COVID-19 in Turkey: How It Affects Filming (May 2021)

,

Caravan Media crew filming in Istanbul in October 2021.

 

Marc Tiley, Series Director, ITN Productions:

“We filmed at several locations in Turkey in December (2020), covering several hundred miles in the process, and we simply couldn’t have achieved what we did without the fabulous team at MA Productions. Despite all the many and various challenges of any shoot, dealing with them in a Covid-world could have proven a challenge too far for any production, but the team made the shoot not only successful but also a hugely creative and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.”

 

Are There Travel Restrictions For Foreigners Travelling To Turkey? 

As of the 26th of April, all travel restrictions for people traveling from the UK have been lifted. Commercial flights from the UK to Turkey have resumed. 

Travel from most countries including the UK, USA, Canada and EU countries like France and Germany is continuing as usual with regular flights flying into Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara and Antalya. No quarantine is required upon entry to Turkey. 

Direct flights from Brazil, Denmark and South Africa remain cancelled. People travelling from these countries via connecting/transit flights are currently subject to a 10-day quarantine upon arrival. 

 

Is A Negative Covid-19 Test (PCR) Required For Entry To Turkey? 

Most international passengers aged 6 or over that are travelling to Turkey must have had a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours prior to their flight.

Currently, people flying from the following countries to Turkey do not need to prove a negative PCR test to fly: China, Hong Kong (SAR of China), Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, United Kingdom, Latvia, Luxembourg, Ukraine and Estonia.

 

How, Where and When Can I Get a PCR Test in Turkey?

  • PCR tests are readily available at private hospitals and in the Arrivals Hall at Istanbul airport. They cost 250.00 TRY (£23) and you get the results in 8-24 hours. 
  • The PCR Testing facilities are open 24 hours 7 days of the week at the airport, hence you will not need to book an appointment. The testing center is in front of Entrance 14 in Istanbul airport’s Arrivals Hall.
  • We are able to organize home visits for PCR testing for anyone living in Istanbul. Tests are done by nurses who visit your home address. This costs 350.00 TRY (£31) and results are sent in 6-12 hours.

 

What Are The Current Covid Restrictions in Turkey?

It is compulsory to wear a mask in public at all times – both indoors and outdoors. Anyone in front of the camera does not have to wear a mask as long as they socially distance. 

Nationwide restrictions have now been eased as of the 17th of May. There are some curfews that remain.

  1. Weekday (and Saturday) Curfews: Monday to Saturday curfews are now 10:00 pm until 5:00 am.

  2. Sunday Curfews: Beginning on Saturdays at 10:00 pm the curfew continues until Monday mornings at 5:00 am. On Sunday during the curfew, you may shop at the nearest bakery, greengrocer, and butcher between 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Supermarkets are closed on Sundays.

  3. Intercity travel by public transport and cars is permitted, except during curfew hours. 
  4. Schools are closed, only pre-school education continues face to face.
  5. Restaurants and cafes are open between 7:00am and 9:00pm (starting 1st of June).
  6. Theatres and cinemas are closed.
  7. Popular Museums are open as usual except for during Sunday lockdowns when they are open only to foreign visitors.

 

Will Curfews Affect Contributors, Local Experts And Service Providers? 

Film crews and contributors are exempt from all lockdown restrictions. 

For up to date statistics, check the national Covid-19 info page:

https://covid19.saglik.gov.tr/EN-69532/general-coronavirus-table.html

 

Can I Travel Within Turkey?

All foreign and local crew members and contributors listed on film permits are exempt from travel restrictions and free to travel at any hour. 

  1. Internal flights are continuing as usual
  2. Crew vehicles with a tourism certificate are exempt from restrictions during curfew hours / days.
  3. Public transport is running at %50 capacity.
  4. You need a HES Code in order to use public transport and to check in to your hotel. This is a personalised code implemented by the Ministry of Health that works with the COVID tracking app you download to your phone. 

 

What Is Closed And What Is Open?

We can arrange special access to ensure all those named on filming permits are exempt from any restrictions.

  • Cafes and restaurants are open for customers between 7:00am and 9:00pm. 
  • Hotel restaurants are open for hotel guests only. 
  • Museums and parks are open Monday-Saturday. We secure exclusive access by applying for permits to shoot during the lockdown. 
  • Entertainment and leisure has resumed (as of the 1st June 2021): football fields, swimming pools, gyms, amusement and theme parks, theatres, cinemas, bars, nightclubs are open. 
  • Beauticians, hair salons and barbers are open during work hours. 
  • Public gatherings, weddings and funerals will resume as of 15th June (subject to certain rules).
  • Religious ceremonies – mosques are open with social distancing. 

 

How Do We Work Covid Safe?  

At MA Productions, we find creative and safe solutions to minimize risk for the entire team from prep to wrap. 

 

Remotely filming hallucinogenic “mad honey” with presenter Mike Corey in the Black Sea mountains.  

The Travel Show, BBC

 

Follow International Guidelines

We manage all our projects in accordance with both local and international COVID-19 Health and Safety regulations. We are guided by these UK and US resources:

  • HSE (UK Health and Safety Executive)
  • PACT (UK Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television)
  • BECTU (Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union)
  • DIRECTORS UK
  • APA (UK Advertising Producers Association)
  • DGA (Director’s Guild of America)
  • ICG (International Cinematographers Guild) 

 

Safety Training

Our in-house team have all completed safety training courses online and have certificates from internationally recognized film industry Health and Safety advisors:

 

Pre Production, Recce and Casting

  • Work‌ ‌from‌ ‌home‌ when possible
  • Casting remotely if possible.
  • Remote pre-shoot briefings for cast and crew. 
  • Contact locations to check COVID-19 preparedness plans. 
  • Carry out COVID-19 risk assessment. 
  • Crew, cast and contributors complete Health Declaration Forms.
  • Home-visit PCR tests (same-day results) for all crew.
  • Temperature tracking for local crew leading up to and during the shoot. 

 

Production

  1. HOTELS. We select hotels with COVID-19 Safe Tourism Certificates. 
  2. PPE. On shoots we provide – masks, gloves, visors, disinfecting gel, antiseptic wipes, digital thermometer for temperature checks and overalls. 
  3. TRAVEL. All our vehicles are disinfected with nanotechnology steam spray the day before the shoot. Our drivers carry signed and dated cleaning certificates. We use 50% of the seating on our crew vehicles to support social distancing. Van snacks are stored in individual bags for every crew member. 
  4. EQUIPMENT. All hire kit will be properly cleaned. We can arrange extra monitors to avoid close proximity work.
  5. TEAM. We keep the number of people on location to a minimum, reuse the same fixed team whenever possible and stagger contributor ‌call times.
  6. COVID SUPERVISOR. The fixer/producer on location will act as the Covid supervisor if the visiting crew does not have their own supervisor. We conduct daily safety briefings and team symptom checks. We maintain adequate social distancing and ventilation on location.

 

Can MA Productions Film Remotely?

We have often filmed projects on behalf of international producers. The pandemic has created even more remote filming opportunities. Over the past year, we’ve produced 7 remote shoots – including filming for National Geographic, the BBC and ITV.