Bombay Berlin Sets Global Studio Expansion With Turkish Film ‘Thursday Night Is Too Dark’ (EXCLUSIVE)

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As a passionate film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that Bombay Berlin Film Productions (BBFP), a joint venture between India and Germany, is marking 15 years of international storytelling and aiming for global growth. This exciting expansion comes after wrapping up principal photography on our first Turkish-language feature, titled “Thursday Night Is Too Dark.” This announcement was made during the Cannes Film Market.

The movie, which is Onur Sefer’s directorial first attempt, has been jointly produced with Praksis Entertainment based in Istanbul and represents BBFP’s fifth fiction feature. It unfolds over a single night in Istanbul and is portrayed as an insightful exploration of the emotional impact of contemporary masculinity, leaving a lasting impression.

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The film titled ‘Thursday Night Is Too Dark’ was created with financial assistance from several organizations, such as the German-Turkish Co-Production Development Fund, which encompasses Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, and Turkey’s Istanbul International Film Festival (IIFF) – Meetings on the Bridge (MoB), a program supervised by the Turkish Ministry of Culture.

The movie’s director, Sefer, referred to it as an “introspective journey into the heart of male vulnerability in a world that typically encourages the opposite,” and expressed his appreciation towards BBFP and Praksis for putting faith in him, a newcomer, to handle such profound themes.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but feel a surge of excitement when I talk about our latest project at BBFP. This endeavor truly embodies what we strive for – bridging cultural gaps, amplifying daring new voices, and resonating with raw emotional authenticity. Onur, with his bold and fearless approach, is a fresh breath of air from the region that’s sure to captivate us all.

BBFP has earned a strong reputation through critically acclaimed productions such as “Loev” (Tallinn Black Nights, SXSW, BFI Flare), “Trijya” (Shanghai, Tallinn) and “The Road to Mandalay” (Venice, TIFF, Tokyo). Presently, the company is aiming for substantial growth in terms of scale and influence.

Arfi Laamba, actor-producer and co-founder of BBFP, stated that they’ve always taken their time, which is a key factor behind their longevity and prosperity. Moving forward, BBFP isn’t merely growing; they are undergoing a transformation. Their portfolio now includes commercial and genre films, and they are looking for collaborators who share this vision. They are deliberately and carefully transitioning into a studio that values creativity, collaboration, and commercial success.

In line with its expansion plans, BBFP is ready to start working on a German movie, which Neopol Film is producing in India. This project will take advantage of both the Indian state and federal production incentives and leverage BBFP’s experienced local production facilities.

Tonio Kellner, a producer at Neopol Film, stated that they’ve discovered an ideal location for their production in India with Bombay Berlin. He praised their team for being both creatively in sync and logistically proficient. He expressed optimism, hoping this is just the first of many partnerships to come.

The film titled “Thursday Night Is Too Dark” is undergoing post-production right now, with plans to enter various international film festivals soon.

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2025-05-15 08:16