Kaplanoglu, who is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and influential directors in Turkish cinema [citation needed], has received 28 international awards and 10 nominations worldwide.

[3] Kaplanoğlu is noted for his support for the governing Justice and Development Party and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Kaplanoğlu's critics attributed the generous public funding his production company received in 2019 to his good relationship with the government.

[5] Between 2006 and 2013, Leyla İpekçi wrote for Zaman and Taraf, daily newspapers affiliated with the Gülen movement.

At the time, Taraf and Zaman facilitated the movement's outreach to a broader public as they gained power in Turkey in illegal and extralegal ways.