10.11.2026 07:52
Haluk Bilginer’s suggestion years ago to use the phrase “Türkiye cinema” instead of “Turkish cinema” has reignited debate. The claim that the veteran actor, who has also been targeted by criticism over the “Türkiyeli” designation, used the phrases “British, French, and Russian cinema” when referring to other countries has led to comments that there is a contradiction between his statements.
Haluk Bilginer, one of the leading names in Turkish theater and cinema, has once again drawn attention with statements he made years ago. In an interview he gave in the past, Bilginer opposed the description “Turkish cinema” and suggested using the phrase “cinema of Turkey” instead; the expressions he used while talking about the cinemas of different countries have also become part of the debate.
“TURKISH CINEMA DOESN’T SEEM RIGHT TO ME”
In a statement he made in the past, Bilginer expressed his views on the naming of the cinema industry and said, “Shall we call it the cinema of Turkey? Turkish cinema doesn’t seem right to me.” These words of the actor reignited debates over which phrase should be used to describe the cinema industry in Turkey.
HE USED THE PHRASES “ENGLISH, FRENCH, RUSSIAN CINEMA” FOR OTHER COUNTRIES
In another speech by Bilginer, while talking about the cinemas of different countries, he used the phrases “English, French, Russian cinema.” The actor, who did not consider the description “Turkish cinema” appropriate when it came to Turkey, used expressions based on national identity for other countries, which brought criticism that there was inconsistency between his statements.
REACTION FROM JOURNALIST MEHMET ÇEK
After Bilginer’s old statements came to the agenda again, journalist Mehmet Çek also made an assessment. Çek opposed the expressions “cinema of Turkey” and “Türkiyeli” (from Turkey), arguing that they are artificial descriptions.
Çek stated that the cinema industry in Turkey should be called “Turkish cinema.” Thus, the view Bilginer expressed in the past turned into a new debate in which different approaches confronted each other.
HE USED THE PHRASE “TURKISH CINEMA” IN 2009
While the debates continued, it also drew attention that Bilginer used the phrase “Turkish cinema” in an interview dated August 10, 2009. The difference between this description the actor used in the past and the “cinema of Turkey” approach that later came to the agenda formed another dimension of the debate.