In celebration of International Women’s Day, let’s take a look at some of the most beloved, globally-acclaimed Turkish series from the Dizi slate that revolve around strong, intelligent women. One thing you may not know about these series is that they are written by - you guessed it! - equally brilliant women.
Endless Love (Kara Sevda)
The screenplay of the International Emmy Award-winning global sensation Endless Love which stars Neslihan Atagül Doğulu, Burak Özçivit and Kaan Urgancıoğlu is written by veteran screenwriters Burcu Görgün Toptaş and Özlem Yılmaz. Both Görgün Toptaş and Yılmaz have previously worked on multiple other successful Turkish drama series such as “Aşkı Memnu” and “Uçurum”, respectively.
When talking about the advantages and disadvantages of writing as a team in an interview, Burcu Görgün Toptaş said,“Your biggest advantage, whether you are three or two people, is having a companion in a tiring job where such long pages are written. After all, even knowing that there is someone else looking at that blank page with you, sitting in front of the computer is very valuable, emotionally. You are not alone. A solidarity that gives both confidence and morale boost.”
Stiletto Vendetta (Ufak Tefek Cinayetler)
Stiletto Vendetta is a glamorous suburban tale of revenge that entails high stakes and high fashion where the lives of four childhood friends become intertwined, leading to a mysterious murder. The screenwriter behind this gripping series is none other than Meriç Acemi.
In an interview, Acemi is asked how she is able to create works that resonate with so many people, she responds: “Teamwork. No one can say that they alone are the miracle workers. It is necessary to be humble [about this].”
Black Money Love (Kara Para Aşk) & Karadayi
The brilliant minds behind the creation of the strong-willed, intelligent and stylish Elif Denizer (Tuba Büyüküstün) of Black Money Love are Eylem Canpolat and Sema Ergenekon, arguably, two of the most popular screenwriters of contemporary Turkish drama. The two have also penned the series Karadayi together, which features yet another brilliant female character, Judge Feride Şadoğlu, brought to life by Bergüzar Korel.
The two have a long history of working together. When asked about how they deal with disagreements while writing, they respond: “In the past, doors were slammed. I think we've matured over the years, maybe when we became mothers. Now we can say to each other, “this was a very stupid idea, accept it” No offense, no one is hurt.”
Reflecting on the importance of the day, SPI International CMO Haymi Behar emphasized the influence of the Dizi brand and Turkish series, in general, across the globe. He said: “The Dizi brand emerged as a way to reach those who enjoy watching Turkish drama series and to acquaint potential enthusiasts with the genre. One undeniable appeal of these series is that they feature well-crafted, remarkable women as lead characters to whom any viewer across the globe can relate. That is because most of them are created by women who tell their stories masterfully and in an authentic way. Turkish drama series wouldn’t have achieved the global success they now have, if it weren’t for these great stories and the incredible women behind their creation.”
SPI’s premium drama hub Dizi is proud to be the Home of Good Stories where women’s voices are heard and where their stories matter.
SPI’s streaming service FILMBOX+ which boasts a catalog of over five thousand titles and multiple linear channels was the go-to address for watching #GoodMovies this month for many viewers across the globe. Here’s a look at what’s popular in some of our key territories in February 2022.
BAILEY’S BILLIONS - SLOVAKIA
This month, FilmBox+ subscribers in Slovakia went for the heart-warming family movie that centers around a cute golden retriever. Bailey is no ordinary golden retriever. He is sweet, savvy and most importantly, he can talk! Voiced by comedic legend Jon Lovitz, Bailey becomes the target of an elaborately-designed dognap scheme when his devoted owner, Constance Pennington (Jackie Burroughs), leaves him her entire billion-dollar fortune. In order to save their beloved four-legged friend, Bailey's loyal guardian Theodore Maxwell (Dean Cain), kind-hearted animal advocate Marge Maggs (Laurie Holden), her daughter Samantha (Angela Vallee), and a clever border collie named Tessa (Melissa DiMarco) set out on a hilarious adventure.
ALİ BABA VE YEDİ CÜCELER - TURKEY
Turkish FilmBox+ subscribers opted for a local delicacy this month with the hilarious comedyAli Baba ve Yedi Cüceler (Ali Baba and the Seven Dwarfs), written and directed by Cem Yılmaz, Turkey’s most popular and well-known comedian. The movie tells the story of Ali Senay (Cem Yılmaz) and Ilber (Çetin Altay), the two partners of Senay Cüccaciye that sell garden dwarfs. When their sales start to dwindle, they decide to participate in a gardening fair in Sofia in an attempt to drum up new business. Things take an unexpected turn when they find themselves crossing paths with the wrong people hell bent on causing world chaos. The movie, which combines Yılmaz’s usual witty humor with a stellar cast of comedic geniuses, promises its viewers a good time.
LA SCONOSCIUTA - ROMANIA
Romanian subscribers of FilmBox+ traveled to Italy this month with the mystery/dramaLa Sconosciuta (The Unknown Woman). The movie revolves around Irena, a young Ukrainian woman haunted by a horrible past, who calculatedly insinuates herself into the life of a rich Italian family. Written and directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, the movie received rave reviews from the critics with Kevin Thomas of Los Angeles Times describing the treatment of the movie by the director as, “[Tornatore] transcends the lurid and the coincidental with range, depth and insight, and a bold, confident, suspenseful style, to create a fable of love and redemption.”
LOVE IN LAPLAND - HUNGARY
Romance filled the air in Poland this month on FilmBox+ as viewers tuned into the romantic comedy, Love in Lapland that captures the magic of love during Christmas in the winter wonderland of Lapland, Sweden. Charlotte Marton is a young bankruptcy manager who dreams of stretching both her professional and personal horizons. As December draws to a close, Charlotte’s Parisian law firm sends her to Sweden to shut down a French company that makes wood toys and has been in the red for several years. It should only take a few days; Charlotte should be back home by Christmas. In Sweden, she meets Martial, the company’s amicable CEO who’s raising his dead sister’s children as best he can and running his business like an idealist with outsized dreams. Charlotte stopped believing in true love ages ago, but she’s charmed by this big dreamer and gradually forgets about the job she went there to do as she rediscovers her lust for life… and love!
About FilmBox+
FilmBox+ combines the “lean-back” and on-demand viewing experiences by providing instant access to an extensive VOD catalog and live channels on any internet-connected device. FilmBox+’s well-curated selection of content from major global distributors features Hollywood blockbusters with world-famous stars, independent world cinema gems, TV series, documentaries, lifestyle programming, and much more. In addition to its vast VOD library, FilmBox+ also offers a variety of channels covering movies and thematic content that cater to all kinds of tastes to help viewers avoid the hassle of choosing what to watch. www.filmbox.com
Content and channel selection on FilmBox+ may vary depending on the region.
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February, the month of love, is already here with Valentine’s Day just around the corner. I am not the biggest fan of this holiday as I believe that we should cherish our loved ones every day of the year and express that love every chance that we get. BUT, I do see it as the perfect time to watch romantic movies and immerse myself in stories of romance that we only get to experience in movies.
This month, FILMSTREAM’s slate of critically-acclaimed movies and world cinema classics brings a selection of wonderful movies that focus on all aspects of love. Check out our list here.
If you are a FAST service provider and would like to learn more about our FAST channel offers, please go to our FAST CHANNELS page for more information.
1. VANIGLIA E CIOCCOLATO (2004)
Penelope, a mother of three, is fed up with her philandering husband. She finally finds the courage in herself to leave him to live at her grandma’s house. His interest is ignited when he finds love letters that belong to his wife, indicating a past love affair. Penelope, on the other hand, decides to follow her heart which leads her to her past lover, a Spanish painter, only to discover that he is terminally ill. Passionate, intriguing and honest, Vaniglia e Cioccolato, by Italian director Ciro Ippolito, showcases that love can be many things - all at once.
2. CHARADE (1963)
Funny, exciting, romantic and suspenseful, Charade stars Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. It is the only movie the two ever made together, in spite of Grant’s insistence on wanting to work with Hepburn again. He was quoted as saying, "all I want for Christmas is to make another movie with Audrey Hepburn," after the filming had ended. In Charade, romance and suspense ensue in Paris as a woman is pursued by several men who want a fortune her murdered husband had stolen. Whom can she trust? This one is a must-see for those who enjoy classics and old-Hollywood glam.
3. 10 RULES FOR FALLING IN LOVE (2012)
Mesmerizing Italian scenery, beautiful people, love and deception… All the key ingredients you would want in a fun romantic comedy! In Cristiano Bortone’s 10 Rules for Falling in Love, a womanizer father teaches his clumsy son the decalogue of seduction: ten foolproof rules to make any woman fall in love. But the results are not what they expected.
4. UNIVITELLIN (2016)
This 2016 short by writer/director Terence Nance takes the viewer on a trip to Marseille, France in pursuit of a love story that will change the course of two people’s lives. Aminata works as a hairdresser in an Afro hairdressing salon, Badara works as a mechanic. When they meet, their love story will be like no other. Univitellin won the Golden Gate Award for Best Narrative Short at San Francisco International Film Festival in 2017. Make sure to watch it this month.
5. JOURNEY TO ITALY (1953)
From the legendary Italian director Roberto Rossellini comes Journey to Italy, starring the Academy Award-winning actors Ingrid Bergman and George Sanders. The movie chronicles the life of an unhappily married couple as they attempt to find direction and insight while vacationing in Naples. The movie received stellar reviews from critics. Michael Atkinson of the Village Voice described the movie as, “close to watching strangers suffer loneliness despite being together. It can leave an aching bruise, but only if you’re paying attention.”
In addition, this month on Pluto TV Filmstream, we are traveling to South America.
Check out our promo to see our curated movie selection.
About FILMSTREAM:
Filmstream is available in select territories via Rakuten TV, Plex, and Samsung TV Plus. Pluto TV Filmstream is also available in select territories via Pluto TV and the programming for the channel varies slightly.
Go to our FAST CHANNELS page to learn more about our FAST channel offers.
Follow Filmstream on social media for news and updates.
Let's take a #CoffeeBreak with... Georgina Twiss, Managing Director of Western Europe and Africa at SPI International ☕
1. What is the first post-pandemic movie you've seen in theaters and did you like it?
- The latest James Bond, #NoTimeToDie, was the first movie I saw post-COVID as I knew it had to be seen in a cinema. It was a #Bond for the ages with finally a little more power in women’s hands.
2. What is the best piece of advice you've ever received and why?
- The best piece of advice I’ve ever received is to #listen actively. It applies to your clients, your colleagues, and your friends and is transformational.
3. Which SPI product/service do you think has the biggest potential for Western Europe and Africa in 2022?
- #Dizi is definitely finding its place in our product portfolio. It's always a case of rising with the tide and Turkish drama is starting to educate viewers about its beauty, production levels, and great storylines which are now starting to touch a chord across my region.
