Artist International Group (AIG), the management and production company founded by David Unger, has signed Umut Aral, the award-winning director of the Turkish-language Netflix hit series, Who Were We Running From?. The show debuted on Netflix in March and became one of the first Turkish productions to enter the streamer’s Top 10 in the U.S. It also ranked in the Top 10 TV charts in 78 countries and remained on the platform’s Top 10 list for international Non-English series for four weeks.
A Perfect Fit
Umut Aral expressed his excitement at joining AIG, saying that it is “truly exciting to be a part of the internationally focused, dynamic AIG family, and a member of their extraordinary ensemble of talent.” AIG’s CEO, David Unger, added that Aral fits perfectly into the company’s DNA as it represents the best of the best of regional talent with global market ambitions.
Other Notable Works
Apart from Who Were We Running From?, Aral has directed other notable works, including Turkish star Kivanç Tatlituğ in Netflix’s submarine action adventure series Yakamoz S-245, a spin-off of Jason George’s apocalyptic Belgian drama Into the Night. He also directed four seasons of Netflix’s first Turkish original superhero genre series, The Protector; the teen dramedy, Love 101; and the 2018 feature Good Game: The Beginning, set in the world of eSports, all of which are also streaming on Netflix.
Aral recently finished directing another mixed-language international series, a crime drama shot between Athens and Beirut, from creator Adi Hasak. He continues to be represented in the UK by Jack Thomas at Independent Talent Group and in France by Louis Le Gouvello at Adéquat.
The popularity of Who Were We Running From? also prompted a tourism spike in Turkey as vacationers journeyed to cities and hotels handpicked by Aral. The show, based on the novel by Perihan Mağden, is a thriller that follows a woman with a mysterious past who lives on the go with her daughter, moving from hotel to hotel like a nameless fugitive.
Umut Aral’s signing with Artist International Group is a perfect match as the company seeks to represent the best of regional talent with global market ambitions. Aral’s impressive track record makes him a valuable addition to AIG’s ensemble of talent.