July 25, 2023

Shattered by the Earthquake, Türkiye's TV and Film Community in Recovery

In the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck 11 provinces, Türkiye's TV and Film industry has emerged as a driving force in channelling aid and support to the affected communities.

Türkiye - In an unprecedented live broadcast campaign named Türkiye One Heart, eight major television channels, including ATV, FOX, Kanal D, Kanal 7, Show TV, Star TV, TRT 1, and TV8, joined hands to raise funds for the welfare of survivors. It brought together leading cultural, artistic, business, and sports figures, managed to generate a staggering $6.1 billion (115.1 billion Turkish liras) to help with post-earthquake relief.

Producers’ association Tesiyap has released a statement saying it is collecting aid and money from the country’s producers and ensuring this is delivered to earthquake victims “as soon as possible” via Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and non-profit organization AHBAP.

Major Turkish production companies such as MF Yapim and Medyapim shared the statement on social media. Mediapim and Ay Yapim also published a separate joint statement saying the premiere of a film they co-produced, scheduled for tonight, had been postponed to a later date. One local producer told Deadline his shoot has been suspended for a week as his team carries out relief work.

Turkish producer Armağan Lale gave an emotional plea at the Berlin Film Festival, calling on the international film community gathered in Berlin to mobilise in support of the earthquake’s victims.

“From now on, there is no total recovery, friends. Mentally, emotionally and economically it changed many things irreversibly,” she said. “Please don’t forget your friends in Turkey and Syria. We are all heartbroken. We are all angry.”

Amidst the aftermath of the devastating earthquake, the Turkish TV and Film community is demonstrating its unwavering commitment to resilience and creativity with an array of highly anticipated series scheduled for release in 2023. The industry is deeply involved in rescue mission, production in Turkey has practically ground to a halt as top companies have sent all their caravans and lighting equipment to the site of the earthquake, a vast swathe that comprises 10 cities in the southeast. And while government funding was already practically non-existent, now it will be even worse. So going forward there will be practically no opportunities for co-productions.

On the contrary, several shows were released and overseas buyers are still showing great interest for Turkish content which has established itself as an enormous storyteller globally over decades. Both Turkish period and modern series and films and moved viewers’ emotions. Turkish cutting-edge scripts, creativity, crops, talent and direction never collapsed in the earthquake.

Adim Farah (My name is Farah), starring the dynamic duo of Demet Özdemir and Engin Akyürek, is an adaptation of the American series The Cleaning Lady. The series, produced by O3 Medya, aired in February 2023, despite challenges caused by the quake.

Sarmasik Zamani, is a highly anticipated series which marks the first Turkish production to be broadcast on the digital platform TOD. Starring Burçin Terzioğlu, Onur Tuna, Yiğit Kirazcı, and Hazal Türesan, Sarmasik Zamani explores complex relationships and gripping drama. With the first trailer released in January 2023, the series is expected to make a lasting impact on Turkish television when it releases later this year.

Initially intended for Netflix, EGO featuring Melisa Asli Pamuk and Alperen Duymaz, has since aired on Fox TV starting from February 2023. Erhan, the male lead, is a man of deception, which leads to a debt that turns the lives of him and his wife upside down, but an offer from Erhan's boss Sibel changes their lives forever. The series promises a fresh take on male-female relationships, with innovative storytelling and relatable characters.

The Disney+ series Aktris, previously known as Avci, stars Pinar Deniz and Uraz Kaygılaroğlu. Scheduled for release later in 2023, the series centres around a serial killer seeking justice for women and children by targeting their attackers. With a strong supporting cast, including Ahmet Rıfat Şungar, Tolga Tekin, and Şebnem Hassanisoughi, Aktris aims to captivate audiences with its thrilling narrative and thought-provoking themes.

To never miss a story — sign up for Viral Weekly free newsletter to stay up-to-date with compelling TV and Film news and views.

Back to Listing

---