Global streaming giant Netflix’s Turkey team has announced a slew of Turkish content line-up, including “select, yet increasing new projects, both series and films.” This is part of the continued investment of Netflix in “Turkey’s rich and diverse storytelling.” These series and films though produced in Turkey will be available to stream in 190 countries globally.
A new slate of Turkish content announced that will begin production soon include –
Untitled Submarine Story (Series; 8 Episodes) –
Synopsis: “A free-spirited dive instructor and marine biologist Arman is set to join in a research mission aboard a submarine. However, when the world is threatened by an unknown natural catastrophe Arman and his science crew need to get on board a military sub to survive. As Arman and his crew try to figure out what’s happening to the world he also questions what the true mission of this submarine is. In the end, will he be able to save himself, his crew and so much more than he can imagine?”
Director: Tolga Karacelik
Cast: Kivanc Tatlitug
Lead writer: Jason George
Producer: OGM Pictures
The Uysals (Series) –
Synopsis: “Architect Oktay Uysal starts living a double life as a punk, as a secret from his family. Simultaneously, his wife and kids as well as his dad also lead with their own double lives. The Uysals have a house full of lies while Oktay needs to build an Occupation House. Is it possible to be your real self with your family, or does everyone need a second life?”
Director: Onur Saylak
Producer: Ay Yapım
Writer: Hakan Gunday
Midnight at the Pera Palace (Series; 8 Episodes) – Adapted from the award-winning non-fiction book of the same name written by Charles King.
Synopsis: The series “depicts a young journalist Esra’s encounter with the legendary Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul. When Esra is assigned to write a piece about the hotel, she accidentally discovers that one of the historic rooms is a portal to the year 1919. Thrust into the past, she lands in the middle of a political conspiracy against the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Together with Ahmet, the quirky hotel manager, Esra must protect the course of history and the future of Turkey. But Istanbul in 1919 is a dangerous place, and when Esra meets Halit, the handsome and mysterious owner of Istanbul’s wildest club, she realizes that in the Istanbul of 1919, nothing is as it seems and no one is who they say they are.”
Director: Emre Sahin
Creator and Producer: Karga Seven Pictures, a Red Arrow Studios company
Writer: Elif Usman
As the Crow Flies (Series; 8 Episodes) –
Synopsis: “A new story about the clash between Gen X who still stands in decision-making positions in corporate life and the Gen Z who is strongly rising up. While Gen X tries to keep up with adapting to the new world, social media, new ways of business, they still are not aware of the bigger picture. The gap and the differences between both generations are undeniably strong. In this backdrop, we’ll follow Asli’s story who tries to fly as the crow instead of relying on the merit of hard-work to be able to climb the stairs. The series will question whether Asli can win or lose with the methods of the new world, in order to reach the summit and be the most reputable person on the table.”
Writer: Meric Acemi
Producer: Ay Yapım
Working Title: Club (Series) –
Synopsis: The series tells the “story of Matilda who is a seamstress working at the most revolutionary nightclub in 1955 Istanbul, and the mother of Rasel who was unaware of her mother’s existence up until the day Matilda was pardoned and released from prison. Matilda tries to manage the super-egoes of club manager Orhan, her boss Celebi and visionary artist Selim meanwhile trying to mend the relationship with her daughter who is about to fall for the notorious casanova Fistik Ismet. A heaven for the customer, a hell hole for the workers, the club will transform into another life with Matilda’s arrival. It will become a home for those who live another character within their lives, maybe the best family is the one that’s formed by the ones who have never had it!”
Directors: Zeynep Gunay Tan and Seren Yuce
Lead writer: Necati Sahin
Cast: Gokce Bahadir, Baris Arduc and Salih Bademci
Producer: Saner Ayar and Ayse Durmaz
Ersan Kuneri (Series; 8 Episodes) –
Synopsis: “Ersan Kuneri was the centerpiece of the erotic film industry in the 70’s. With this confidence he decides to encounter other movie genres with his entourage Alev, Altin Oran, Miki Muammer, Seyyal, Kaya Akin (a.k.a Ibrahim Tumtum) Firdevs and Payro Kemal. Will Ersan be able to slay his fans with a splash of Iranian cinema, perhaps an Italian romantic comedy, who knows a teen horror drama, a hint of social media themed film, maybe a wink at Hong Kong or a horse chasing scene from a medieval revenge film. We’ll see how Ersan tries to conquer every part of the cinema world, from 1976 and onwards!”
Creator and director: Cem Yilmaz
Cast: Cem Yilmaz
Producer: Cmylmz Fikirsanat
Have You Ever Seen Butterflies? (Film) – Modern adaptation of the award-winning play from 1999.
Synopsis: The story follows “Gulseren who was born in Istanbul in 1948 with a meticulous intelligence. Set in the backdrop of the up and down changes of the society she lives in, the film follows the genius Gülseren as she and her family try to keep up with an ever-changing environment and their struggles amongst the journey.”
Director: Andac Haznedaroğlu
Cast: Ecem Erkek, Engin Alkan, Devrim Yakut, Merve Dizdar, Ushan Cakir, Bulent Colak.
Writer: Yilmaz Erdogan
Summer ’96 (Film) –
Synopsis: Set in the summer of 1996 in Southern Turkey the story follows “a group of teenagers who are getting acquainted with love and life accompanied by sun, wind, rocky cliffs, endless waves and hearts that will eventually taste sadness. Deniz visits his parent’s summer house every year, but this year is different, he has turned 16 and he is feeling new sensations and wants to experience more in terms of love. He believes himself to be mature enough to have his first sexual experience with his childhood crush Asli. As Deniz tries to get closer to Asli, he sees that hot shot of the summer from the same neighbourhood, Burak, the sporty and extremely handsome young man is all into Asli.”
Release Date: July 2021
Director: Ozan Aciktan
Cast: Ece Cesmioglu, Fatih Sahin, Halit Ozgur Sari, Aslihan Malbora, Sureyya Guzel, Kubilay Tuncer
Producer: OGM Pictures
Love Me So Much (Film) –
Synopsis: “On one hand is Sedat who works as the correction officer at Konya prison and on the other is Musa who is one of the inmates under Sedat’s surveillance. Assigned with a mission, Sedat embarks on a journey with Musa, releasing him from prison for one day to take him to his hometown allowing him to see his family after 14 years – A mother with Alzheimer’s disease, an ex-wife and a daughter. Musa decides to dedicate his only day to his daughter who is now treating him as a total stranger. Against all odds they have a very memorable day, however Musa isn’t fully relieved, he knows something is wrong. On the night of the same day his mother cries out all the hidden secrets from Musa, stabbing him in the heart by revealing Yonca is not his actual daughter. She was killed and now Musa is left with the unbearable pain but he knows he needs to find out how she was murdered.”
Director: Mehmet Ada Oztekin
Cast: Sarp Akkaya, Songul Oden, Fusun Demirel, Ercan Kesal, Aleyna Ozgecen, Guner Ozkul and Ushan Cakir.
Other than the above assets /novelties where shared by Netflix for the following Turkish titles –
Fatma (Series) –
Synopsis: “Fatma, an ordinary cleaning lady, commits an unexpected murder while searching for her missing husband, Zafer. She becomes an invisible killer; no one takes her to be more than an unexceptional ‘cleaner’.”
Release Date: In 2021
Directors: Ozer Feyzioglu and Ozgur Onurme
Cast: Burcu Biricik, Ugur Yucel, Mehmet Yilmaz Ak, Hazal Turesan, Olgun Toker, Gulcin Kultur Sahin, Deniz Hamzaoglu and Cagdas Onur Ozturk.
Screenplay: Ozgur Onurme
Producer: Basak Abacigil Sozeri
50m2 (Series) –
Synopsis: “Getting a second chance is easy, but making use of it is more difficult than one thinks. Gölge is doing the dirty work of Servet Nadir, whom he is raised by. He, who does not remember anything about his childhood, pursues the photograph that ties him to his past. Gölge, escaping with the secrets of Servet Nadir, takes refuge in a 50 square meter tailor shop in a neighbourhood named Güzelce. The inhabitants of the neighbourhood believe that he is Adem, son of Adil, the tailor who has just recently died. No matter how challenging the neighborhood is, Gölge will change the neighborhood and the neighborhood will change Gölge.”
Release Date: 27th January, 2021
Director: Selcuk Aydemir and BKM aka Burak Aksak
Cast: Engin Ozturk
Producer: BKM aka Burak Aksak
Struggle Alley (Film) –
Synopsis: “Mehmet is a cherished fellow who runs the solid waste warehouse in the neighbourhood; he helps everyone in need – especially homeless children and teenagers since he was one too. Mehmet’s biggest supporter is Tahsin who has been helping him and those in need for a very long time. One day Mehmet meets an 8 year-old boy who suddenly appears in his best mate Gonzales’ waste sack. Mehmet suddenly has the urge to reunite the boy with his parents however he doesn’t realize he becomes attached to this 8 year old child.”
Release Date: 15th March, 2021
Director: Can Ulkay
Cast: Cagatay Ulusoy, Emir Ali Dogrul
Producer: OGM Pictures
Leyla Everlasting (Film) –
Synopsis: “Adem (Haluk Bilginer), decided to end his 20 years marriage with Leyla (Demet Akbag) for his gorgeous mistress Nergis (Elcin Sangu). But it seems that it is nearly impossible to get rid of Leyla naturally. And if he doesn’t find a solution, his forbidden lover Nergis will slip through his fingers very soon. Beside his love life, Adem has to deal with Mr. Mahdum (Firat Tanis) who is after Adam’s antique handwritten manuscript and his jealous lawyer Greed (Alican Yucesoy).”
Release Date: 4th December, 2020
Director: Ezel Akay
Cast: Haluk Bilginer, Demet Akbag, Elcin Sangu, FFiratırat Tanis and Alican Yucesoy
Azizler (Film) –
Synopsis: “Azizler depicts the story of Aziz, going through an existential crisis after longing his youth, he is not happy with his work nor his private life which is also hijacked by his sister and her family who have been living with him for some time now. His relationship with his girlfriend after 4 years is also not in the best place and he feels the desire to end that too! He wants his long-gone freedom back and when he least expects it he will soon come across a chance to rescue himself from the blackhole he’s trapped in. However he realizes this turns him into a pathological liar to a point there’s no turning back.”
Release Date: 8th January, 2021
Directors: Durul Taylan, Yagmur Taylan
Cast: Engin Gunaydin, Haluk Bilginer, Binnur Kaya, Oner Erkan, Fatih Artman and Irem Sak
Writer: Berkun Oya
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