15/07/2025 - With a renewed focus on international collaboration and a special section on Palestinian cinema, Turkey's leading co-production platform has unveiled its jury and programme

The seventh edition of 12 Punto, Turkey’s largest script-development and co-production platform organised by TRT, is taking place from 13-20 July in Istanbul. Bringing together over 50 film professionals from 35 countries, the event continues to foster international collaboration and development for emerging and established filmmakers.

The international jury members for this year’s edition are acclaimed director Andrey Zvyagintsev, president of the Golden Globes Helen Hoehne, Austrian filmmaker Jessica Hausner, ARTE France Cinema director Olivier Père, and award-winning Palestinian actress Yasmine Al Massri. The jury will evaluate the 12 finalist feature-film projects, which will be presented at the end of the week (see the news). Among these projects, three will receive the TRT Co-Production Award, three will receive the TRT Pre-Buy Award, and six will receive the TRT Project Development Award. The winners will be announced at the Closing and Awards Ceremony on 20 July, which will also include the presentation of the TRT International Co-Production Award.

Held at Feriye Cinema in Beşiktaş, this year’s public programme includes a range of master classes, panels, and screenings with international filmmakers and professionals. The sessions will address key areas of directing, producing, screenwriting, marketing, festival strategy, animation, and international funding. Director Andrey Zvyagintsev, whose films include The Return, Leviathan [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Loveless [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Andrey Zvyagintsev
film profile], will lead a master class titled “The Art of Directing.” Jessica Hausner, known for Lourdes [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jessica Hausner
film profile] and Club Zero [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jessica Hausner
film profile], will attend an open-air screening of the latter and participate in a Q&A session. Helen Hoehne will lead a talk on the role of international recognition in today’s industry, titled “Honouring Excellence.” Olivier Père and Yasmine Al Massri will also contribute to the public sessions.

As in previous years, the programme includes a special section dedicated to Palestinian cinema, featuring recent works by Palestinian filmmakers. Screenings will be followed by Q&A sessions with the attending directors. The section aims to provide a space for visibility, conversation and cultural exchange. The event will also pay tribute to Turkish director and producer Osman Sınav, who passed away earlier this year. His 2012 feature A Long Story, based on the novel by Mustafa Kutlu, will be screened as part of the 12 Punto Open-Air Cinema series.

Participants in 12 Punto 2025 include producers, screenwriters, and film institution representatives from France, Germany, Greece, Iran, Italy, Egypt, South Africa, and many others. The programme will once again serve as a platform for connecting regional filmmakers with international partners. As in previous years, the daily programme “12 Punto Special” will be broadcast every evening on TRT 2, offering interviews, behind-the-scenes content and highlights from the week.