“Summer cinemas, which were located in small neighborhoods during the Yeşilçam period and attracted audiences of all ages and social classes, disappeared due to the spread of television and urban transformation. "With their non-hierarchical seating arrangements, low ticket prices, and cheap food and beverages, summer cinemas were democratic urban spaces where all social classes could experience watching movies in a peaceful environment."

Sezen Kayhan, one of the researchers supported by Salt Research Funds in 2017, will discuss the history of summer cinemas in Istanbul in her speech titled "Istanbul's Summer Cinemas from Yeşilçam to the Present". It will focus on the change of these cinemas, which are located in luxury venues appealing to the upper-middle class, apart from the events organized by municipalities, from 1950 to the present day and their relationship with urban transformation in Istanbul.

The program, which will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, November 14 at 18.30, is open to everyone and free of charge. To participate, you must register from this link .

Sezen Kayhan completed her undergraduate studies at Bilkent University, Department of Archeology and Art History, her master's degree at Bahçeşehir University, Department of Cinema and Television, and her doctorate at Universiteit Antwerpen and Koç University Film Studies and Visual Culture Joint Doctoral Program. He worked in the art, production and direction departments of various films and documentaries in Turkey, Italy, Germany and America. His short films Time for Plum (2012), Elene (2016) and A Hard Day in the Empire (2018) were screened at many national and international festivals, including Tribeca, BFI London, Palm Springs, Golden Orange and Golden Boll Film Festival; received awards. He continues his work as a postdoctoral researcher at Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany.

More information on the event can be found here.