EXCLUSIVE: Turkish distributor Başka Sinema is gearing up for a pioneering theatrical release across Türkiye this summer of AI-generated feature-length documentary Post Truth.
The independent film curator and distributor, which also backed the film, describes the English-language work as the first fully AI-generated feature-length film to hit theaters in the country.
The company, which has recently released features such as Flow, Hard Truths and My Favourite Cake, plans to launch Post Truth in the second half of June in at least 20 Turkish cities.
“We see Post Truth as part of an ongoing dialogue about new modes of artistic expression. Artificial intelligence is poised to disrupt every medium of art, and filmmaking is no exception,” commented Başka Sinema Director Armağan Lale.
Created by pioneering generative AI artist Alkan Avcıoğlu, the documentary has been created in its entirety by AI, including all visuals, sound, music, and voice.
Described as “a fake film about the real world,’ the documentary explores humankind’s relationship with technology and questions the emergence of a world where reality and facts no longer matter.
Avcıoğlu has been working on the film for over 15 months, with more than 55 hours of footage generated using AI tools, totaling around 200,000 seconds.
The script, co-written with multidisciplinary artist Vikki Bardot, draws inspiration from the large-scale cinematic vision of Godfrey Reggio and the archival essay style of Adam Curtis and Chris Marker.
Avcıoğlu worked as a professional film critic before spending over a decade in film acquisitions, attending major festivals and markets worldwide. His deep understanding of cinematic storytelling shapes the film’s self-reflexive narrative.
In 2022 he quit his acquisitions job in the film industry to explore the storytelling possibilities of AI. He quickly emerged as a leading voice in the art scene, with his works questioning photographic reality. He became one of the first AI artists to be accepted into major traditional art fairs, including Paris Photo, Art Basel Miami, Zona Maco, and Vogue Photo.
His work has been auctioned by Christie’s New York and exhibited worldwide at galleries. Recently he collaborated with world-renowned photographer Edward Burtynsky.
“We live in an age where we are not sure what is real,” said Avcıoğlu. “And these strange times require a new kind of visual language. Fake becomes more real than the real thing itself.”
Başka Sinema’s Lale hails Post Truth as a landmark in the evolving language of filmmaking.
“We’re proud to bring Post Truth to Turkish audiences, not just for its innovation, but for the urgent conversation it sparks. It’s a film that doesn’t shy away from the difficult questions. This is cinema looking itself in the mirror,” he said
The company is currently in discussions with international sales agents to partner on the film’s global rollout.
Check out the trailer below.