[Commlist] 4th Film Festivals Symposium cfp - The Audiences of Film Festivals

*4^th Film Festivals Symposium*

(May 27-28, 2025)

/The Audiences of Film Festivals/

*22^nd Eskişehir International Film Festival, *

*Eskişehir-Turkey*

The Film Festivals Symposium, initiated as part of the TÜBİTAK 1001 
121K234 project titled  “/Film Festivals in Turkey: Structure, Economy, 
Organization, Audience Profile (The Case of Antalya, Adana, Istanbul, 
and Ankara Film Festivals)/" will be held this year in collaboration 
with the Eskişehir International Film Festival on May 27–28, 2025. The 
Symposium Organizing Committee extends its sincere gratitude to Anadolu 
University and the Eskişehir International Film Festival for their 
valuable cooperation and support. With the theme "The Audiences of Film 
Festivals," the symposium aims to provide an academic platform for 
discussing various aspects of film festivals. We warmly invite you to 
participate in the*4^th Film Festivals Symposium*.


*ABSTRACT AND PANEL PROPOSAL DEADLINE*: *_April 02, 2025_*

*_CONFIRMED KEYNOTE SPEAKERS_*

*Marijke de Valck (Utrecht University, Holland)

Aida Vallejo (University of the Basque Country, Spain)*

*
*

*VENUE: *Anadolu University, Faculty of Communication SciencesŞener Şen 
Hall – Eskişehir, Turkey

**

*IMPORTANT DATES*

  * *April 02, 2025 *– Deadline for submission of abstracts and panel
    proposals
  * *Abstract Submission*: A *500-word abstract* and a *150-word short
    biography* should be sent to (infoscreenfest /at/ gmail.com)
    <mailto:(infoscreenfest /at/ gmail.com)>.
  * *Panel Proposal Submission*: 700-word panel proposal, including the
    panel title, a brief description, details of individual papers, and
    brief biographies of panelists, should be sent to
    (infoscreenfest /at/ gmail.com) <mailto:(infoscreenfest /at/ gmail.com)>.

  * *April 06, 2025*– Announcement of accepted papers and panels
  * *April 10, 2025*– Registration opens (*No participation fee required*)
  * *May 27-28, 2025*– Symposium dates
  * *July 1, 2025*– Deadline for submission of selected full-text papers
    (5,000–8,000 words)
  * *October 1, 2025*– E-book publication

Accepted abstracts will be included in the Abstracts e-book, while 
selected full papers will be published either in the Film Festivals Book 
IV e-book by Doruk Yayınları or in the September 2025 issue of sinecine: 
Journal of Film Studies.

*For more information please visit 
http://www.screenfest.org/sempozyum-symposium/4-film-festivalleri-sempozyumu-eskisehir/ 
<http://www.screenfest.org/sempozyum-symposium/4-film-festivalleri-sempozyumu-eskisehir/> 
*

**

*THEME*

*/The Audiences of Film Festivals/*

The audience is one of the most fundamental components of film 
festivals. For attendees, film festivals serve as spaces of public 
experience, fostering new discoveries, introducing alternative and 
emerging cinemas, and bringing together like-minded individuals at a 
specific time each year. These events cultivate a sense of belonging 
among cinema enthusiasts, fostering a shared identity and community. As 
Elsaesser (2005) states, film festivals represent the "natural home" of 
cinema lovers. Attending film festivals is regarded as one of the most 
‘classic’ practices of contemporary cinema enthusiasts (Hagener & de 
Valck, 2008). In an evolving and increasingly diverse viewing culture, 
festivals must both nurture their loyal attendees and attract new 
audiences. A direct relationship exists between festival programming and 
its audience; in a way, curating a festival also involves shaping its 
audience (Fung, 1999). Beyond their role as cultural gatherings, film 
festivals also function as significant tourism events, drawing both 
local and international visitors.

Within the framework of these questions, the symposium will address 
topics related to the theme, including but not limited to:

  * Film festivals and audience identity
  * The audience as an integral part of film festivals
  * Film festivals and cinephilia
  * Film festivals as cultural events
  * Film festivals and event-goers
  * Programming film festivals, shaping audiences
  * Film festival venues and audience affiliation
  * Communities and their relationship with film festivals
  * Film festivals as public and counter-public spaces
  * Collective viewing practices,
  * Film festivals and audience dynamics in the era of digital platforms
  * Online film festivals and audience
  * New cinemas, film discoveries, and audience
  * Audiences of small-scale or thematic film festivals
  * Festival films and their audiences
  * Film festivals, national cinemas, and audience
  * The red/green carpet experience and its audience
  * Film festivals and celebrity culture
  * Film festivals and cine-tourism

The 4^th Film Festivals Symposium, while focusing on the main theme of 
"The Audiences of Film Festivals," is also open to papers that explore 
both empirical and theoretical approaches, offering interdisciplinary 
perspectives on the following topics:

  * The history and writing of film festivals
  * Methodology in film festival studies
  * Juries and awards
  * Programming and curation
  * The relationship between film festivals and national cinema, and the
    cinema canon
  * Approaches to short films at film festivals (fiction, documentary,
    animation, experimental)
  * The funding of film festivals
  * Sustainability in film festivals
  * The global festival cycle and the film market
  * Thematic film festivals
  * Transnational film festivals

The findings of the TÜBİTAK 1001 121K234 project titled "/Film Festivals 
in Turkey: Structure, Economy, Organization, Audience Profile (The Case 
of Antalya, Adana, Istanbul, and Ankara Film Festivals)/" will also be 
presented in a panel at the symposium. The symposium, which will feature 
papers investigating film festivals from historical, economic, and 
theoretical perspectives, is expected to provide a platform for academic 
discourse in this field. In this context, we believe there is a need for 
greater collaboration between academics, industry professionals, and 
festival organizers. The symposium is open to academics, festival 
workers, film critics, and film industry professionals.
The symposium will be conducted in both Turkish and English. It will be 
held in person during the festival.

**

For resources on film festival studies, please refer to the Film 
Festival Research Network (FFRN), developed by Skadi Loist and Marijke 
de Valck:

http://www.filmfestivalresearch.org <http://www.filmfestivalresearch.org>.

*Attendees are responsible for their own travel and accommodation 
expenses*. Transportation details, a list of recommended hotels, and 
information on additional events will be published on the symposium website.

**

For inquiries, you can contact us at *(infoscreenfest /at/ gmail.com) 
<mailto:(infoscreenfest /at/ gmail.com)>*.

Follow Us on Social Media:

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@filmfestivalsym

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