Shotlist:
1. Production scenes from the factory at Sumerbank period
2. Scenes from Beykoz Kundura’s current view
3. Buse Yıldırım, Manager of Culture and Arts, talking about how Beykoz Kundura operates
4. Video shots from old archives
5. Old photos of the factory’s crew
6. Scenes from different sections of Beykoz Kundura
7. Beykoz Kundura’s movie theater
8. Bosphorus view
9. Various scenes from the backlot
Beykoz Kundura, with its 183 decares of space, is a site of great historical and cultural value for Turkey, dating back more then two hundred years. It served as a shoe factory for the Ottoman and Turkish armed forces and was sold to Sumerbank in 1810. Since that time, this industrial complex has been an essential element of cultural heritage, as well as contributing significantly to the Turkish economy. In 1999, production was halted and remained an abandoned factory until Yıldırım Holding took the step to revive it in 2004.
Located near Istanbul’s Bosphorus straits, the meeting point of Europe and Asia, the site has a full sea view, which makes it a prime location for movie sets for series and the cinema industry. Many projects are carried out on the site, benefitting from its green box and technological fiber infrastructure, as well as its dramatic backdrops and the historic ambiance left by the abandoned factory. Hatırla Sevgili, Öyle Bir Geçer Zaman Ki (Time Goes By), Karadayı (The Uncle in Black), Arka Sokaklar (Back Streets), Poyraz Karayel, İstanbullu Gelin (Bride of Istanbul), Vatanım Sensin (Wounded Love) are just a few of the TV series which were shot in Beykoz Kundura.
The complex is also used for events such as premiere nights, catalog shootings, and brand launching. There is a boutique hotel with four rooms and four different themes, providing accommodation for producers, directors, actors, and actresses, or the film crew.
Just like now, Beykoz Kundura operated as a living space consisting of cultural venues when it was serving as a factory. Film screenings attended by both the workers and the residents of Beykoz at that time were the inspiration for today. A part of the Boiler Room, defined as the heart of the factory, has been transformed into a movie theater to maiantain the tradition in the history of the place. The Boiler Room will soon be used as a stage for theater, performances, and concerts.
