Selen Bazmanoglu wants to embed the Duanju format in Turkish storytelling.

With twenty years of experience in Turkish audiovisual media, Selen Bazmanoglu explains that she has launched and developed film, TV, youth, and lifestyle channels on the country's largest platforms, then under in-house brands, and has advised companies such as beIN, Turk Telekom, and Turksat. She is currently continuing this career path in vertical drama as Head of Content for two short-form content apps, Short & More and WOMOD.

Her presentation highlighted a clear industry benchmark. She described China as a global creative leader and confirmed that its teams actively license Chinese short dramas, believing that these short stories resonate well with international audiences. This reference is part of a structured launch strategy: WOMOD targets international markets while Short & More focuses on Turkey, with the same commitment to high-quality short stories and a combination of original content and international acquisitions.

Her vision, however, remains primarily Turkish. She emphasizes the strength of Turkish storytelling traditions and indicates that this is one of the reasons why Short & More relies on the production of original content. She sees great potential in exploring romance, romantic comedies, suspense, and young adult stories in vertical format. Finally, she highlights the challenges faced by a local player in its launch phase: high competition, audience education, and anti-piracy protection.

Interview conducted by Wenwen Han

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