The Sports Film: Games and the Cultural Politics of Embodiment in Cinema
The Sports Film: Games and the Cultural Politics of Embodiment in Cinema
Directorate of the Institute of Film and Media Studies
First Published: Thursday, May 1, 2025
Last Update: Monday, May 5, 2025
Boğaziçi University’s Institute of Film and Media Studies is delighted to present its May 2025 film screening program: “The Sports Film: Games and the Cultural Politics of Embodiment in Cinema.” This thoughtfully curated series explores the rich terrain of the sports film genre, examining how cinema engages with physicality, identity, and sociocultural narratives through the lens of sport.
Although sports films often feature a wide range of athletic disciplines at their core, their enduring appeal lies in the allegorical function of sport—serving as a stage for broader explorations of personal struggle, collective identity, and cultural meaning. Since the genre’s silent film origins in the early 1900s, it has expanded into a diverse array of subgenres, including sports dramas, comedies, and biopics. Recurring themes such as rivalry, resilience, injustice, and redemption allow these films to transcend traditional fandom and speak to universal human experiences.
The May program features a compelling selection of award-winning and critically acclaimed titles that span numerous sporting categories—football, rugby, basketball, baseball, volleyball, tennis, swimming, boxing, wrestling, long-distance running, cycling, ice skating, and motorsport. Each film offers a distinct perspective on how bodies in motion, game structures, and cinematic storytelling converge to reflect and shape our understanding of achievement, failure, and social belonging.
Screenings will take place throughout the month, showcasing works from a range of eras and cultural contexts. From the psychological depth of Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull (1980) to the spirited optimism of Love and Basketball (2000), the lineup invites audiences to reflect on sport not merely as spectacle but as a complex cultural metaphor. Highlights include The Swimmers (2022), which intertwines refugee narratives with competitive swimming; The Damned United (2009), a sharp portrait of ambition in English football; The Wrestler (2008), a study of physical decline and personal reinvention; and Offside (2006), a poignant critique of gender exclusion in Iranian sports spaces.
The program also bridges cinematic history and contemporary relevance, pairing classics such as The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962) and Breaking Away (1979) with modern favorites like Borg vs. McEnroe (2017) and The Miracle Season (2018). Together, these films not only illuminate the aesthetic and narrative diversity of the sports genre but also offer viewers a dynamic exploration of the political and personal stakes embedded in the act of playing—and watching—games.
Mon, May 5, 2025, 18:00
The Damned United (Tom Hooper, 2009)
Tue, May 6, 2025, 18:00
Rush (Ron Howard, 2013)
Wed, May 7, 2025, 18:00
Raging Bull (Martin Scorsese, 1980)
Thu, May 8, 2025, 18:00
The Swimmers (Sally El Hosaini, 2022)
Fri, May 9, 2025, 18:00
Love and Basketball (Gina Prince-Bythewood, 2000)
Mon, May 12, 2025, 18:00
Moneyball (Bennett Miller, 2011)
Tue, May 13, 2025, 18:00
Borg vs. McEnroe | Borg McEnroe (Janus Metz Pedersen, 2017)
Wed, May 14, 2025, 18:00
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (Tony Richardson, 1962)
Thu, May 15, 2025, 18:00
The Wrestler (Darren Aronofsky, 2008)
Fri, May 16, 2025, 18:00
The Miracle Season (Sean McNamara, 2018)
Tue, May 20, 2025, 18:00
I, Tonya (Craig Gillespie, 2017)
Wed, May 21, 2025, 18:00
Offside | Afsaid (Jafar Panahi, 2006)
Tue, May 27, 2025, 18:00
Breaking Away (Peter Yates, 1979)
Wed, May 28, 2025, 18:00
This Sporting Life (Lindsay Anderson, 1963)
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Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu & Fri
18:00
Mithat Alam Hall (Open: Monday to Friday, 9:00–21:00)
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For Students (Open to External Students)
Free Admission (Registration Required for Each Event)
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Follow us on Instagram @ifms.filmscreenings for weekly event registration forms and updates.
For questions or further information, contact us at filmscreenings@bogazici.edu.tr
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Copyright & Fair Use Disclaimer: The film screenings at the IFMS Mithat Alam Hall on our university campus are conducted exclusively for educational purposes, with no commercial intent. This educational use complies with the “fair use” provisions established under national and international copyright laws and treaties. Both domestic and international laws governing copyright exceptions for education and research—including the Turkish Copyright Law (The Intellectual and Artistic Works Act 1951, No. 5846, Article 33), the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (Article 10/2), the TRIPS Agreement (Article 13), the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT, Article 10), and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT, Article 16)—explicitly permit the screening of cinematic works within educational institutions, provided there is no financial gain involved. Our screenings are strictly for educational purposes and fully adhere to these legal frameworks. Admission is free of charge and open exclusively to students. However, external attendees may also join, provided they present a valid student ID card at the South Campus entrance. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding in maintaining the educational integrity of these screenings.
Etkinlik Başlığı:
The Sports Film: Games and the Cultural Politics of Embodiment in Cinema
Etkinlik Türü:
Aylık Film Gösterim Programı
Yer:
Mithat Alam Hall, Güney Kampüs
Tarih ve Saat:
Pazartesi, Mayıs 5, 2025 - 18:00
