On Saturday, November 4, 2023, at 12:00 PM, at Doc Cafe in Kalamata, the book presentation of “The Third Way in Cinema: The Academic Filmmaker Model” by Dr. Iakovos Panagopoulos (Assistant Professor at the Department of Audio and Visual Arts) took place as part of the 9th Peloponnisos International Documentary Festival. The book was presented by filmmaker and director of the publishing house Aigokeros, Giannis Soldatos, and filmmaker and academic, Emeritus Professor Erik Knudsen. The book is published by Papazisis Publications.
Summary
Although there are many books exploring the journey of commercial filmmakers, offering advice and guidance, and just as many on independent filmmakers, navigating the challenging path of independence, very few delve into the third way. Dr. Panagopoulos seeks to integrate filmmakers into the language and purpose of research and demonstrates how the practice of filmmaking can provide creative research methodologies, leading to new insights that impact not only film production and cinema but also other interdisciplinary fields.
The book explores what it means to be both an academic teacher and a filmmaker, and how these two roles inspire one another, thereby expanding our understanding of filmmaking and teaching.
Consequently, The Third Way in Cinema offers a much-needed exploration of a relatively new type of academic filmmaker who is poised to play an increasingly significant role in the evolution of filmmaking and cinema. This third way, as articulated, represents a less-traveled path, as inspired by Frost’s poem from 1916.
Summary by Professor Erik Knudsen