Branded Entertainment · 2025 · Switzerland / Türkiye
This documentary explores the impact of travel on the human psyche and the creation of a powerful digital artwork.
Synopsis
The film explores the transformative power of travel through Turkish Airlines' and Refik Anadol's visionary project "Inner Portrait". This collaboration merges art, science, and technology to illustrate the emotional and sensory experiences of travel. Using state-of-the-art data and AI technologies, Anadol transforms these emotional journeys into fascinating artworks.
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Trailer
Credits
Director
- Jennifer Peedom
Cinematographer
- Renan Ozturk
Composer
- Jacob Tardien
Writers
- Rafet Fatih Ozgur
Cast
- Refik Anadol
- Sahar Amin
- Esther Karanja
- Sigurbjörn Ragnarsson
- Tuikuru Yawanawa
Producers
- Timothy Ross
- Dragan Gavric
- Javier Krause
- Sami Arpa
Companies
- Turkish Airlines
- TBWA Istanbul
- Largo Films
- ORISONO
- Stranger Than Fiction
Distribution
- National Geographic
- Disney+
- Hulu
Stills
About the production
Turkish Airlines is the airline that flies to more countries than any other. The INNER PORTRAIT project is born from the belief that travel is not just a physical journey, but brings about a profound emotional transformation – especially for people traveling for the first time. The goal was to document four individuals whose neurological and physiological data were collected during their first international journey – including brain waves, heart rhythm, and body temperature. From this inner data, Turkish media artist Refik Anadol, with the help of A.I., created an immersive artwork with poetic expression.
For this international production, TBWA Istanbul, Largo Films, ORISONO, and Stranger Than Fiction collaborated to enable filming in some of the world's most beautiful locations: Jordan, Iceland, Tokyo, Sydney, Turkey, and the Amazon. With Australian director Jennifer Peedom and renowned outdoor cinematographer Renan Ozturk (MERU), adventure-seasoned filmmakers took on the creative part of the implementation. Over a total of 15 shooting days - and almost as many travel days - the team filmed in the most exotic locations around the world. A particular challenge lay in visa management and the smooth import and export of film equipment.
Behind the Scenes
Distribution
Refik Anadol's artwork INNER PORTRAIT was successfully presented at the renowned Art Basel exhibition, allowing the four documented individuals to admire the poetic results of their first international journey. In 2024, the project was also nominated for Cannes Lions for extraordinary creativity. The release of the 22-minute documentary on Disney+, Hulu, and National Geographic has made the project a viral hit.
Worldwide, the film garnered 249+ million views and 50 million interactions - making it Turkish Airlines' most interactive post in 2024. This was supplemented by 679 influencer posts, 265 online news articles, 16 printed newspaper reports, and 7 television features. The presentation at Art Basel activated an additional 35 global news reports and 122 social content posts from high-profile visitors.
The brand was subsequently perceived as more human, emotional, and culturally engaged. The campaign surpassed all brand KPIs in terms of awareness, engagement, and purchase intent, marking a strategic leap in Turkish Airlines' positioning as a mediator between cultures and inner worlds.