In the following interview, Timur Savcı and Burak Sağyaşar, founders of Tims&B, talk about the experience of leading one of Turkey’s most renowned production companies, responsible for some of the world’s most successful series, and share details about their most recent production, Valley of Hearts, distributed by Inter Medya.

Through dozens of mesmerizing productions that have captivated audiences, not only in Turkey but around the world, Tims&B Productions has become one of the most recognized producers in the international market, creating titles that are a guarantee of both quality and success.

And as founders and directors of the Turkish producer, Timur Savcı and Burak Sağyaşar know a thing or two about what it takes to make stories come to life and turn them into on-screen works of art, capable of engaging viewers across the globe.

Present at the last edition of Mipcom in Cannes, ttvnews met up with the executives to talk about the process that goes behind creating high-end dramas and stories, their outlook on the Turkish production industry, the lessons they’ve learned, and their most recent production, Valley of Hearts, which is distributed internationally by Inter Medya and is already making waves in the international market.

How would you define the main elements/themes of Valley Of Hearts?

Timur Savcı: I believe the core element, as always, is fundamentally love. I can say that, but one of the biggest differences in this series is that there are two main love arcs. In other words, the storyline isn’t just built around one couple. And most importantly, we’re filming in a globally significant and captivating location -in Cappadocia- which offers an incredible atmosphere. While at its core, it’s centered on love, much like what we did before with the same creative team in Bitter Lands, we also explore themes of power and succession.

What is the value of having a partner like Inter Medya for international distribution? What has been your proudest achievement internationally?

Timur Savcı: The best part of our partnership with Inter Medya is that we’ve achieved numerous successes together. We’ve won awards, including from South America and other regions, but it’s not just about the awards. Particularly during the distribution of Bitter Lands, we reached record-breaking figures in international sales and number of broadcast countries. This partnership continued with The Trusted and Deception, and that journey is still going strong. What’s great about our current project, Valley Of Hearts, is that it’s produced by the same creative team behind Bitter Lands. We believe this journey with Inter Medya will lead to even greater accomplishments.

Burak Sağyaşar: Absolutely.

How would you evaluate the current Turkish production industry?

Timur Savcı: Well, the Turkish TV drama industry has made great strides toward industrialization. And this growth has also created high expectations. At Tims&B, we place a strong emphasis on sustainability, but I believe that we need to reach this level of awareness as an entire industry. While we still have some distance to cover in that regard, I remain optimistic and hopeful because we live in a region with endless stories to be told. We still have so many narratives that we want to share.

As a producer, have the themes that motivate or inspire you to create stories changed over the years?

Burak Sağyaşar: Primarily, we enjoy focusing on love-centered and family driven dramas. And we’re particularly drawn to creating epic tales. We do experiment with different themes from time to time, but those core themes I mentioned are the ones that genuinely excite us.

Timur Savcı: But at the same time, we strive to stay in tune with the zeitgeist. Trends may shift, but the fundamental emotions remain largely unchanged. While themes may be packaged and presented differently, we still focus on the same core feelings deep down.

In a previous interview, you discussed the importance of sustainable success for your company. Could you share the key factors behind achieving this?

Timur Savcı: I believe it all starts with maintaining a disciplined approach and sustaining the same passion and excitement. Otherwise, it’s impossible to create something that is sustainable. As we say in Turkiye, “you can’t keep a mill running by carrying water.” It must come from within. Our team, as a company and creative group, has never lost the enthusiasm we’ve had from day one. We celebrate our projects’ success, but we also share their setbacks together. I believe the two essential pillars of keeping a business sustainable are: first, preserving this amateur spirit and passion; and secondly, maintaining discipline.

What elements do you believe are essential for a production to be successful, and how does international distribution contribute to that success?

Burak Sağyaşar: When you have the right teamwork, with team members you trust and feel safe entrusting your vision to, and when everyone at the table shares the same perspective during project development, that unison leads you to success.

How does international distribution contribute to that success?

Burak Sağyaşar: International distribution contributes immensely to this success. It means that the product you’ve created travels the world, reaching audiences everywhere and, in a sense, being a guest in their house.

Timur Savcı: Not to mention its economic contribution… We should consider two aspects of its impact. First, there’s a cultural communication aspect which is quite special. Secondly, Turkish Dramas have now reached a high level of quality, but achieving that quality requires significant investment. International exposure plays a crucial role in covering those costs.