rising number of films prompted an increase in the number of movie theaters and especially open-air theaters. However, the interest in this sector gradually diminished due to social unrest and the growing popularity of television during the 1970s. Later in the 1980s the traditional moviegoer withdrew home with the additional influence of video players, many movie theaters shut down, and Turkish cinema faced grave financial problems. In this period, moviegoers tended to favor Hollywood films, a trend observed in other European countries as well. Although this trend still persists, the socio-cultural films produced after 1980 managed to attract the interest of the masses, particularly university students.

International Relations of Turkish Cinema: Turkey has signed a series of agreements in the field of cinema with European countries in order to give new impetus to Turkish cinema. A Joint Film Production Agreement was signed with France in 1995, a European Cinematographic Joint Production Agreement was sealed in 1997, and efforts to sign a Joint Film Production Agreement with Italy are on the way. The Ministry of Culture undertook in 1993 the National Coordination of EUREKA Audiovisual, an important establishment in this field, and is also a member of the European Support Fund for the Joint Production and Distribution of Cinematographic and Audiovisual Works (EURIMAGES). The Coordinators’ Committee of EUREKA decided that this organization had successfully completed its