Masterclass — Darren Aronofsky in Conversation with Kendell Geers

On cinema, symbolism, and the architecture of obsession.

From Pi to The Fountain to Black Swan, Darren Aronofsky has built one of the most singular bodies of work in contemporary cinema, a filmography of formal restlessness and ferocious experimentation, populated by characters caught in cycles of obsession, faith and reinvention.

Emerging from the New York independent scene, his cinema is one of radical interiority: the camera lives inside its characters, inside their tension and contradiction, inside worlds they cannot escape.

In conversation with the artist Kendell Geers — whose own practice interrogates belief, symbolism and the systems by which we make meaning — Aronofsky will reflect on his trajectory as a filmmaker and the evolution of his cinematic language. The dialogue will trace the traditions that have shaped his vision: surrealism, tarot, Kabbalah, and the unsettled territory of artificial intelligence.

A rare opportunity to hear, in person, one of the defining filmmakers of his generation

This Brussels masterclass marks the pre-launch of NewFrames International Film Festival of Advocacy — ahead of its first full edition in Spring 2027.

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Event Exclusive to TheMerode Members

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About Darren Aronofsky

Darren Aronofsky is the award-winning filmmaker born and raised in Brooklyn. Aronofsky founded Protozoa based in Chinatown NYC. His credits include Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, The Wrestler, Black Swan, Noah, Mother!, The Whale, The Sphere Experience Postcard from Earth and, most recently, Caught Stealing. As a producer his credits include Jackie, The Fighter, The Good Nurse, Some kind of Heaven, Viktor, Holding Liat, Peabody and Emmy-winning The Territory, National Geographic's Limitless, starring Chris Hemsworth, Welcome to Earth, One Strange Rock, and Pole to Pole starring Will Smith. In 2023, Aronofsky founded Primordial Soup, a tech & story company shaping the future of storytelling.

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About Kendell Geers

Kendell Geers is a contemporary artist. His work confronts universal themes of love, resilience, and hope, driven by his belief that the act of making art is what defines humanity itself. In times of social crisis and political extremism, his work challenges audiences to consider how art can build bridges and restore a sense of shared humanity. Extending this vision, Geers hosts the Art Matters tables at TheMerode. Bringing together performance, philosophical inquiry, and community engagement, Art Matters embodies his conviction that art is not a passive pursuit but an active force for change. At its heart lies the idea that art changes the world, one perception at a time.

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