At this year’s DICM, we sat down with Mustafa İlbeyli, Director of Advertising & Sales at TRT Sales, to discuss the company’s successful run at the market, the strong demand for new dramas such as Deep in Love and Children of Paradise, and the continued popularity of their historical titles across the MENA region. İlbeyli also shared insights into buyer interest in TRT’s documentaries and animation slate, along with new sales momentum following both MIPCOM and DICM.
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How has DICM 2025 been for your company?
Mustafa İlbeyli: DICM 2025 was highly productive and inspiring for us. The event proved extremely valuable in allowing us to meet key broadcasters and platforms, particularly from the MENA region, strengthen our existing partnerships, and explore new collaboration opportunities. We also had the chance to present TRT’s new-season dramas, documentaries, and animation productions to international buyers.
What were your highlights at this year’s edition and how do you think these dramas connect with audiences in the MENA region?
Mustafa İlbeyli: Our standout titles this year were led by the newly launched, high-production-quality dramas Deep in Love and Children of Paradise. In addition, there was continued strong interest in our historical titles previously licensed in the region, such as Fatih: Sultan of Conquest, Saladin: The Conqueror of Jerusalem, and Resurrection: Ertuğrul. As TRT, we continue to uphold the success of Turkish dramas through powerful storytelling, deep character work, and universal themes.
There is a strong emotional connection between MENA audiences and Turkish dramas. Shared cultural values, family ties, love, justice, and hope, naturally strengthen this bond and create a sense of closeness with viewers across the region. We were also very pleased with the significant interest in our wide range of animation series and documentaries.
Following MIPCOM and now DICM, is there any recent sales updates you can share with us?
Mustafa İlbeyli: Yes, following MIPCOM and DICM, we have reached general terms with several companies across MENA, South Asia, Latin America, and Europe for the sale of multiple titles. These include not only dramas but also animation series and documentaries. This diversity strengthens our international partnerships and allows us to reach a wide range of audiences across different regions.
