Diyarbakır is preparing to host a major international event in the field of cinema and media between September 3–5, 2025, organized in collaboration with Istanbul Gelisim University and Dicle University. The first-ever SineAkademi International Cinema and Media Studies Congress (SineMed), hosted by Dicle University and academically supported by Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU), and with the backing of numerous institutions, aims to bring together culture, art, and academia in Diyarbakır. Held at Dicle University’s 15 July Congress and Culture Center, the congress is set to create a cultural breeze in the city with a wide-ranging program that includes academic presentations, film screenings, director talks, and workshops.
Although it is being organized for the first time, the congress has already received over 50 paper submissions from all over Turkey, with around 40 of these selected for presentation by the Scientific Committee. Covering a broad academic spectrum including cinema, media, communication, digital culture, and new media technologies, these presentations enhance both the scientific and sectoral value of the congress.
The congress will be held in a hybrid format, enabling participation from those physically present in Diyarbakır as well as academics joining online. This format aims to transform SineMed from a conventional congress into an internationally accessible and inclusive platform.
One of the standout aspects of SineMed is its emphasis on strengthening public engagement through artistic and practical events beyond academic content. For three days, open-air film screenings will take place across Diyarbakır, followed by talks with the directors. In addition to these talks, drone shooting workshops—expected to attract particular interest from young people—will offer participants from various fields practical insights into the filmmaking process. A panel themed around “Family” and several communication-focused workshops are also among the events that reinforce the congress’s social dimension.
Congress Organizing Committee Chair Assoc. Prof. Zuhal Akmeşe emphasizes that this event is much more than a temporary organization. According to her, SineMed is a strategic step toward creating a sustainable cultural-artistic and academic platform in Diyarbakır. In line with this goal, a multi-layered collaboration model involving not only academic circles but also public institutions, local administrations, and NGOs is being implemented. To ensure this strategic initiative is strongly reflected on the ground, congress coordinators Asst. Prof. Bülent Deyirmenci, Deputy Director of IGU Public Relations and Promotion Department Lecturer Ahmet Bikiç, and Ahmet Cemal Yakut are playing active roles in establishing a sustainable vision for culture and the arts.
Sponsorship support plays a significant role in making SineMed a reality. In this context, One Way Board Chairman Sabahattin Akman and METOSAD Association President Veysi Kaya, who also support the Dicle Documentary and Short Film Festival to be held in October, are among the key stakeholders contributing to the sustainability of the congress. Assoc. Prof. Akmeşe stated that these contributions are not only financial but also a sign of confidence in Diyarbakır’s cultural development process.
One of the key institutions behind the realization of SineMed is Istanbul Gelisim University, which stands out not only as a partner university but also as the backbone of the congress’s academic structure. IGU will participate in the congress with its expert academic staff in media and communication, contributing through presentations, panels, and workshops, while also helping to establish a strong cultural-academic bridge between Istanbul and Diyarbakır. This collaboration once again highlights the strategic role of universities in regional development.
SineMed is not just a congress; it is part of a vision to make Diyarbakır’s cultural and academic potential visible on an international level. Shaped with the support of a strong Scientific Committee and International Advisory Board, the event lays the groundwork for models that will contribute to the region’s long-term cultural development. Considering Diyarbakır’s cultural diversity, artistic production capacity, and young population, organizations like SineMed have the potential to solidify the city’s place on the cultural map.
As a multi-faceted cultural gathering, the congress invites art lovers, academics, students, and the people of Diyarbakır to attend. The detailed program and event schedule will be shared with the public in the coming days.
Created Date: : Tuesday, September 23, 2025
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