The deadline for applications to 12 Punto, the script development and co-production platform organised by TRT Sinema, is fast approaching. Filmmakers have until 12 February (23:59 local time) to submit their projects for consideration. The eighth edition of the platform will take place in Istanbul from 12-19 July, bringing together selected projects and industry professionals from Turkey and abroad.

Designed to support the development of fiction features with strong international co-production potential, 12 Punto has established itself as a key regional industry platform, fostering long-term collaboration between Turkish producers and the global film community. Applications are open to fiction feature-film projects with a Turkish majority producer, international fiction feature films with a minority Turkish co-producer, and short-film projects from Turkey.

For international projects, the TRT International Co-Production Award is dedicated to feature-length fiction films that include a Turkish minority co-producer. Applications in this category must be submitted by the Turkish co-producer attached to the project. In recent years, several award-winning titles supported through this scheme have gone on to have major international premieres, screening in competition at festivals such as Berlin, Venice, Locarno and Sundance.

Turkish filmmakers can apply to 12 Punto 2026 with fiction feature projects that will first be evaluated by a national pre-selection jury composed of Turkish producers, directors and screenwriters. From this process, 12 finalist projects will be selected and announced on 12 April. During the platform week in July, the selected creative teams will participate in a tailored programme including script development workshops, pitching and presentation training, and meetings focused on financing strategies and international co-production led by international consultants.

At the end of the platform, the projects will be presented to an international jury of prominent film professionals, who will hand out three TRT Co-Production Awards, three TRT Pre-Buy Awards and six TRT Project Development Awards. The winners will be announced during the 12 Punto closing and awards ceremony on 19 July.

Beyond project development, 12 Punto Meetings will once again host a broad industry programme of panels, master classes, talks and screenings, open to both local and international professionals. With a steadily growing number of applicants each year and a strong track record of films travelling to major festivals, 12 Punto continues to strengthen its position as an important summer meeting point for projects seeking both artistic development and international visibility.

Previous winners of the TRT International Co-Production Award and 12 Punto-supported projects have achieved significant festival success. These include Made in EU [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Stephan Komandarev
scheda film] by Stephan Komandarev (Venezia Spotlight), Shambhala [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] by Min Bahadur Bham (Berlinale competition), Quiet Life [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Alexandros Avranas
scheda film] by Alexandros Avranas (Venice Orizzonti), It All Ends Here [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] by Rajko Grlić (Sarajevo), Green Border [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] by Agnieszka Holland (Venice competition) and Klondike [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Maryna Er Gorbach
scheda film] by Maryna Er Gorbach (Sundance, Best Director). A number of Turkish projects previously selected at 12 Punto had their premieres last year, including Hear the Yellow by Banu Sıvacı (Berlin Forum 2026), Lifelike [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Ali Vatansever
scheda film] by Ali Vatansever (Tallinn Black Nights 2025), Lo-Fi by Alican Durbaş (Tallinn Black Nights 2025) and As We Breathe [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Şeyhmus Altun
scheda film] by Seyhmus Altun (Toronto Discovery 2025), demonstrating the platform’s ability to support projects that travel successfully on the international festival circuit.

Those interested in submitting an application can find further information on the official website.