Purpose and Strategic Framework*

Türkiye and the Balkan region share long-standing cultural and social ties. Millions of people of Balkan origin living in Türkiye continue to sustain and enrich this cultural interaction. This shared background creates a natural environment in which Balkan culture and artistic production resonate strongly with audiences in Türkiye.

Cinema is one of the most powerful mediums for fostering cultural understanding and creating shared spaces of experience between societies. In this context, Balkan cinema represents a significant field of artistic expression reflecting the region’s cultural diversity, social experiences, and creative output.

For more than a decade, the Balkan Panorama Film Festival, held annually in Izmir, has served as an important cultural meeting point dedicated to promoting Balkan cinema in Türkiye within an international framework. Over the years, the festival has established a strong network of collaboration with national film institutions, producers, and international film professionals across the region.

Building upon this institutional experience and international network, the Balkan Panorama Film Distribution Network has been developed as a cultural screening initiative aimed at strengthening the circulation of Balkan cinema in Türkiye.

The program includes feature-length fiction, documentary, and animated films, as well as short films in the same categories. These works consist primarily of films previously screened within the festival program or selected by the festival’s artistic and curatorial bodies.

The primary purpose of this initiative is to ensure that films presented within the festival—particularly those distinguished by their artistic merit—are not limited to festival screenings, but continue to reach audiences across different cities and cultural institutions in Türkiye.

Within this framework, the network aims to expand the visibility of Balkan cinema through collaborations with cinemas, cultural centers, universities, arts institutions, film festivals, and film societies.

The program also functions as a natural extension of the institutional vision of the Balkan Panorama Film Festival, strengthening cultural dialogue between Türkiye and the Balkan countries through cinema.

Screenings are organized through a flexible licensing model based on direct communication with rights holders. Each request is submitted to the relevant party and carried out only upon their explicit approval.

The festival may also organize a limited number of promotional screenings to support the visibility of Balkan cinema in Türkiye.

The Balkan Panorama Film Distribution Network is conceived as a long-term initiative aimed at transforming the international collaborations developed by the festival into a sustainable cultural screening platform.

Through this initiative, the goal is to enhance the visibility of Balkan cinema within Türkiye while strengthening regional cooperation and encouraging cultural exchange through cinema.

*For film submissions or collaboration inquiries regarding the Balkan Panorama Film Distribution Network, please contact: distribution@bpff.com.tr