ABOUT THE SYMPOSIUM
Can a relationship be established between films and philosophy? What kind of contributions can cinema make to philosophy itself? Beyond supporting written philosophy, is it possible for cinema to engage in philosophy on its own terms and generate original ideas? If films indeed do philosophy, how does this philosophy—carried out through images—differ from the one done through words and writing?
Since 2016, we have been pursuing these questions through a SinePhilosophical journey, led by SineFilozofi, the first and only international academic journal in Türkiye indexed in international databases and dedicated to the field of philosophy of cinema. This journey continued with a series of Cinema and Philosophy Symposiums initiated in 2018 and reached a new phase in 2022 with the foundation of the Cinema and Philosophy Association.
Today, we are delighted to invite you to the 9th International Cinema and Philosophy Symposium, which will be held in Ankara on December 4–5, 2026, organized in collaboration with SineFilozofi Journal and the Cinema and Philosophy Association. This symposium aims to bring together thinkers, creators, and all those who seek to open new spaces in the contemporary world.
We are honored to announce our distinguished keynote speaker in the field of cinema and philosophy. This year’s symposium will host Prof. Dr. Bernd Herzogenrath, author of An Art of Desire: Reading Paul Auster; An American Body|Politic: A Deleuzian Approac, editor of a.o. The Farthest Place: The Music of John Luther Adams and Deleuze|Guattari & Ecology and the main editor (together with Patricia Pisters) of the media-philosophical book series thinking|media with Bloomsbury.
We will also be joined by two Turkish filmmakers whose works have received awards both nationally and internationally, who will take part in the symposium as speakers. Reha Erdem, director of “Oh Moon”, “Mommy, I’m Scared”, “Times and Winds”, “Kosmos”, “Singing Women”, “Jîn”, “Big Big World” and “Neandria” and Zeki Demirkubuz, director of “Block C”, “Innocence”, “The Third Page”, “Confession”, “Fate”, “Destiny”, “Inside”, “Nausea” and “Life”, will be with us at this year’s symposium.
As in previous years, this year’s symposium will provide an opportunity for deep reflection and discussion on the relationship between cinema and philosophy. It will bring together cinema practitioners, academic circles, and all cinema enthusiasts. The program will include presentations by scholars working in this field, as well as talks and interviews with filmmakers and artists from Turkish cinema.
The 9th International Cinema and Philosophy Symposium by The Journal of SineFilozofi will be held in cooperation with the Ankara City Council (ACC) at the ACC Reception Building on December 4–5, 2026.
Address: Atatürk Boulevard No. 18, Opera/Altındağ/Ankara, Turkey
We warmly invite you to join us as participants or audience members at the symposium, organized in collaboration with the Cinema and Philosophy Association, where we will share ideas, discuss cinema and philosophy, and foster the production of new “thought.” We welcome all those who seek and create the new.
Looking forward to seeing you in Ankara on December 4–5, 2026!
Symposium Organizing Committee