The Turkish Cinematheque Association was established in 1965 under the leadership of Onat Kutlar. It is known for the movie screenings, panels and exhibitions organized initially at its location on the Mis Street on İstiklal Avenue, then at Şişli Kervan Theater and at the Cinematheque Theater on Sıraselviler after 1970. Classics as well as Turkish movies were featured at the Turkish Cinematheque Association which also organized film festivals like “Chekhov Adaptations”, “French New Wave Movement” and “Italian Neorealism”. The Turkish Cinematheque Association also published monthly magazines titled New Cinema between 1966 and 1970, Film 70, Film 71 and Film 72 between 1970 and 1972, besides books about cinema.

The Turkish Cinematheque Association brought non-American cinema cultures of the time to the revolutionary youth by organizing film festivals between 1975 and 1980. Movies from Europe and socialist countries, particularly films made by Soviet, Hungarian and Czech cinemas attracted the viewers’ interest. After the September 12, 1980 Coup, the Turkish Cinematheque Association was closed along with many other associations.