The last Sight and Sound poll for the best film of all times shows that the place of Eastern European films in the global canons of films is rather modest, with only two films from this region (excluding Russia and the Soviet Union) made it into the first hundred. Daisies (1966) by Věra Chytilová in 28th place and Sátántangó (1994) by Béla Tarr in 78th place. While Eastern Europeans inevitably celebrate the success of these two films and their directors, the question can be asked why no more films from this region made into the first hundred? Is it, perhaps, because of Eastern European critics do not make enough effort about canonising their films or is there a mismatch between what the local audience regard as their classics and what is perceived as external observers?
Throughout this event, the organisers wish to shed light on the under-researched topic of the canons in Eastern European Cinemas and the contribution of Eastern European films to other film canons (European, global, political, feminist etc.).
Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- The formations of canons of Eastern European Cinema
- The importance of classics in Eastern European film histories and education
- National canons and their contribution to Eastern European canons
- The role of individual Eastern European directors and films in shaping of canons
- The place of diasporan and transnational directors in national canons and pan-Eastern European canons
- The place of Eastern European films in other film canons (global, feminist, political, genre-based).
The organisers invite abstracts for papers no longer than 15-20 minutes, and each panel will be followed by a discussion. We also welcome proposals for pre-constituted panels.
The online event will provide a platform for introducing your current research and exchange of ideas in a relaxed, collegial environment.
Please send proposals (max. 200 words) and short bio by April 15 to:
[email protected]
Ewa Mazierska, Laszlo Strausz and Lars Kristensen
