[spectre] CFP & Videoessays: Besides the Screen Ningbo 2026 (due Mar 1)

[Gabriel Menotti]

*CFP: Besides the Screen Ningbo 2026: Audiences, Subjects & Agents*
University of Nottingham Ningbo China, June 4-6, 2026

- Deadline for submissions Mar 1, 2026
- Apply at https://forms.office.com/r/LCusR2E5ZU

In 2026, the Besides the Screen conference returns to the city of Ningbo to
explore the ways audiences, subjects and agents are distributed and
negotiated across borders – whether institutional, spatial, linguistic or
technological.

This year’s conference begins from the premise that the concept of
the passive media audience has always been a myth. Nowadays, it would be
difficult to find a situation where viewers are not doing anything, even if
it is just scrolling on their phones during a streaming marathon. Novel
media forms are teeming with opportunities to participate, interact, share
with our friends, and likely place a bet. Audience reactions have become a
popular genre in itself and just look at all the chaos fans make at movie
theatre sing-alongs. Can these be spaces of resistance and emancipation?
The same technologies that empower amateur filmmakers and influencers
make each user a potential promotional node to be mobilized. If most
internet traffic is automated, does it even matter if the content is
tailored for bots and search engine optimization?

We invite contributions that reflect upon the many audiences, subjects, and
agents that make the media, culture, and creative industries and associated
artforms. What has been the impact of technological advancements on
audiences, and how are they in turn impacting the creative industries? What
new subjects and agents have emerged from these developments, and how are
they transforming audiovisual practices?

Related research areas include:

   - Cultural and Creative Industries
   - Film, TV, and Screen Studies
   - Game Studies
   - Digital Humanities and Emerging Technologies
   - New media, Contemporary, and Performance Arts

The conference is open to both *short papers* and *films/video essays* (up
to 20 minutes). Submissions should be made through the online form
available at besidesthescreen.com.

*Paper proposals* require title, 3-5 keywords, abstract (300 words max),
and a short author affiliation/bio (200 words max). *Short film/video
essays* *proposals* require title, link (with password if required), 3-5
keywords, synopsis or artist statement (300 words max), and a short author
affiliation/bio (200 words max)

Submission deadline: *March 1, 2026*. We will accept submissions up to
midnight in the proponent’s time zone. Selected participants will be
notified in Mid-March.

If you experience any issues with the submission form, please email
besidesthescreen at gmail.com with the email header *NINGBO26 –Submission
issue*. Please note: *email submissions will not be accepted*.

Besides the Screen Ningbo 2026 is organized by Dr. Corey Schultz (UNNC),
Dr. Virginia Crisp (King’s College London), and Dr. Gabriel Menotti
(Queen’s University). The conference is funded by the University of
Nottingham Ningbo China’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Conference and
Event Organising Support Scheme, and supported by the Social Sciences and
Humanities Research Council of Canada.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://post.in-mind.de/pipermail/spectre/attachments/20260115/6140d65f/attachment.html>