The Turkish company hosted a special event from May 31 to June 3 to prove Academy members with an immersive experience in Turkish culture and TV.
Ay Yapim, Turkey’s leading production company, hosted the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for a special event from May 31 to June 3.
International Academy Day, a high-level, invitation-only four-day event, took place in Istanbul for the first time. It provided Academy members with an immersive experience in Turkish culture, Turkey’s TV market, and the global success of Turkish drama. The event featured tours, panels, parties, and a gala showcasing prominent figures in Turkish drama.
Ay Yapim CEO Kerem Çatay opened the proceedings with a warm welcome to International Academy Day attendees, which included members from 25 different countries. “Today, we are here with leading industry representatives from across the globe,” said Çatay. “It is my pleasure to introduce you to the producers, screenwriters, directors and actors who helped create the TV series produced in Turkey and watched all over the world.”
“We wanted to come to Turkey for many years because of the culture, the art and the history, but we’ve had to overcome many obstacles — from the pandemic to the earthquake,” said International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences President and CEO Bruce Paisner. “Now it is a thrill to be here at last with Kerem Çatay and his colleagues.”
The event kicked off with a panel on Turkish culture, featuring Aydin Erdem from the research company Konda and history professor Arzu Öztürkmen, along with MADD Entertainment’s Ateş İnce. They discussed Turkey’s urbanization, the rise of private TV channels in the 1990s, and the aspirational role of Turkish dizis in society. The panel highlighted the competitive nature of the TV industry and its contribution to the success of Turkish dramas worldwide.
The second session explored the global appeal of Turkish content. Erdi Isik, Ay Yapim Drama Development Manager, provided valuable insights into Turkey’s television industry, stating that over the past six years, 65 companies have produced 251 TV series for Turkey’s major networks, with an additional 128 series made for OTT platforms. Prof. Carolina Acosta-Alzuru from the University of Georgia discussed the similarities and differences between Turkish dizis and Latin American telenovelas, emphasizing the slower pacing, high production values, and unexpected plot twists that make Turkish dramas popular. Juan Ignacio Vicente, Chilevision GM and VP Paramount Chile, shared his personal story of introducing Turkish drama to Latin America, leading to its widespread success in the region.
Friday began with a panel on the role of women in Turkish drama. Screenwriters Ece Yörenç (Fatmagul, Forbidden Love) and Sema Ergenekon (Black Money Love, Family Secrets), veteran producer and Netflix executive Pelin Diştaş, and leading actress Beren Saat (Fatmagul, Forbidden Love), along with moderator Kerem Bürsin (Heart of the City, Love Is In the Air), discussed how their local Turkish series gained global recognition. They emphasized the personal nature of their storytelling and the importance of strong women characters. The panelists agreed that Turkish dramas serve as an inspiration to women worldwide. Authenticity was highlighted as a crucial factor in the success of Turkish drama, resonating with diverse viewers.
The final panel featured Ay Yapim CEO Kerem Çatay and Charlotte Raben of Warner Brothers International. They discussed their longtime collaboration bringing foreign formats to the Turkish market, many of which have gone on to become international hits in their own right. Çatay stressed the importance of a strong family component and love stories in Turkey’s drama series. Both panelists emphasized the fierce competition among Turkey’s broadcasters, resulting in high-quality productions that resonate with international audiences.
The International Academy Day concluded with a star-studded gala attended by Academy guests, Turkey’s producers, directors, TV executives, and dozens of renowned Turkish stars, , including Kenan İmirzalıoğlu, Sinem Kobal, Serenay Sarıkaya, Halit Ergenç, Birce Akalay, Kerem Bürsin, Pınar Deniz, Demet Evgar, Beren Saat, Canan Ergüder, Aras Bulut İynemli, Tolga Sarıtaş, Zerrin Tekindor, Alina Boz, Erkan Kolçak Köstendil, Kaan Urgancıoğlu, Miray Daner, Rıza Kocaoğlu, Ahmet Rıfat Şungar, Hazar Ergüçlü, Hatice Aslan, Ayça Ayşin Turan, Hafsanur Sancaktutan, Kubilay Aka, Perihan Savaş, Yiğit Özşener, Berkay Ateş, Neslihan Atagül, Yurdaer Okur, Hilal Altınbilek, Bensu Soral, Melike Yalova, Selim Bayraktar, and many more. The event showcased the success of Ay Yapim’s series and their impact on global viewership.
