Nisan Dağ, Müge Özen

The Amazons of Istanbul

In 1808, when whimsical Sultan ESMA ascends to the throne of the Ottoman Empire as its first woman ruler, she battles against vicious opposition from the patriarchy with her band of female warriors.

SYNOPSIS

ESMA is an influential woman in the palace among royals and respected in the army, particularly after killing 19 soldiers with her cousins HATICE and BEYHAN to punish them for abusing women. When Esma’s rising power and liberal lifestyle irritate the palace, a decision is made to remarry her. As a way out, Esma incites an uprising and overthrows the Sultan. It causes a chain of violent events and she finds herself on the throne, as the first woman ruler of the Ottoman Empire. Esma’s reign becomes intolerable for the nobles. The constant rejection by the council turns into a psychological battle for Esma. Her unpopularity triggers memories from her traumatic childhood as an outcast. Esma’s need for approval clouds her judgement, leading to ill-advised strategic choices, despite the warnings from Hatice and Beyhan. The Amazons experience a falling out when Esma blames them for being discouraged under the influence of power poisoning. Esma is manipulated into going to war, believing victory will finally earn her acceptance. She discovers the truth when the troops abandon her on the battlefield. Hatice and Beyhan come to Esma's rescue, and the Amazons reconcile. The palace is shocked by Esma's return, and she realises that the council will not allow her to live. She secretly agrees with her soon-to-be successor, brother MAHMUD II, to fake her death using her double, who drowns in the Bosporus in public view. She takes refuge in Hatice’s private palace. Esma learns that a prophet had predicted her destiny as a ruler when she was born, and she was raised as an outcast as a precaution. Mahmud keeps his promise and safeguards her Brigade of Woman Warriors. Esma walks the streets in the uniform of the Woman Warriors, patrolling alongside Hatice and Beyhan at night.

CREATORS
Nisan Dağ
Müge Özen

DIRECTOR/WRITER
Nisan Dağ

PRODUCER
Müge Özen

PRODUCTION COMPANY
Solis Film

COUNTRY
Turkey

FORMAT
45' x 6

GENRE
Modern period drama

Nisan Dag

NISAN DAĞ graduated from Columbia University’s MFA Film Program in 2013 as a Fulbright scholar. Her feature debut, ACROSS THE SEA (2014), won several awards and competed at prestigious festivals worldwide, including Warsaw Film Festival, Slamdance Film Festival and Raindance Film Festival. In 2015, she directed an episode for MTV World’s REBEL MUSIC (2013-2015) documentary with Viacom. Her second feature, WHEN I’M DONE DYING (2021), won Best Director at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and Best International Feature at Santa Barbara Film Festival, among other awards. Magnolia Pictures picked up the world sales for the film. Several institutions have supported her work, such as Eurimages, Berlinale Co-Production Market, Hamburg Film Fund, and Visions Sud Est. She directed for the Netflix series MIDNIGHT AT THE PERA PALACE (2022-2023) and recently directed for THE TURKISH DETECTIVE (2023), produced by Miramax and distributed by Paramount.

Amazons of Istanbul is a book that deeply touched and excited us when it was released last year. Written by Şebnem İşigüzel, who is also a scriptwriter, the book presents a world rich in cinematic imagery and reimagines a historical era that resonates powerfully with the present. The central character, ESMA, is a captivating and complex female ruler who silently wages war against the patriarchy, navigating a world governed by male norms. Within the palace, rife with intrigue and betrayal, Esma confronts numerous traps set by her enemies. The book's well-developed characters, evocative setting, and gripping events provide a solid foundation for envisioning a series that remains relevant in its social context and tone. Despite their respected and influential positions, women were predominantly seen as mothers, daughters, and servants in the Ottoman Empire. However, in this series, we reimagine them as formidable fighters, sexual beings, and multi-dimensional individuals challenging the male-dominated order. It is important to note that throughout the history of the Ottoman Empire, there has never been a female sultan, as the sacred throne has always been reserved for mighty men who also serve as religious leaders. Esma's rule is scandalous within the palace, regarded as a disgrace and taboo. The audience is captivated by the burning question of how Esma will navigate her throne's physical and mental challenges in such a hostile environment. As the episodes unfold, we delve into Esma's internal journey, her relationships, and the unravelling of her mysterious past, which takes centre stage as she fights for her survival. The author skilfully pushes the boundaries and blurs the line between fiction and reality, vividly portraying Esma as a witty, captivating, and alluring woman who could easily have existed in real life but was deliberately erased from the pages of history by those who sought to forget her. What if Esma's reign had been a reality, concealed and suppressed by the patriarchy? This provocative premise will captivate the audience throughout the show as they witness Esma's struggle to leave an indelible mark in history.

CREATOR’S STATEMENT

Müge Özen

After working in film sales for years, MÜGE ÖZEN transitioned into production and joined AC Film in 2010. She has produced acclaimed mainstream and arthouse movies as well as series with the company. In 2015, she founded Solis Film, which focuses on producing arthouse films primarily by female directors. As a graduate of the European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs 2017 Producers Workshop, she also conducts workshops on filmmaking for young filmmakers.

Production company profile

SOLIS FILM is a Turkish production company founded by Müge Özen in 2015 to develop and produce stories with international potential, favouring female writers and directors. The company has produced three internationally award-winning feature films (Toronto Film Festival, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Haifa Film Festival) in co-production with countries such as Bulgaria, Germany, and Poland. The company currently has two features, two series projects in development and a post-production feature. Since 2019, the company has organised training and hosted talks for Turkish filmmakers under the label Solis Cinema Sessions.

Where are we at?

ESTIMATED PRODUCTION BUDGET FOR THE FIRST SEASON
6.500.000 EUR

Production timeline

UNTIL END OF SPRING 2024
Development & Financing

SUMMER 2024
Pre-production

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2024
Production

JANUARY - JUNE 2025
Post-Production / VFX

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