adres: Halit Ziya Bulvarı 1352. Sok. No:6
Pasaport-İZMİR
Tel: 0(232)4894291
Fax: 0(232)4450361
E-mail: izmir@byegm.gov.tr

ANTALYA İL MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ
Adres: Balbey Mahallesi İsmet Paşa Caddesi
Güntaç İş Merkezi Kat : 3 No : 35 ANTALYA
Tel: 0(242)2483313-2488048
Fax: 0(242)2489333
E-mail: antalya@byegm.gov.tr

DİYARBAKIR İL MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ
Yenişehir/DİYARBAKIR
Tel: 0(412)2243222, 2286640, 2240526
Fax: 0(412)2244655
E-mail: diyarbakir@byegm.gov.tr

ERZURUM İL MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ
Adres: Valilik Binası Kat:4 ERZURUM
Tel: 0(442)2344861
Fax: 0(442)2344861
E-mail: erzurum@byegm.gov.tr

TRABZON İL MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ
Adres: Çarşı Mah. Postane Sok. No:2 TRABZON
Tel: 0(462)3268124-3269041-3269042
Fax: 0(462)3267443
E-mail: trabzon@byegm.gov.tr

Filming Permission Office in Ankara
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