Inter Medya was founded in 1992 by Can Okan as a film distribution company serving the Turkish film industry in its local market. Since then, it has grown into a production and distribution company providing buyers around the world with high-end scripted drama, formats and, most recently, micro-dramas. Okan, who serves as CEO, talks about blending beautiful locations with relatable, universal themes and offering dramas in various lengths to satisfy viewers\u2019 and platforms\u2019 many needs.<\/p>\n
WS:<\/strong>\u00a0In your view, what is the \u201csecret sauce\u201d that makes Turkish stories so magnetic for international audiences? WS:<\/strong>\u00a0Looking back, how has the Inter Medya catalog transformed over the last decade? WS:<\/strong>\u00a0What is the current vibe of the market? What are global buyers asking for in 2026? WS:\u00a0<\/strong>How does Inter Medya stay ahead of buyer needs? WS:<\/strong>\u00a0You\u2019ve made headlines with your move into micro-dramas. Tell us about the strategy behind the vertical screen. Can Okan, founder and CEO of Inter Medya, talks about blending beautiful locations with relatable, universal themes and offering dramas in various lengths to satisfy viewers\u2019 and platforms\u2019 many needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":289,"featured_media":24595,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[68,70],"tags":[4098,1880],"class_list":["post-24594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-interviews","category-top-stories","tag-can-okan","tag-inter-medya","pmpro-has-access"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nOKAN:<\/strong>\u00a0The appeal stems from a unique \u201cTurkish formula\u201d that masterfully blends high-octane production values with universal emotionality. Our dramas excel at portraying themes of family, loyalty and star-crossed love\u2014values that resonate as powerfully in Latin America as they do in the Middle East or Western Europe. Beyond the script, the cinematic approach we take is vital. By filming in breathtaking, real-life locations rather than confined sets, we provide an immersive experience that feels authentic and grand. Ultimately, the immense labor and passion behind the scenes translates directly to the screen. Global audiences aren\u2019t just watching a story; they are connecting with deep, character-driven arcs that feel both exotic and intimately familiar. They recognize the quality, and they simply cannot remain indifferent to it.<\/p>\n
\nOKAN:<\/strong>\u00a0The evolution has been profound. A decade ago, our focus was almost exclusively on the traditional series\u2014long-running series primarily tailored for linear television. Today, Inter Medya is a multi-dimensional content distributor. While we remain the champions of traditional drama, we have pioneered the \u201cNew Generation\u201d Turkish series. These are shorter, edgier and bolder narratives specifically designed for the streaming era. We have evolved from a pure distribution house into a full-scale production powerhouse and a strategic global co-production partner. Furthermore, our feature films continue to find screens worldwide, and we have recently embraced the global micro-drama trend as both a producer and distributor. Today, we don\u2019t just sell shows; we act as a global ambassador for Turkish creativity, representing our culture across every imaginable format.<\/p>\n
\nOKAN:<\/strong>\u00a0We are seeing a bifurcated market. On one hand, linear broadcasters still have a healthy appetite for long-running family sagas and hidden gems with high emotional stakes. On the other hand, streaming platforms are hungry for \u201cdigestible\u201d content\u2014faster pacing and shorter formats built for binge-watching. Interestingly, we are seeing a hybrid trend: platforms are increasingly incorporating long-running dramas into their offerings to increase time-on-platform for subscribers. This makes our ready-made licensed content just as vital as digital originals. Geographically, we are seeing a massive surge in demand from Western Europe and a growing curiosity from the U.S. market for content that bridges the gap between traditional series and the \u201cNew Generation\u201d series.<\/p>\n
\nOKAN:<\/strong>\u00a0Our strength lies in our adaptability. We don\u2019t just offer off-the-shelf products; we provide strategic solutions. We cater to every window\u2014from 100-plus episode daily sagas for traditional broadcasters to ten-episode miniseries for digital platforms. [Since] we operate across five continents, we don\u2019t just \u201csend\u201d content; we provide localized marketing and distribution strategies.<\/p>\n
\nOKAN:<\/strong>\u00a0This is our newest frontier. We recognized that the next-gen viewer consumes content in short, high-frequency bursts on mobile devices. To meet them there, we launched our first original vertical micro-drama,\u00a0Boardroom to Bedroom<\/em>. The response was staggering\u2014the first episode surpassed 1.4 million views within just 12 hours. We\u2019ve established a dedicated internal department focused solely on the production, acquisition and distribution of short-form content. What sets us apart is our agile synergy: we utilize our high-end sets and production infrastructure to film these micro-dramas simultaneously with our long-form series. This allows us to maintain big-screen production values on a mobile-screen format.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"