14.11.2026 14:40
The debate that began when famous actor Haluk Bilginer preferred the phrase "cinema of Turkey" instead of "Turkish cinema" has also been joined by actor Gökhan Alkan. Responding to journalists' questions on the subject, Alkan stated that Turkish identity cannot be defined solely by today's state borders, and opposed Bilginer with the words, "We say Turkish cinema, we say Turkish theater. We do not accept other kinds of discourse."
The statement "Türkiye cinema" used by the famous actor Haluk Bilginer in the field of cinema continues to be debated. Bilginer's words, preferring the phrase "Türkiye cinema" instead of "Turkish cinema" in response to the description of British cinema, brought different interpretations. Actor Gökhan Alkan, whose opinion on the matter was wondered about, also joined the debate by answering journalists' questions.
"THERE IS NO NEED TO TWIST THE WORDS"
Openly stating that he does not agree with Bilginer's words, Alkan emphasized that Turkishness is a national identity and that works of art are an inseparable part of this identity. In his statement, Alkan used the following expressions: "There is no need to twist the words at all. The boundaries of the Turk are much broader and greater than our current state. Turkishness is a national identity. A part of this identity is also works of art. We say Turkish cinema, we say Turkish theater, and we do not accept any other kind of discourse. That is his thought"