MeDI 2024 Program — candid foundation

The German-Turkish Media Dialogue and Incubator Program MeDI 2024

With support from the German Foreign Office, MeDI 2024 brought together 14 TV producers, film makers, journalists and digital content creators from Turkey and Germany for two intensive workshops and a digital incubator session. Participants received input from experts, engaged in discussions and developped joint output focusing on entertainment in the context of depictions of history and social values in Turkey and Germany, as well as their relationship with one another. Furthermore, the group had the opportunity to meet and exchange with media experts, content creators, academics, and opinion-makers. Throughout the program, participants attended two three-day workshops organized in Istanbul on July 24-27 as well as in Berlin on November 13-15 2024. The workshops served as a platform for training, peer learning, knowledge exchange, networking, and collaborative enterprise for the participants.

Participants

Julia Althoff

Journalist
Nabi Caner Aybas

Filmmaker and Creative Producer
K. Kayra Banak

Filmmaker, Editor, Media Critic
Tugba Gökduman

Description goes here
Sarah Hummitzsch

Producer
Bersun Kılınç

Description goes here
Yesim Özdemir

Journalist
Niko Schmitz

Journalist
Paul Schwenn

Journalist
Marion Sendker

Journalist
Yagiz Tekin

Description goes here
Hüseyin Topel

Artist, Director, Journalist
Ferhat Türkoglu

Actor, Musician
Thomas

Description goes here

Projects Developped Through MeDI 2024

mikitatv

A Food Tour in Cologne with Netflix Star Kais Setti (DE)

Hüseyin Topel

MIKITA – Migra-Kitchen & Talk is a culinary and cultural video series by journalist Hüseyin Topel that explores identity, migration, and belonging in Germany through the lens of food. In each episode, Topel joins guests with migrant backgrounds on a tour of meaningful restaurants and eateries, blending authentic cuisine with personal stories and social reflection. The project was launched with support from the MeDI 2024 – German-Turkish Media Dialogue and Incubator Program. The first episode, featuring actor Kais Setti, is now available to watch.

Dantel İliskiler

A Podcast on Love in the Turkish-German Context

Tugba Gökduman

Dantel İliskiler is a weekly newsletter by Tuğba Gökduman, exploring love, relationships, and intimacy through a mix of personal reflection and social commentary. Originally published on Substack, the project has now expanded into podcast form. The first season of the Dantel İlişkiler podcast was created with the support of the MeDI 2024 – German-Turkish Media Dialogue and Incubator Program. It focuses on romantic relationships between people from Turkey and Germany, asking how migration, language, culture, and geography shape the way we experience love.

Almanya’ya Köprü

The AfD Issue: Is the Dream of Germany Falling Apart? (TR)

Niko Schmitz

Almanya’ya Köprü is a video series by journalist Niko Schmitz that explores the specific, often overlooked questions people in Turkey may have about immigrating to Germany. The project was developped with support from the MeDI 2024 – German-Turkish Media Dialogue and Incubator Program. Its first video, “The AfD Issue: Is the Dream of Germany Falling Apart?”, examines the rise of the far-right AfD party and what it could mean for prospective migrants, featuring insights from experts and members of the Turkish-German community.

Marjinal Fayda

A German Journalist in Turkey | Paul’s Observations (TR)

Nabi Caner Aybas

Paul Schwenn

Marjinal Fayda is a new-generation diaspora media platform that sheds light on collective memory, with a strong presence on Instagram and beyond. The video “A German Journalist in Turkey: Paul’s Observations” was published with support from the MeDI 2024 – German-Turkish Media Dialogue and Incubator Program. It follows German journalist Paul as he shares his impressions of life in Turkey, on the contrasts between Turkish culture in Germany and in Turkey, and offering a glimpse into his everyday experiences.

Ciddi Olmayan Bir Konu

Being a Woman Stand-Up Comedian in Turkey

Bersun Kilinç

Ciddi Olmayan Bir Konu is a podcast that focuses on the experiences of women in Turkey’s stand-up comedy scene, asking what it really takes to step onto the stage, be seen, and stay visible. Created with support from the MeDI 2024 – German-Turkish Media Dialogue and Incubator Program, the series dives into the struggles and joys behind the spotlight. Through the voices of comedians Melisa Besnili, Eda Kibar, Gözde Karakaya, and Nilüfer Yüce, it offers an intimate look at how humor, resistance, and loneliness often come together in unexpected ways.