The selected projects for 12 Punto, Turkey’s largest script-development and co-production platform, have been announced. The sixth edition of the programme, organised by TRT, will run from 7-14 July in Istanbul, featuring 12 film projects. Over 40 film professionals from 29 countries are expected to attend the event.

This year, more than 100 feature-film project applications were submitted to 12 Punto. After an initial evaluation procedure, 80 scripts were reviewed by a five-member pre-jury consisting of notable figures in Turkish cinema: award-winning directors Mahmut Fazıl Coşkun and Murat Pay, actress Vildan Atasever, sociologist and author Fatma Barbarosoğlu, and film critic Suat Köçer.

At the end of the 12 Punto week, the finalists will pitch their projects to a five-member international jury. Three projects will receive the TRT Co-Production Award, three will get the TRT Pre-Buy Award, and the six remaining ones will be granted the TRT Project Development Award, as decided on by the jury. Additionally, the winners of the TRT International Co-Production Award will be announced at the 12 Punto award ceremony on 14 July. The winners of the TRT Short Film Production Award will also develop their scripts with leading screenwriters as part of 12 Punto.

The filmmakers behind the 12 finalist projects will collaborate with prominent script consultants to refine their scripts during 12 Punto. They will also engage with leading marketing and pitching consultants to develop strategies for presenting their movies to potential investors, partners, fund managers and key decision makers in the film industry. Furthermore, the finalists will participate in one-on-one meetings with representatives from top film-industry organisations, film funds, co-production markets, festivals, sales companies and production outfits during the 12 Punto Meetings, scheduled from 9-13 July.

Additionally, master classes, panels, screenings and discussions with prominent figures from Turkish and world cinema will be organised for film professionals and cinema enthusiasts as part of the programme, held at Feriye Cinema in Beşiktaş. These events will be open to the public and free of charge, with details to be announced shortly. Moreover, a TV programme called 12 Punto Special Show, featuring various interviews and 12 Punto events, will be broadcast on TRT 2 every evening during 12 Punto week.

Here are the 12 Punto 2024 feature-film projects:

⁠The Battle of Hedgehogs - M Tayfur Aydın
Producers: Mariette Rissenbeek, M Tayfur Aydin

Blind - Hakan Yonat
Producer: Zeynep Koşar

Flood Plain - Hasan Tuna Balkan
Producers: Alara Hamamcıoğlu Bayraktar, Sinan Kesova

Hello - Ela Alyamaç, Aren Perdeci
Producers: Ela Alyamaç, Harutyun Kuran

It - Emin Fırat Övür
Producer: Okan Üzey

Law of the Flies - Tunahan Kurt
Producer: Hasan Köroğlu

My Happy Family - Alkım Özmen
Producers: Alkım Özmen, Samet Hamiş

Recital of Bayram - Bekir Bülbül
Producer: Halil Kardaş

Salt of the Earth - Murat Eroğlu
Producers: Murat Eroğlu, Gözde Kural, Milad Khosravi

Shot - Fatih Özcan
Producer: Osman Enes Yakut

Sleepless - Ahmet Yurtkul
Producers: Murat Saraçoğlu, Ahmet Yurtkul

Toz Baba Tekkesi - Mehmet Bahadır Er
Producers: Mehmet Bahadır Er, Maryna Er Gorbach