From Scrolling to Watching: ISI at Meetings on the Bridge, Istanbul
The International Screen Institute will take part in this year’s Meetings on the Bridge at the Istanbul Film Festival, contributing to the Cinema Talks programme with a conversation on the future of audience engagement.
On 15 April from 17:00 to 18:00 at the Yapı Kredi Culture Centre, Michael Frenschkowski, International Relations & Honorary Member of the International Screen Institute, will join Benjamin Cölle, Audience Designer at The Audience Design Lab and Pluto Film, for the session “From Scrolling to Watching: Reclaiming the Audience.” The discussion will be moderated by Deniz Şaşmaz Oflaz, Vice President of Local Original Productions, Local Channels and Streaming Operations for Turkey.
The session will explore how long-form cinema can respond to the realities of the attention economy. As viewing habits shift toward short-form and mobile-first content, the conversation will focus on how to reclaim fragmented attention and rebuild meaningful relationships with audiences. It will look at the rise of micro-dramas and vertical storytelling alongside more traditional cinematic forms, while also addressing the ongoing challenges facing independent cinema.
Bringing together perspectives from audience design, distribution, and production, the discussion will consider global trends and the resilience of different markets, particularly in Asia, to better understand how audiences can be re-engaged. It will also reflect on the growing importance of the experience economy and the need to rethink the role of cinemas as spaces for collective viewing and cultural exchange.
The session highlights the International Screen Institute’s continued commitment to audience design and innovation.
The talk is open to the public with free entry and no registration required. A networking event for accredited guests of Meetings on the Bridge will follow at Cupra Garage.