Türkiye as a Strategic Partner for the Film Industry: The Case of “Şımarık” (Son Of A Rich) and New Opportunities for Co-Production
Author: Alina Arslantürk, EVP International Distribution & Co-Production, Kunay Film
Türkiye in the Global Film Industry: From Local Success to International Influence
Over the past decade, Türkiye has made a rapid leap in film and television. In terms of drama exports, the country consistently ranks among the world’s top three leaders, competing with the United Kingdom for second place after the United States.
Turkish dizi are watched in Latin America, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Asia. Today, however, global attention is gradually shifting from TV dramas to feature films. Turkish cinema of 2024–2025 is emerging as a new point of attraction for international co-productions.
Why Türkiye Is a Strategic Partner for Russia
For Russia, especially after the withdrawal of Hollywood majors, Türkiye is becoming not just an exotic market, but a real tool for filling the content vacuum, testing joint projects, and entering new territories.
This concerns not only film distribution but also the formation of a stable cultural bridge between the markets.
It was at this moment that Kunay Film entered the scene with the goal of reshaping the perception of Turkish cinema and proving that local stories and co-productions can achieve global success.
The Case of “Şımarık” (Son Of A Rich): How a Turkish Adaptation Became an International Product
Kunay Film’s first major project was “Şımarık” (Son Of A Rich) — an adaptation of the Russian film “Kholop.”
The remake became a working case study of how a Turkish film can function on multiple levels at once.
In Türkiye, the film showed strong digital performance: 6 weeks in Netflix Top-10 and sustained interest from both the platform and the audience.
In Russia and neighboring countries, “Şımarık” (Son Of A Rich) became the first Turkish film with a truly wide theatrical release: nearly 3,000 screens, more than 800,000 admissions, and Top-10 box-office performance among foreign releases of the year.
Today, the film has already been sold to more than 90 countries, including Portugal, Brazil, Latin America, and PALOP — where it is available on Prime Video and Apple TV+.
In the MENA region and Mexico, the film is being released in cinemas, with upcoming releases in Korea and several other territories.
Why It Worked
Universal storyline.
The journey of a spoiled heir undergoing personal transformation is relatable to audiences in any country. The Turkish version shifted the setting to the era of Sultan Suleiman, preserving the original narrative structure while strengthening the emotional father–son storyline.
Cultural adaptation.
The script kept the original framework but received a distinctly Turkish emotional tone. Both visually and musically, the film became a vivid example of thoughtful cultural localization.
Strong cast.
The lead role was played by Kerem Bürsin — one of the most internationally recognized stars of Turkish TV dramas. The film also features Melis Sezen, Melisa Döngel, and Erkan Kolçak Köstendil.
Their combined social media audience exceeds 22 million followers.
Visual atmosphere.
Filming took place in sets and locations familiar from the series “Magnificent Century,” enhancing marketing resonance and recognizability.
The success of “Şımarık” (Son Of A Rich) in Russia proved that:
Turkish cast + universal storytelling + well-executed localization = a viable alternative to Hollywood releases.
Turkish cast + universal storytelling + well-executed localization = a viable alternative to Hollywood releases.
Türkiye and Russia: Key Market Figures
Türkiye:
According to Box Office Türkiye, cinemas welcomed around 33 million viewers in 2024. Although this is still below the pre-COVID era (55–60 million), the market is steadily recovering and shifting toward local content and animation.
Russia:
According to the Russian Cinema Bulletin and the Ministry of Culture, Russian cinemas saw 114 million admissions in 2024. Domestic content reached a 78% market share.
Following the withdrawal of Hollywood studios, a significant market gap emerged — and Turkish films are gradually beginning to fill it.
Why Now Is the “Window of Opportunity” for Russian–Turkish Co-Productions
The Russian market is experiencing a shortage of “event” content. The Turkish wave can fill part of this gap — not through sporadic acquisitions of completed films, but through:
• full-scale co-productions involving talent and crews from both countries;
• stories that resonate with both audiences through shared values, humor, family themes, and romantic arcs;
• hybrid genres — romcoms, family films, adventures, melodramas with historical or contemporary context.
Kunay Film is building exactly this direction — from remakes to original projects designed for multiple markets at once.
Kunay Film: From “Şımarık” (Son Of A Rich) to New International Projects
Production.
After the success of “Şımarık” (Son Of A Rich), the company expanded its slate of projects with global potential:
• a modern adaptation of Dostoevsky’s “White Nights,” set in Istanbul;
• a remake of “La Belle Époque” in partnership with Pathé;
• “The Mirror” — a story about two young women from modern Moscow and the Ottoman Empire who swap souls.
Distribution and cultural bridge.
In 2024, Kunay Film launched theatrical releases of Russian films in Türkiye:
“100 Years Ahead,” “The Master and Margarita,” “The Bremen Town Musicians,” “Prophet. The Story of Alexander Pushkin.”
Unlike previous sporadic releases, the company focuses on the Russian-speaking community in Türkiye and expands reach through subtitles and dubbing.
A stable habit is forming: Russian films becoming a natural part of the Turkish cinema repertoire.
“100 Years Ahead,” “The Master and Margarita,” “The Bremen Town Musicians,” “Prophet. The Story of Alexander Pushkin.”
Unlike previous sporadic releases, the company focuses on the Russian-speaking community in Türkiye and expands reach through subtitles and dubbing.
A stable habit is forming: Russian films becoming a natural part of the Turkish cinema repertoire.
What Matters Next
Russia has a clear demand for high-quality non-Hollywood content.
Türkiye offers everything needed — production capacity, star power, global TV export experience, and flexibility in formats.
Türkiye offers everything needed — production capacity, star power, global TV export experience, and flexibility in formats.
Kunay Film, using “Şımarık” (Son Of A Rich) as a case study, has proven that joint stories can succeed in wide release and on streaming platforms.
The next step is systematic co-productions designed for multiple territories, based on trust between production teams and supported by solid legal and marketing frameworks.
The next step is systematic co-productions designed for multiple territories, based on trust between production teams and supported by solid legal and marketing frameworks.
And yes, the niche is still open.
The only question is: who will be the first to claim it?