In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Rıdvan Şentürk, Dean of the Faculty of Communication, emphasized that the symposium provided an important platform to assess the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Mehmet Oflazoğlu, President of the Antakya International Film Festival, expressed his hope that the event would shed light on the future of Turkish cinema.
Audiences Lost During the Pandemic Have Not Returned
The keynote address was delivered by Kerem Çatay, founder and CEO of Ay Yapım. He highlighted that the film industry has suffered a significant decline in cinema audiences over the past five years. “Even the films slated for release in 2025 don’t seem to resonate with viewers,” said Çatay, noting that dramas are being replaced by children’s content and comedies. He pointed out that the number of cinema-goers in Turkey, which peaked at 25 million in 2018, has now dropped to around 14–15 million. According to him, high-quality content will be crucial to bringing audiences back to cinemas.
“Audiences Will Return for Quality Work”
The symposium continued with sessions moderated by Lecturer Alp Eren Erbay, Prof. Dr. Rıdvan Şentürk, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dilge Kodak. In one of the panels, directors Aydın Orak and Eylem Kaftan discussed changing viewing habits in Turkey. Kaftan noted that the decline in cinema attendance is largely due to digitalization but argued that strong and compelling films could still draw audiences back to theaters.
“It Can’t Be the Same Actors Every Time”
Director Aydın Orak commented on the influence of digital platforms, especially Netflix, criticizing their tendency to cast the same actors repeatedly, which he said restricts diversity within the industry. Citing the example of the UK, he suggested that regulatory measures could help promote more inclusive productions.
Production Is More Than Just Financing
During the “Sectoral Talks” session, producer Halil Kardaş underlined that filmmaking is not only about financing, but also involves creative decision-making. Producer Nuray Kayacan Sünbül added that producing requires a multifaceted vision, including project development and strategic planning — not merely securing funding.
Practical Acting Workshop Draws Interest
The symposium concluded with a practical acting workshop led by actors Bülent Keser and Ümmü Pütgül, which attracted significant attention from participants.
