Abstract
This research explores the contemporary landscape of Kurdish cinema within the Turkish film industry, emphasizing alternative production and distribution strategies that have emerged over the past decade. As part of my doctoral research, this study investigates how Kurdish filmmakers use these strategies to resist state censorship and counter the authoritarian cultural policies of the Turkish state. By facilitating the dissemination of Kurdish content on platforms such as YouTube, these filmmakers challenge the hegemonic filmic and cultural forms imposed by the state, carving out spaces for decolonial expression and cultural resistance. The research examines critical factors such as production support deficiencies, the consolidation of distribution channels, and the impact of Turkish state language policies. These elements collectively form a complex web of sociopolitical constraints that shape Kurdish cinematic narratives and productions on digital streaming platforms. The emergence of Kurdish content on YouTube serves as a critical lens through which to analyze the intersection of creative endeavors and sociopolitical dynamics, revealing how digital platforms can circumvent traditional censorship mechanisms. This paper concludes with a comprehensive discussion on the impact of these dynamics on Kurdish cinema, bridging the gap between production, distribution, and reception. By highlighting the resistance embodied in Kurdish filmmakers’ use of emerging alternative distribution methods, this study aligns with the thematic focus of decolonial practices in world cinemas of resistance, demonstrating how Kurdish filmmakers navigate and subvert censorship to maintain cultural and political agency.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
MEDIA CULTURES, KURDISH CINEMA, DIGITAL RESISTANCE, STREAMING PLATFORMS
