Appearance of film festivals in the internet news in the national and local press: The example of Malatya International Film Festival

Film festivals are important cultural, social, economic, artistic, educational and touristic events. Such events make significant contributions to the development of cinema art and cultural exchange. The festival brings together different cultures, encourages public debate, contributes to the local economy, introduces new artists and productions, provides education and training opportunities, and promotes tourism. Thus, film festivals make a significant contribution to the development of cinema art and societies. This study examines the way Malatya International Film Festival (MUFF), an important cultural and artistic event in Turkey, has been covered in online news in local and national media since 2010. MUFF, which is the subject of the research, was used in qualitative research methods such as content analysis and document analysis in order to understand and support the subject. Examining written materials suitable for the purpose of the research with these methods will help support the subject. The contribution of festivals to the promotion and development of the art of cinema was emphasized, and the media's approach to these events and how the festivals were covered by local and national media were focused on. The research provides a comprehensive view of the festival's reflection in the media, as it examines in detail how MUFF was covered in the national and local press before, during and after each festival. These results provide important clues to understand how MUFF is perceived and evaluated by the press. It is thought that this information may be useful for planning future festival organizations and developing promotional strategies.