Johannes Binotto

Johannes Binotto is Professor of Film and Media Theory at the Lucerne School of Design, Film, and Art (part of Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts) and concurrently teaches at the University of Zurich's English Department. Born in 1977, he completed his academic training at the University of Zurich where he earned his doctorate with the 2013 publication 'TAT/ORT. The Uncanny and Its Space in Culture' examining spatial phenomena across visual arts, literature, and film.

His educational background includes:

• Undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Zurich
• Doctorate from the University of Zurich (2013)
• Visiting professorship at University of Basel's Department of Media Studies

Binotto's research explores the intersections of film theory, media technology, and psychoanalysis with pioneering work positioning video essays as legitimate academic research methodology. His investigations into how cinematic techniques shape perception have established him as a leading figure in videographic scholarship. He examines how film technology functions as both subject and tool of inquiry, with particular focus on embodied cognition and sensory experience in cinematic contexts.

His extensive 2024 output features 24 video essays and multiple publications demonstrating his commitment to advancing videographic research as scholarly practice. These works collectively explore perception, embodiment, and cinematic techniques through creative experimentation that challenges traditional academic boundaries.

His major recognitions include:

• 2024 Swiss Competition Videoex First Prize for 'Gestures of Thought: Scratch'
• 2023 Adelio Ferrero Cinema e Critica Festival First Prize for 'Practices of Viewing: Dubbing'
• 2022 Best Video Essays of 2021 recognition for Most Mentions
• 2018 Karsten Witte Prize for best film studies essay
• 2011 University of Zurich Annual Prize for his dissertation

Binotto coordinates PhD programs at the University of Zurich while leading two major research initiatives: 'Means of Disfigurement: Toward a Poetics of Film Technology' (postdoctoral thesis) and 'Video Essay Research' (videoessayresearch.org). His work bridges theoretical film studies with practical filmmaking, establishing video essays as valid academic research tools that transform how film scholars analyze and communicate their findings. As both an experimental filmmaker and academic, he demonstrates how creative practice can generate theoretical insights through embodied research methods.

He maintains active leadership in the field through conference presentations worldwide, including recent appearances at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Schloss Herrenhausen in Hannover, and Paxmontana, where he explores videographic methodology's potential to revolutionize film scholarship and pedagogy.