Sinema

Sinema refers to the art and industry of motion pictures, including the creation, distribution, and exhibition of films as well as the experience of watching them. In several languages—such as Turkish, Malay, Indonesian, and Filipino—the term sinema is used to denote cinema in general. Its English cognate cinema, as well as the word film, describe both the artistic medium and the commercial activities that produce and present films for audiences around the world.

Origins of cinema lie in late 19th-century experiments with motion, leading to the first short films and permanent films produced in studios. The early 20th century saw the rise of national and studio systems, the advent of synchronized sound in the late 1920s, and the development of color processes. Throughout the decades, Hollywood became a dominant industry while parallel cinemas emerged in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, each shaping distinct storytelling traditions.

Today, cinema encompasses theatrical exhibition, home viewing, and digital platforms. Advances in production and post-production—digital cameras, visual effects, and immersive sound—have lowered barriers to entry, enabling independent and international films to reach global audiences. Streaming services, film festivals, and online archives have transformed distribution and reception, while debates about piracy, preservation, and representation continue to influence the field.

Film analysis and criticism study cinema as art and communication, focusing on narrative structure, visual composition, editing, performance, and sound. Genres range from drama and comedy to documentary and experimental work. Sinema remains a dynamic mirror of society, reflecting cultural identities, technologies, and values across time and space.