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11 Fresh Turkish Dramas Not To Miss at MIPCOM

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Turkish dramas will be all the rage in Cannes from October 21-24, as MIPCOM, the world's largest TV market, kicks off its highly anticipated 40th edition. Though the television landscape has evolved over the years, the demand for high-quality Turkish dramas remains as strong as ever.

All the leading distributors are set to be present, each with a lengthy catalog laden with stellar new and classic Turkish dramas. As the allure of Turkish dramas grows stronger, choosing amongst one too many good ones becomes increasingly challenging, but we've got you.

Here's Dizilah's hot list of Turkish offerings not to miss at MIPCOM: 

Valley of Hearts (Siyah Kalp)

Valley of Hearts PosterDistributor: Inter Medya

Türkiye's Tims & B has made it their business to create top-of-the-line Turkish Dramas, and with Valley of Hearts, the tradition continues. 

Set in the breathtaking Cappadocia, the series centers on Sumru, who abandoned her twins at a young age and subsequently moved to Cappadocia with her mother, where she married Samet, a wealthy and prominent figure in the city’s tourism industry.

Growing up under difficult circumstances and later learning their mother's identity, the twins, Nuh and Melek, head to Cappadocia to confront their mother and seek retribution. Caught off guard, Sumru denies everything, but she is aware that it’s only a matter of time before the secret she has hidden is revealed. 

Meanwhile, things are also complicated at the Şansalan mansion, where Sumru’s widowed sister-in-law, lives with her daughter Sevilay. Her goal, backed by Samet, is to marry her daughter off to her nephew Cihan and secure their future. As the twins pursue what they believe is rightfully theirs from their mother, Melek crosses paths with Cihan, and Nuh encounters Sevilay. From the first moment, Cihan is deeply affected by Melek and can’t get her out of his mind, even as he finds himself on the brink of a forced marriage. Meanwhile, as Sevilay tries to oppose the marriage on her own, she crosses paths with Nuh. Although Sumru tries to keep the children she rejected away from her family, Melek and Nuh gradually infiltrate both the family and the hearts of Cihan and Sevilay.

Leyla (Leyla: Hayat... Aşk... Adalet...)

Leyla PosterDistributor: Madd Entertainment

Remaking a cult classic is no small challenge, but Ay Yapım has risen to the occasion with its Turkish adaptation of the record-breaking Brazilian series, "Avenida Brasil" (Brazil Avenue).

Like the original series, Leyla follows the titular character, who had her childhood stolen from her when she was abandoned in a garbage dump by her stepmother, Nur, after the untimely passing of her father.

Years later, Leyla returns under the guise of Ela, a talented chef hired by Nur, who is now living in luxury with her new partner, former football star Tufo. But things take a complicated turn when Leyla's childhood savior, Cino, reappears in her life as Civan, Nur's adopted son. As Leyla's thirst for revenge clashes with her rekindled feelings for Civan, long-buried family secrets come to light, forcing everyone to confront the wreckage of their past.

 

The Nightfall (Bir Gece Masalı)

The Nightfall ATVDistributor: ATV Distribution

Already one of the top-performing new series this season, The Nightfall offers a masterful blend of all the essential elements of a captivating Turkish drama.

The series follows Mahir, who returns after 20 years to the city where his father was murdered as a police inspector, determined to avenge his father’s death. On his first day back, he has a fateful encounter with a mesmerizing girl named Canfeza, and it's love at first sight but there's something he doesn't know just yet: Canfeza is the daughter of Kürşat Kilimci, the man responsible for this father's death. As Mahir searches highs and lows in hopes of reuniting with the mysterious woman he fell instantly in love with, he reaches his goals, but the event that follows will change his life forever.

The Nightfall is produced by NGM (For My Family).

 

Loveberry (Karadut)

Love Berry PosterDistributor: Inter Medya

Loveberry from Tims&B is one of this season's standouts for several reasons, the primary one being that it excels at being anything but typical.

The series follows Zuhal Erdem, a personal development expert at the peak of her career, who has built her success by offering counseling on love and relationships and through the books she’s written. However, despite her persona as a modern, successful, and beautiful woman, she is a completely different person in the home she shares with her father and sisters. When she was just 17, her life was turned upside down by the loss of her mother, which led her to devote herself to raising her three sisters and caring for her father. In an attempt to make amends for a mistake she made in her youth, Zuhal has promised Çetin that she would take over as the "lady of the house," ensuring that no one would ever feel the absence of their mother. With the help of her assistant and best friend, Eylem, she joins a dating app and meets a man named Tayfun, who catches her interest. For the first time since her youth, a man has entered her life, and she finds herself falling in love. However, for her father Çetin, who has replaced his late wife’s absence by assigning his daughter to the task of mothering, the idea of Zuhal leaving her "home" to be with another man is out of the question. Zuhal had made a vow to him, and in his mind, there is no room for any other man in her life besides her father. Despite this, Zuhal is prepared to defy her father and fight for this relationship, embarking on a path filled with love and heartbreak.

 

Turco (El Turco)

El TurcoDistributor: Madd Entertainment

This long-gestating historical drama from Türkiye's Ay Yapım is on track to make a splash at MIPCOM with leading star Can Yaman, who is expected to appear at a first-look panel presented by Madd Entertainment.

El Turco, which was originally slated for Disney Plus, was filmed across Türkiye and Hungary and follows Balaban, an Ottoman intelligence officer who serves as a soldier in the Janissary army, which consisted of European slaves who had converted to Islam. When the Ottoman army loses the Battle of Vienna in 1683, Balaban is taken prisoner, and after he escapes, he is found wounded and rescued by the people of Moena, a small town in northern Italy. He settles there and organizes a peasant uprising against the feudal overlords who oppressed and overtaxed the people. Knowing his Ottoman origins, they nicknamed him El Turco.

 

Six of Us (Sahipsizler)

Six of Us PosterDistributor: OGM Universe

Prodco OGM Pictures may be newer than its peers, but the company has quickly made a name for itself for its engrossing brand of Turkish dramas. Its latest output, Six of Us, follows the story of 6 six siblings—Azize, Cemo, Zeliha, Fidan, Samet, and Balım—who, after suddenly losing their parents, struggle to stay united and survive.

Navigating the harsh streets of Istanbul, they face threats from both the authorities and criminals while desperately seeking a safe haven. With their oldest sister, Azize, leading the charge, their bond is their only source of strength as they struggle to find a new life, escaping from those who seek to tear them apart.

 

Hidden Garden (Gizli Bahçe)

Hidden GardenDistributor: Calinos Entertainment

Fan favorites Murat Yıldırım and Ebru Şahin lead this TMC Film production, which at its core is a love story enriched with deep themes like family and belonging.

In "Hidden Garden," Nazlı is a young, single mother living with her son Memo. When Demir Akçınar, Memo's wealthy uncle, discovers that his late brother had a child, he steps in to take care of Memo. Upon learning about Nazlı's profession, Demir refuses to let Memo stay with her and wages a custody battle. However, Nazli is not who Demir thinks she is, and she has a big secret.  As they fight for Memo's future, the Akçınar family's schemes, long-hidden secrets, and shadows of the past will complicate their growing but seemingly impossible love.

The Good & The Bad (Deha)

Deha PosterDistributor: Madd Entertainment

Aras Bulut İynemli, best known for is role in the long-running crime drama Çukur, is back in this Ay Yapım production that has already amassed a huge following in the short time it has been on air for.

İynemli stars as Devran, whose genius abilities set him on the path to success despite the hardships of his upbringing. When İskender (Uğur Polat), his estranged father, entraps his little brother in a perilous scheme for his own gain that results in a tragedy, a furious and determined Devran turns his back on a new life in the U.S. to confront İskender. Armed with his brilliance and a deep-seated desire for justice, Devran faces his father in a high-stakes battle where his ruthless intelligence is pitted against İskender’s deceit and ambition.

 

 

My Mother's Tale (Annem Ankara)

My Mother's Tale  PosterDistributor: Kanal D International

If there is a genre that Türkiye gets right every single time, it is Period Drama. Combine that with seasoned names like Bergüzar Korel and Mehmet Günsür, and the sky is the limit.

My Mother's Tale follows Zuhal Soydaşlı (Korel), a mother of three who was married to a man who never truly fit in. In 1989, after discovering her husband Hasan’s infidelity, she sought refuge at her mother’s house, only to realize that marriage had distanced her from the very place she once called home. Hasan (Günsür), whose childhood was lost to the confines of a boarding school, remained emotionally stunted—a man who never fully grew up. As an engineer, his life resembled a foundationless building destined to collapse. After the birth of their youngest son, Zuhal, now retired, had no choice but to become the breadwinner. She opened a bread kiosk to support her sons, even as the ghost of her broken marriage lingered, with Hasan clinging to the hope of mending what was beyond repair. In 1994, people didn’t discard what was broken; they fought to fix it. However, in a family, that fight often led to more losses than gains. Zuhal’s story is one of resilience and relentless struggle—a powerful reflection on the efforts to hold a family together. 

The Other Wife (Kuma)

KumaDistributor: Goquest Media

With titles like Elif, Broken Destiny, Wounded Birds, and Canim Annem to her credit, Stellar Yapim’s Inci Gülen Oarr is regarded as a veteran in crafting compelling Turkish melodramas. The latest production with her stroke of genius is The Other Wife (Kuma), a story that unravels family ties, defying the deepest shadows with the power of love and truth.

Filmed in the rugged landscapes of eastern Turkey, The Other Wife follows Ceylan, who, after being unjustly accused of murder, becomes entangled in an intricate web of family obligations as the second wife, or ‘Kuma,’ of Karan – the man she loves and who is also the brother of the deceased. Confronting the challenges of her new role, she desperately seeks to prove her innocence, weaving a tale of pain and passion in hopes of winning her freedom and her husband’s affection.

The Cost of Lies (Kalpazan)

Kalpazan PosterDistributor: Eccho Rights

The Cost of Lies is one of the most anticipated titles being showcased at MIPCOM because you simply cannot go wrong with a cast featuring Timuçin Esen (Hekimoglu), Çağlar Ertuğrul(The Shadow Team), Şükran Ovalı (Yargi), Deniz Baysal (Mrs. Fazilet and Her Daughters).

The series, set to premiere on October 21st, centers on Adem (Esen), a decent man who provides for his family by dutifully working a modest job at the mint. When one day, after he innocently creates a special commemorative coin for his son, he is fired from his job, and his life starts to fall apart. At this point, his brother steps in – a charismatic swindler, Kartal (Ertuğrul), spies an opportunity to work with his brother and start counterfeiting money. As Adem’s fortunes change, so too does his life at home, and his wife Canan (Ovalı) feels something awaken in her – but is it a longing for the new Adem? Meanwhile, Ayşe (Baysal), a police officer typically concerned with petty crime, crosses paths with Kartal and gets pulled into his world, unable to resist his magnetism.

 

Last Updated: Oct 20, 2024 13:40 pm (UTC) Filed Under: