Calinos Entertainment celebrated its 25th anniversary with an exclusive private event at Copal Beach, Cannes, during MIPCOM. In addition to commemorating two and a half decades in Turkish content distribution, the event introduced the company’s new TV series, “Hidden Garden,” to the international market. The celebratory event was attended by stars of the show, Ebru Sahin and Murat Yildirim, along with producer Erol Avci, the series’ scriptwriter, and director. Guests were treated to a heartfelt speech by Firat Gulgen, Owner of Calinos Entertainment, who reflected on the company’s remarkable journey and its mission to “spread joy to a global audience through the power of Turkish drama.”
In his speech, Gulgen shared: “Our journey began 25 years ago, distributing telenovelas to Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, and later expanding to the Balkans, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, Africa, and now Western Europe. Along the way, we’ve formed wonderful memories, met incredible people, and built strong partnerships with over 200 networks in 123 countries. We've become like family with many of our partners, and together we’ve reached more than one billion people worldwide. Tonight, we open a new chapter with Hidden Garden. I’d like to thank our producer, Mr. Erol Avci, for always setting new standards for Turkish drama, and our business partner, Now Channel, for their unwavering support. I also extend my gratitude to our director, scriptwriters, and, of course, Mrs. Ebru Sahin and Mr. Murat Yildirim for their outstanding performances and for being with us tonight. Journalists often ask me, ‘When will the Turkish drama trend end?’ My answer is always the same: this is just the beginning. Thank you for being part of this 25-year journey. Tonight, we’ll present more about our series and share insights about our categories.”
Murat Yildirim, who portrays Demir in “Hidden Garden,” shared his personal connection to the project: “I saw a dream one night. In my dream, I was working with producer Mr. Erol Avcı. The next morning, I called him and told him about it. He said, ‘I’m sending you my best scenario,’ and he sent me ‘Hidden Garden.’ I knew right away, this was the one I wanted. Now, my dream has come true. Welcome to my and our dream. Thank you so much.”
Ebru Sahin, who portrays Nazlı, also expressed her excitement: “We are so excited to show you what we have done, because we truly believe in it. My character, Nazlı, has a box of past and future. I think we all have a hidden garden where we keep our secrets, dreams, and hopes. Tonight, we ask you to spread your hopes and dreams and place them into this box. We believe that hope will create a magical connection between you and us.”
Guests wrote their wishes and placed them in a “wish box,” which will be featured in the TV series and later as part of the series' unfolding narrative.