SEF Opens the Door to a New Era in the International Arena

The Cinematographers' Federation (SEF) hosted a major event on copyright. The CISAC Dramatic, Literary and Audiovisual Works Technical Committee convened in Istanbul.

SEF (Cinematic Work Owners Federation), the first and only federation of cinematographic works owners in Turkey, hosted a major international event. The meeting of the Technical Committee on Dramatic, Literary and Audiovisual Works (CTDLV) of CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) took place at the Point Hotel Taksim in Istanbul on October 1–2, 2025, hosted by SEF.

Approximately 100 representatives from around the world discussed the future of audiovisual rights for two days. The meeting was attended by CISAC executives, representatives of international professional associations, legal experts, and industry experts.

Turkey on the Path to Becoming an International Center for Audiovisual Rights

The CISAC community's gathering in Istanbul highlighted Turkey's progress in audiovisual rights management and SEF's international credibility. Thanks to this meeting, Turkey moved closer to a framework aligned with global standards for the protection of creative labor, fair licensing, and cross-border revenue sharing.

The internationally compatible, multilingual database infrastructure, implemented by SEF with support from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's Directorate General of Copyright, was presented as a best practice at the meeting. This system, through IPI/IDA integration and secure data exchange, accelerates cross-border collection and distribution processes, making revenue streams transparent and traceable.

Meeting Highlights

• Artificial intelligence and rights management: Results of the DLV association survey; the role of AI in creative processes.

• Digital platform licensing: VoD, online and offline copying practices.

• New identifier standards: Common ID systems for dramatic works (IPI, IDA, CELF, CDF-AV/DR).

• Governance and principles: Binding standards, e-lending models, regional implementation reports.

What Does It Mean for Authors?

This meeting demonstrated that SEF has become a highly representative institution not only in Turkey but also internationally. Through contacts established with participating countries and new representation agreements, a strong foundation has been established for the protection of the rights of Turkish film authors worldwide.

Transparent and predictable licensing models pave the way for a more equitable revenue sharing with broadcasters and digital platforms, while this process led by SEF will provide direct economic benefits for creators.

About CISAC and CTDLV

CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) is the umbrella organization for more than 230 professional associations representing authors worldwide. CTDLV (Dramatic, Literary and Audiovisual Works Technical Committee) facilitates information sharing and international coordination on technical and strategic issues related to the collective management of dramatic, literary, and audiovisual works.