Well positioned for several years now, Turkish content continues to make people talk around the world. During the second day of the LA Virtual Screenings 2021, representatives from the main Turkish drama distribution companies gathered in a panel titled “Turkish Showcase Reloaded” to promote the most important features from their catalogs.
“The worldwide success of Turkish content has passed the point of being surprising. Turkish dramas have been sold to more than 140 countries, and it is calculated that 600 million people in four continents have watched at least one of these series. During the pandemic, Turkey has been the most stable country in terms of production and providing new dramas to the global market,” said Carolina Acosta-Alzuru, Professor in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia, and the moderator of the panel.
According to the specialist, one of the main factors on the success of Turkish content is the narrative. “We all know that a good story is the cornerstone of successful content. There is a related key element, and that is the Turkish style of storytelling, with its particular way of building drama, its deep understanding of the importance of emotions and its embrace of different narratives speeds,” Acosta-Alzuru analyzed.
Mikaela Pérez, Manager at Kanal D International, presented new romantic comedies from the company such as “Recipe of Love” and "Romance Next Door". It also announced the second season of “Hekimoğlu,” which will be ready to debut in the upcoming months. “All of these titles will add a fresh look to Kanal D International’s catalogue, which has been being very successful, especially this past few months,” Pérez said.
Then, Fredrik af Malmborg, Managing Director at Eccho Rights, talked about the Turkish offer of its company, with currently has six series on air in different parts of the world. The company biggest bet right now is “Chrysalis,” the story of a young woman full of hope, seeking happiness and love in a world that confronts her with difficulties at every turn. “‘Chrysalis’ is the best-looking Turkish drama that we have ever represented,” the executive assured.
Emre Görentaş, Content Sales Deputy Manager at ATV, decided to focus its presentation on just one title: “For My Family ,” about four orphaned siblings who try to overcome all obstacles of life together. “The Turkish market is really competitive, and there are almost six series for each night, so launching a new series is always a risk. However, ‘For My Family’ premiered on Saturday primetime and in only six weeks it doubled its ratings. International demand on this series has already started,” Görentaş commented.
Özlem Özsümbül, Head of Sales at Madd Entertainment, also reviewed the company's catalog, which counts with successful ongoing shows such as “A Woman Scorned,” “Flames of Fate,” “Nehir,” and “Love is in the Air”. According to Özsümbül, “the audience will remember how it is to fall in love again with this title, which is the best drama of the season”.
Can Okan, CEO of Inter Medya, listed the most outstanding shows of the slate of his company: “Scorpion,” “Last Summer,” and “The Trusted”. Mistco’s Managing Director, Aysegul Tuzun, highlighted titles such as “The Innocents,” “The Shadow Team,” “Once Upon a Time in Cyprus,” and “An Anatolian Tale”. Lastly, José Luis Gascue, EVP and Head of Worldwide Sales at Calinos Entertainment, mainly talked about “Better Together,” a drama produced by Medyapim about four people who turn 35 on the same day, and are about to go through the most important day of their lives.
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