Cinematic Alliance: The Role of Cinema in German-Ottoman Relations

• Applicant: Dr. Enis Dinc
• Subject Area: Theatre and Media Studies
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 550179607

My research project has three main objectives: The primary objective of my research project is to shed light on the often-overlooked contributions of Germany to the development of cinema in the Ottoman Empire and the early Turkish Republic. While the cultural and artistic influences of French, Italian, and US-American cinema on Turkish film history have been acknowledged, the role of German cinema has been largely confined to propaganda efforts. Through a comprehensive analysis of German-Turkish collaborations, including joint productions, personnel exchanges, and the importation and distribution of German films in Turkey, this research aims to reveal the forgotten contributions of Germany to the early Turkish film industry. By exploring the full extent of Germany's involvement, my project seeks to provide new insights into the cultural, political, and economic dynamics of the time and present a more nuanced understanding of the cultural exchange between Germany and Turkey. The second objective of my research project is to challenge the nationalist bias that dominates Turkish film historiography, which often narrates the story of the emergence of "national cinema" in the last years of the Ottoman Empire from a Turkey-centred perspective. This narrow approach fails to consider the broader historical context and global interactions that shaped cinema culture in Turkey, leading to an incomplete and distorted understanding of its evolution. By providing a more comprehensive perspective, my project aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex and dynamic relationship between cinema in Turkey and the global cultural flows and historical processes that influenced its development. Furthermore, my project aims to enrich academic discourse by connecting Turkish-language research with global trends in film historiography. This initiative is particularly relevant for countering Turkey's increasing academic isolation due to rising nationalism and for encouraging dialogue with the broader international academic community. The third objective of my research project is to advance the fields of transnational film studies and new film history by demonstrating the limitations of analysing cinema cultures, such as "Turkish cinema" or "German cinema," solely within their national contexts. Instead, my project aims to highlight the importance of exploring the intricate relationships between national cinemas and the broader global context in which they are produced and consumed. Through detailed case studies and historical analyses, my project seeks to provide valuable insights into how cinema reflects and contributes to broader cultural, political, and economic discourses, both within and beyond national borders. By adopting a transcultural approach to the study of the history of Turkish and German cinemas, my project aims to expand our understanding of the hybridization and globalization of film cultures.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants