Video production cost in Istanbul (2026): promo films, ad films, Reels and drone rules
What a promo film, ad film or Reels package costs in Istanbul in 2026, from published price lists, plus Turkey’s new drone rules and music licensing.
In September 2026, video production cost in Istanbul, based on prices Turkish production companies publish on their own websites, looks like this: a corporate promotional film costs TRY 30,000 to TRY 300,000 (about €540 to €5,390). Reels and vertical video packages for social media cost TRY 15,000–60,000 (€270–1,075), factory films TRY 60,000–400,000 (€1,075–7,180), and ad films with actors start at TRY 75,000 (€1,345) and go above TRY 600,000. A standalone drone shoot costs TRY 5,000–65,000. Most prices exclude VAT.
The range is wide because a “promo film” isn’t one job: a half-day, single-camera shoot and a three-day production with actors and a drone carry the same name. This article compares prices published by 13 Turkish production companies and marketplaces on 28 September 2026, explains what drives the cost and covers three things most price lists skip: drone permits, music licensing and talent usage rights. Euro amounts use the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye rate of 25 September 2026 (€1 ≈ TRY 55.7).
Short answer: A standard promo film with one shoot day, 4K footage, licensed music and editing usually costs TRY 35,000–80,000 in 2026 (€630–1,435). Adding a drone, voice-over and a second shoot day takes it to TRY 80,000–120,000, and large-crew productions reach TRY 300,000. Social media packages of a few Reels start at TRY 15,000.
Promo film and video production prices in Turkey, 2026
Three published packages show what moves the price:
- TRY 45,000: a 3-hour shoot, one camera and a drone, licensed music.
- TRY 50,000–80,000: a 1-day shoot (2–8 hours), a crew of 2–5, 4K, licensed music, logo animation, 3 revision rounds, delivery in 7 days.
- TRY 80,000–120,000: 1–2 days, a crew of 3–7, drone, lighting kit, Turkish and English voice-over, colour grading.
For social media, one list prices three 30–60-second Reels shot in one day at TRY 35,000; another prices 8–12 short videos shot in one day at TRY 25,000–60,000. On the Turkish marketplace Armut, freelancers’ quotes for ad shoots range from TRY 2,500 to TRY 45,000.
What drives the price of a promo film?
- Crew and shoot days: the main cost item. One published list gives day rates of TRY 8,000–25,000 for a director, TRY 7,000–20,000 for a director of photography and TRY 4,000–12,000 for an editor.
- Camera and lighting: cinema cameras and large lighting kits push a job into the top package.
- Script and voice-over: in the same list, a script costs TRY 8,000–30,000 and a voice-over TRY 3,000–12,000.
- Drone: an add-on that needs legal permits (see below).
- Actors and models: a usage-rights fee comes on top of the day rate.
- Number of formats: horizontal (16:9), vertical (9:16) and square (1:1) may come from one shoot, but they are three separate edits.
- Location: exterior shoots, travel and accommodation outside Istanbul; a studio shoot removes location rent and permits.
Drone filming in Turkey: new rules from 30 July 2026
Turkey’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM) published a new instruction for unmanned aircraft (SHT-İHA) on 30 July 2026, with a transition period until 31 July 2027 (SHGM). What brands commissioning ad or promo shoots should know:
- Commercial flights need at least a P1 licence: a P1 pilot can fly within line of sight, up to 120 metres high and 3,000 metres away.
- Flights over crowds need P2: shots over events and concerts are not a P1 pilot’s job.
- Registration is mandatory: drones other than toy-class ones are registered in the İHATTYS system; aircraft of 500 grams and above must be registered (SHGM drone tracking).
- Zone permits: green zones need no permit; red zones need the consent of the authority that closed the area and a NOTAM; elsewhere a permit is issued through İHATTYS with the approval of the local governor’s office.
- Extra limits in Istanbul: under the governor’s general order, no flights without permission within 5 nautical miles of airports and heliports, or over crowds, military sites, prisons and fuel stations (Istanbul Governorship).
Don’t settle for “drone included” in a quote: ask for the pilot’s licence class and which zone the location is in.
Music: “royalty-free” is not enough
Using an existing song in an ad needs two separate permissions: a synchronisation licence for the composition and lyrics (from the publisher or the collecting societies MESAM/MSG) and a licence for the recording itself (from the label or MÜ-YAP) (Legal Studio). The cheaper route is a stock music library that grants a commercial licence. Article 52 of Turkey’s copyright law also requires contracts on economic rights to be in writing and to list each right separately (FSEK). Ask for the licence type and scope of use in writing.
Talent and usage rights
In a film with actors, the day rate alone doesn’t show the cost. A usage fee is paid on top, depending on the media, countries and period in which the talent’s image is used. The advisory table of KASTDER, the association of Turkish cast agencies, sets a one-year term and a percentage of the talent fee for each medium. We cover the details and the total cost in our guide to hiring models in Istanbul.
How a promo film is made
- Brief: the purpose, audience, channels and length of the film.
- Script and shot plan: scene list, storyboard, talent and locations needed.
- Pre-production: casting, permits, equipment and schedule.
- Shoot: one or more days; shots for every format are captured on the day.
- Editing, colour and sound: music, voice-over, subtitles and logo animation.
- Revisions and delivery: published packages offer 1–5 revision rounds and delivery in 7–12 days.
Video production at BEF Agency
We shoot in our own studio in Yıldıztepe, Bağcılar, or at the brand’s location, and we cast from the 500+ models of BEF Model. Production, casting and editing stay in one quote and one team. Recent work includes a 47-second vertical Christmas film for Fi Coffee, an ASMR-concept ad for Head Therapy Spa & Wellness, a 4K vertical explainer for Dr. Erol Bulut Aesthetic Clinic and a facility film for Aqua+ Spa’s Pendik site. We plan horizontal, vertical and square formats on the shoot day and deliver separate cuts for ads and social media. See our photo and video production service, and our guide to product photography costs in Istanbul for product shoots.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a promotional video cost in Istanbul?
According to prices published in September 2026, corporate promo films cost TRY 30,000–300,000. A standard one-day film with 4K and licensed music usually costs TRY 35,000–80,000, rising to TRY 80,000–120,000 with a drone, voice-over and an extra shoot day.
How much does an ad film cost?
Ad films with actors start at TRY 75,000; TV and campaign films can exceed TRY 200,000–600,000. Talent usage rights and music licences may be added on top.
Do you need a permit to film with a drone in Turkey?
In most cases, yes. Outside green zones, a permit is issued through İHATTYS with the local governor’s approval; red zones need extra consent and a NOTAM. A pilot filming commercially needs at least a P1 licence, and P2 to fly over crowds.
How long does delivery take?
Published packages deliver 7–12 days after the shoot. Script and pre-production time comes on top; social media videos are usually delivered within a few working days.
Do the prices include VAT?
Mostly not. Most lists we reviewed quote prices excluding VAT; 20% VAT is added.
