Kismet

Synopsis

Turkish soap operas have taken the world by storm, conquering the hearts of millions of viewers in the Middle East, North Africa, the Balkans and Asia. With unprecedented access to the industry’s most glamorous actors and creative talent, ‘Kismet’ unravels the secrets of this phenomenal success that transcends religion and culture. From the lavish production sets of the most popular Turkish soap operas, the film travels to streets and homes in Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Athens, Sofia and Mostar, to discover how these taboo-breaking soaps are helping women across the region to claim their rights and transform their lives.

Director Biography

Nina Maria Paschalidou is a filmmaker, journalist, and producer with extensive experience in documentaries focused on social strife, war and forgotten populations. She has reported for “To Vima” and “Kathimerini”. Since 2007, she has been a producer for “Exandas” Documentary Series, an award winning documentary slot. She has founded Forest Troop, an independent production company and co-owner of the Greek news blog “protagon”. She is also a Fellow at the School of Foreign Service in Washington DC.