A Journey Through the Screen Earns International Recognition for Türkiye’s Cinematic Tourism Projects
In today's tourism industry, traditional promotional videos are increasingly giving way to cinematic storytelling. By using narrative-driven filmmaking, destinations can offer audiences not only a glimpse of their landmarks but also an immersive experience of their culture and way of life. The effectiveness of this approach was recently recognized at the prestigious US International Awards 2026.
Competing against more than 100 finalists from 25 countries, visual campaigns produced by the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) attracted significant attention from the jury. The promotional film "So Turkish, Go Turkish," created jointly by TGA and Turkish Airlines, received the Silver Award in the Country Promotion category. As no Gold Award was presented in this category this year, the film effectively received the competition's highest distinction.
The film presents Türkiye not merely as a destination on the map but as a country with a distinctive lifestyle. Scenes featuring the majestic Hagia Sophia, the iconic hot-air balloons of Cappadocia, and warm traditional gatherings along the Aegean coast capture the country's authentic atmosphere.
In addition to short promotional videos, cinematic mini-series have become increasingly popular in the digital space. Five previously released productions generated 7.69 billion advertising impressions and more than 4.4 billion views worldwide. Most recently, the creators introduced their sixth production, "Turquoise Summer."
Another Turkish promotional project, the mini-series "Antalya Gambit," also won a Silver Award at the US International Awards in the City Promotion category.
Through the story of art curator Lara and the mysterious architect Denis, viewers travel across Antalya's turquoise bays, ancient ruins, and modern resorts. The series presents Antalya not only as a beach destination but also as a region rich in history and cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, "İstanbul My Love," a finalist in the same category, transforms Istanbul from a simple backdrop into an active character in the story.
The series follows the journey of a talented young woman named Istanbul and a successful businessman named Tan as they search for true love in the vibrant metropolis. Blending romance with the city's dynamic energy, the production showcases iconic locations such as Çırağan Palace, Galataport, the Bosphorus, and the Beyoğlu district, turning destination promotion into a deeply emotional experience.
These achievements demonstrate that presenting a country's culture and lifestyle through cinematic storytelling has become one of the most effective ways to promote destinations in the global tourism market.
