We’re at ATF 2025!
One of the most exciting and strategic moments of the year has arrived once again. The global content community now turns its attention to Asia, and to ATF Singapore, where the industry’s global and local power converge.
This special issue not only marks the perfect moment to pause and reflect on an eventful year, but also celebrates the vision for 2026 and the extraordinary creative energy of the Asian market. Asia has long been the meeting point of international stories, a place where emotion, collaboration, and innovation shape the future of storytelling itself.
In this edition, Gamze Besler of Calinos Entertainment highlights the company’s expanding global presence and rich catalogue, underlining the growing interest from Asia-Pacific. The success of Lies After Lies demonstrates how Turkish dramas, blended with the layered narratives of Korean formats, create truly universal appeal.
Mustafa İlbeyli from TRT Sales reflects on the global resonance of standout titles such as Children of Paradise and Deep in Love, and shares the company’s growth strategy for Asia in 2026, once again proving that Turkish storytelling stands shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world.
From OGM UNIVERSE, Ekin Koyuncu Karaman describes 2025 as a “year of creative confidence.” She explains how titles like Reborn and Deep in Love resonate deeply with Asian audiences through universal themes of love, family, and honor, and shares exciting insights into long-term partnerships and potential co-productions across the region.
Inter Medya’s executives, Hasret Özcan and Pelin Kora,y discuss the company’s first vertical production, their standout year, and the strong performance of Halef alongside the continuing success of fan favorite Eshref Ruya.
We also turn to Japan, where conversations with TV Asahi and ABC Frontier reveal how dynamic and forward-looking the Asian content landscape truly is. While TV Asahi continues to build international momentum through co-productions and long-running series, ABC Frontier reflects on Japan’s drama evolution with hits like Forest and the country’s growing openness to cross-border partnerships.
In a warm interview, Hande Doğandemir and Uğur Güneş share the creative journey behind their romantic comedy Love and Food, a reminder that even in a market led by high-stakes dramas, heartfelt, feel-good stories still remain universal.
Emir Kula, in his article The Objects That Drive TV Dramas, explores how small, silent items guide emotion and plot, becoming the invisible protagonists of TV series.
And in a special feature, renowned Turkish painter RU! writes Beyond the Purple Door: How Art Direction Turns TV Worlds Into Real Destinations. Drawing on examples such as Game of Thrones and Emily in Paris, RU! reveals how production design transforms spaces into living memories, even redefining the destiny of entire cities. This issue offers one of the most comprehensive snapshots of today’s global content industry, celebrating Asia’s creative heartbeat and the shared emotional language that connects us all.
Here’s to a productive and inspiring ATF 2025. The pulse of storytelling beats stronger than ever in Asia.
