Sofie Benoot (research unit Intermedia) will defend her doctoral research in the Arts, titled

“Solid Ground, finding possible ways to incorporate the non-human into documentary stories in order to address the ecological crisis"

With this PhD ‘Solid Ground’ Sofie participated in current conversations amongst Essay documentary filmmakers about finding (documentary essay) film forms that can offer alternative ways of depicting ecological challenges. In doing so she joins a current movement that searches for ways to incorporate the non-human into documentary stories in order to be less anthropocentric and to rethink our relationship with this non-human world. Sofie tried to formulate ways, methods and forms of filmmaking that can offer new insights in this all encompassing crisis, by taking up this challenge. How can we adjust our way of cinematic storytelling and portraying the world around us that suit our times?

The members of the examination committee are:

• Dean prof. dr. Simon Van Damme (LUCA School of Arts/KU Leuven, chairman of the examination committee)
• Prof. dr. Roel Vande Winkel (supervisor, LUCA School of Arts/KU Leuven)
• Prof. dr. Pieter Vermeulen (co-supervisor, KU Leuven)
• Prof. dr. Tom Van Imschoot (LUCA School of Arts/KU Leuven)
• Prof. dr. Stéphane Symons (KU Leuven)
• Prof. dr. Isolde Vanhee (LUCA School of Arts/KU Leuven)
• Johan Grimonprez (video artist, director)
• Viera Čákanyová (director)

The doctoral defense will take place in English on Tuesday July 2 at 13:00 CEST at LUCA School of Arts, Paleizenstraat 70, 1030 Schaerbeek.

From 15:30 P.M., you are invited to a reception. You can attend the defense by purchasing a free ticket here.