Robin Vanbesien successfully defended his artistic doctoral study, Ciné Place-Making (2018–2024). The research traced cinematic approaches to place-making within grassroots initiatives, networks, and social movements that resist oppressive spaces shaped by colonial racial capitalism.

Vanbesien investigated how cinema can emerge as a collaborative practice that foregrounds connection, collective desire, and situated imaginaries, rather than reinforcing dominant meanings. He proposed ciné place-making as a method to rehearse social assemblies, reclaim collective intensity, and envision more livable futures.

The study encompassed three artistic projects—the wasp and the weather (2018–2020), ciné assemblies with The Post Film Collective (2020–2023), and Holding Rehearsals (2021–2024)—resulting in films and video-installations, as well as workshops, performances, study circles, assemblies, and archival practices that extended the work beyond the screen.