Ozan Akbaba and Sinem Ünsal enliven İstanbul’s enchanting backdrop with their compelling on-screen chemistry…
İstanbul, Türkiye — GoTürkiye’s fourth mini-series project, An Istanbul Story, blends the captivating atmosphere of İstanbul with a contemporary narrative to share Türkiye’s cultural richness with global audiences. Produced by Ay Yapım, the 10-episode series stars Ozan Akbaba and Sinem Ünsal, whose vibrant on-screen chemistry intertwines seamlessly with the city’s cosmopolitan spirit, creating a truly compelling viewing experience.
The series centres on Duru and Selim, two co-stars who are cast together in the same project despite not getting along particularly well. As unexpected events unfold, the bond between them gradually deepens. İstanbul’s vibrant setting—where East meets West and the magic of the past lives seamlessly alongside modern life—infuses their journey with rhythm, texture, and emotional dimension, becoming an integral part of the narrative.
Developed by the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), An Istanbul Story showcases the city’s rich aesthetic layers, cultural diversity, and multifaceted spirit through a cinematic lens. Filmed across neighbourhoods such as Beyoğlu, Nişantaşı, Galata Kuledibi, the Bosphorus shoreline, and Kireçburnu, the series captures İstanbul’s timeless allure—where traces of the past flow effortlessly into the rhythm of contemporary life.
The series brings together internationally recognised director Hilal Saral and the fresh narrative perspective of screenwriter Kemal Hamamcıoğlu, a notable emerging talent in contemporary storytelling.
The essence of the project is captured in a single sentence:
“Unforgettable stories cannot happen anywhere else.”
Now streaming on YouTube, An Istanbul Story blends the magnetic beauty of İstanbul—honoured as “Europe’s Most Desirable City” by the 2025 Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards—with the deeply-felt, evolving story of Duru and Selim. ///nCa, 23 December 2025 (in cooperation with the Embassy of Türkiye to Turkmenistan)