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Turkish distributor Inter Medya has officially entered the vertical drama space, kicking off production on its first original 9:16 series. The company plans to grow a global catalogue by collaborating with third-party producers, combining Turkish storytelling with mobile, first pacing, tighter beats, and expressive music cues.

Inter Medya President Hasret Özcan will spotlight the move at MIPCOM 2025 during the “Vertical Drama: The Future of Mobile Storytelling” panel, reflecting Turkey’s growing role in the global short-form wave.

Source: World Screen

WeChat’s Coral Safety account announced the removal of dozens of illegal short dramas and mini-programmes that violated content and copyright regulations. The cleanup follows directives from the State Administration of Radio and Television and targets vulgar, bizarre, or harmful content. WeChat says it will continue promoting a “safe, healthy, and green” digital ecosystem and guide the standardised development of micro-short dramas.

Source: WeChat Coral Safety Official Account

Turkish distributor Inter Medya has begun production on its first original vertical drama, marking its entry into the fast-growing mobile storytelling space. The company will spotlight this move at MIPCOM, where president Hasret Özcan joins the panel “Vertical Drama: The Future of Mobile Storytelling” on October 15. Inter Medya also plans to collaborate with third-party producers to expand its catalogue—bringing Turkey’s signature storytelling style into the vertical drama era.

Sources:Turkey inter Medya

With just a phone, a few empty houses, and pure determination, villagers from Beiliangjiazhuang (Qingdao) created Flowers Blooming on the Rocks—a rural short drama that hit 230 million views on Douyin in under two weeks.

Starring farmers, field workers, and a local barber with no acting background, the series tells a down-to-earth story inspired by their real lives. Despite sleepless nights, mosquito bites, and 50 retakes per scene, the authenticity struck a chord with audiences, turning the village into an online sensation—and even boosting demand for local farm goods.

The team is already working on a second drama, proving that with heart and honesty, grassroots storytelling can rival the biggest studios.

Source: 

Short dramas are bite-sized fiction made for phones:1–3 minutes per episode, driven by close-ups, hooks, and cliffhangers.

Why does it matter? Because China is already pushing quality higher (more polished stories, better acting for vertical frames), and apps like DramaBox and ReelShort are expanding in the US/Europe.

For viewers, it means faster plots, tighter emotions, and bingeable series designed to fit a commute. For creators, it’s a new global format where small stories can punch big.

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DramaBox executives described how they plan to leverage creators and Hollywood to grow in the US market.

A new short drama titled Reef! is bringing the fight against financial crime to the screen. Produced jointly by Jiuzhou Culture, Zhejiang Zhefa Film & Television Culture Media, and the People’s Procuratorates of Taizhou and Luqiao District, the series is adapted from real insurance fraud cases. By blending the strengths of professional filmmakers with government legal institutions, Reef! represents an emerging model of collaboration that combines storytelling and public education.

The production draws on actual cases investigated by the Luqiao District Procuratorate, turning them into a narrative designed to raise awareness of insurance fraud and its legal consequences. While short dramas in China have often focused on romance, youth, or business intrigue, Reef! falls into a growing category of duanju projects commissioned or co-produced with state bodies to spread legal literacy. The “government + professional production team” model, as its creators describe it, seeks to ensure both dramatic impact and legal accuracy.

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