Fixer for documentaries and news stories in Turkey
About me
I have been working as a freelance fixer
for foreigner media in Turkey since 1999.
I am based in Diyarbakir and Istanbul but I
can work anywhere in Turkey and in
Northern Iraq.
I speak Kurdish, English, Turkish,
German and Persian. I can arrange
camera crew and equipment if needed. I
also can arrange hotel and transportation
and can help you to get filming
permission.
If you are planing to film a documentary or
a news story 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
Email: memet@diyarmedia.com
You can check my personal website for
my work experiences.  
www.memetaksakal.com
Home
     Diyarbakir Media
Fixing and translating services for news stories and documentary
films in Turkey and Information about east and Southeastern Turkey

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.

Footage
If you are in Istanbul or Ankara or anywhere else in Turkey or in out of country and need footage from
Southeastern Turkey to use in your news story or documentary film, I can provide it  for a reasonable price.