– Turkey’s script-development and co-production platform has selected 12 feature-film projects for a week of intensive development, industry networking and international outreach in Istanbul
Director Özcan Deniz, who is selected with his project The House of Mice (© İstanbullu Gelin)
The eighth edition of 12 Punto, Turkey’s largest script-development and co-production platform, is set to take place from 12-19 July in Istanbul. Organised by TRT, the initiative continues its mission of supporting the development of auteur-driven Turkish cinema while fostering international co-production opportunities.
Throughout the week, the selected filmmakers will develop their screenplays with internationally renowned script consultants, participate in pitch preparation workshops, and hold one-on-one meetings with award-winning producers, representatives of film funds, festivals, sales agents and co-production markets. The winners will be announced on 19 July, with three projects receiving the TRT Co-Production Award, three the TRT Pre-Buy Award, and six the TRT Project Development Award. The ceremony will also reveal the recipients of the TRT International Co-Production Award.
This year’s selection brings together both established voices and emerging filmmakers, reflecting the breadth of contemporary Turkish cinema. A total of 113 feature-film projects were submitted, with 90 of them being evaluated by the pre-selection jury. This year’s jury consisted of director and screenwriter Yüksel Aksu, writer, actor and director Fadik Sevin Atasoy, director, screenwriter and producer Ümit Köreken, poet and director Faysal Soysal, and screenwriter and producer Nuriye Bilici.
Alongside the feature-film selection, 12 Punto will once again host masterclasses, panel discussions, talks and open-air screenings throughout the week. This year’s edition also marks the launch of the inaugural 12 Punto 15 July Short Film Project Competition, while six additional projects have been selected to receive the TRT Short Film Production Award.
Here is the list of projects selected for the upcoming edition of 12 Punto:
The People I Love – Doğuş Algün (Turkey)
Producers: Doğuş Algün, Burak Kaplan (Gest Film)
Love and Earthquake – Mehmet Bahadır Er (Turkey)
Producer: Mehmet Bahadır Er (PROTİM V.P)
Not Quite – Meryem Beyza Er (Turkey)
Producers: Gamze Gençer, Meryem Beyza Er (Kum Film)
A Separation, a Poverty, a Death – Mesut Ceylan (Turkey)
Producer: Mesut Ceylan, Turan Tokel (Mesele Film)
The One Who Attained Life’s Secret – Cahit Kaya Demir (Turkey)
Producer: Cahit Kaya Demir (CKDPROD)
The House of Mice – Özcan Deniz (Turkey)
Producers: Işıl Baştuğ (NET Yapım Film), 19 Medya
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs – Hüseyin Eken (Turkey)
Producers: Duygu Yonuncu, Hüseyin Eken (H2 Medya)
The Watchman, the Pit and the Others – Baran Gündüzalp (Turkey)
Producer: Baran Gündüzalp (Alkali Film)
Uphill: Article 36 – Orhan İnce (Turkey/Germany/Kosovo)
Producers: Orhan İnce (SİNEMARJEN FİLM), Ava Art House, Dera Film
Aloha Prestij – Ercan Kesal (Turkey/Germany/Bulgaria)
Producers: Sinan Kesova, Alara Hamamcıoğlu, Ozan Yoleri (Vigo Film), Yamaç Okur, Mehmet Eryılmaz, Zeynep Ekmekci (Faro), Arda Çiltepe, Steffen Goldkamp (Kelek Film), Vanya Rainova (Portokal)
Imprint – Erkan Tahhuşoğlu (Turkey/Kosovo/France)
Producers: Erkan Tahhuşoğlu, İris Tahhuşoğlu (Şiyara Film Production), Gazmend Nela, Rahma El-Madeni
When The Sky Fades Away – Seyfettin Tokmak (Turkey)
Producers: Seyfettin Tokmak, Can Aygör (Yaman Film Yapım)
