Ömer Abacıoğlu, building a bridge between Turkey and the world of Duanju with ReelPix

In an Istanbul office, Ömer Abacıoğlu speaks with quiet energy about the ongoing revolution in the audiovisual industry. The developer of ReelPix, a new vertical short film platform, believes a new narrative language is emerging at the intersection of Turkish television and global mobile consumption. He spoke in an interview with Wenwen Han at a "Short Drama Forum 2025" event.

From television to the mobile world

After more than ten years in the television industry, with solid experience in Russia and Turkey, Ömer Abacıoğlu has chosen to put his dual cultural roots to work on an international project. His vision is based on a simple idea: to combine the codes of traditional television series with the immediacy required by mobile content.

For him, the viral success of short fiction is based on three pillars. First, psychology, which transforms each episode into “fast food for the brain,” offering immediate emotional gratification. Second, technology, since these formats are designed to be watched anywhere, even without sound, on a simple smartphone. Finally, social engagement, the central driving force: the constant cliffhangers trigger conversations, sharing, and discussions online.

Experiments in Türkiye

With ReelPix, Ömer Abacıoğlu aims to transcend the image of light entertainment. His new Turkish production, New Boss, ventures into corporate thriller territory. Inspired by Turkish soap operas that sometimes last two hours per episode, the series reinvents this dramatic density in a vertical and much shorter format. The challenge is clear: to demonstrate that viewers are ready for more complex stories, driven by high-quality production.

Ömer Abacıoğlu's ambition goes beyond simply adapting existing recipes. Through ReelPix, he imagines a bridge between two worlds: that of traditional television and that of mobile-first. A testing ground where Turkish narrative know-how meets the new habits of a global audience.

The entire Short Drama Forum 2025 is available on YouTube .

#WenwenHan