Meetings on the Bridge is a co-production, training, and networking platform that brings together producers, directors, and screenwriters from Türkiye with international film professionals around the world each year.

Held as part of the Istanbul Film Festival, the Meetings on the Bridge workshops offer filmmakers from Türkiye a unique opportunity to present their films and projects to international producers, festival and fund representatives, broadcasters, and investors.

Established in 2006 as a series of cinema talks, Meetings on the Bridge quickly gained momentum, fueled by the growing interest in Türkiye’s expanding film industry and the support of international filmmakers and film organizations.

In 2008, the platform introduced the Film Development Workshop, an educational program designed to bring together experienced industry professionals with international producers, fund representatives, festival directors, broadcasters, and buyers.

From the outset, project directors and producers participating in the workshops have received training in presentation techniques. In 2015, a comprehensive new training program was developed, in collaboration with international advisors and trainers, to enhance the quality of workshop projects and support their creative and production processes. Before delivering their project presentations, directors, screenwriters, and producers engaged in group training sessions on topics such as screenwriting, production, pitching, marketing, social media, and crowdfunding. These group sessions also aimed to strengthen communication among filmmakers, foster collaboration, and encourage continuous knowledge sharing.

In 2011, the German-Turkish Co-Production Development Fund was established in partnership with Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein and Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg. This fund supports co-productions between the two countries, providing annual development-phase grants to projects co-produced by Turkish and German filmmakers.

In 2012, the inaugural Work in Progress workshop showcased feature films and documentaries from Türkiye in post-production. These projects were presented to international festival directors, sales and distribution companies, and media representatives. This annual workshop has since become a stepping stone for Turkish films, launching their festival journeys and connecting them with global sales agents.

In 2016 and 2017, Meetings on the Bridge became the first Turkish film event to receive support from the Creative Europe program. In 2017, with backing from the Istanbul Development Agency, it launched the Short Film Workshop, aimed at emerging filmmakers working on their first or second short films. The workshop highlighted the significance of short films within the film industry and sought to increase the production of high-quality, internationally competitive works.

In past years, Meetings on the Bridge also held initiatives such as the Neighbours Workshop (supported by CNC), designed to foster knowledge exchange and lay the groundwork for financial and artistic collaborations between filmmakers and film institutions in Türkiye and neighboring countries; the Trailer Workshop, aimed at improving the production quality of trailers in Türkiye; and the Series on the Bridge section, focused on developing content for digital platforms.

Through its programmes, Meetings on the Bridge has supported the completion of numerous films that have premiered at prestigious international festivals and reached global audiences. It has become a cornerstone of the Turkish film industry, serving as a vital bridge between Türkiye and the global film community while fostering co-productions across borders.

You can explore the list of films supported by Meetings on the Bridge here.