Call for Papers:

The Cinematography of Today Conference
June 24-26, 2026
Universidade Lusófona
Lisbon, Portugal
https://cinematographyinprogress.com/index.php/cito/announcement/view/32

Deadline for submission of abstracts: March 24, 2026

The Cinematography of Today conference invites scholars, educators, researchers, and practitioners to explore the evolving art, craft, and theory of cinematography. This three-day event seeks to foster dialogue between academic research and professional practice, addressing the aesthetic, technical, educational, and ethical dimensions that shape contemporary image-making.

As digital and analog practices, immersive technologies, and artificial intelligence redefine the cinematographic landscape, this conference offers a space for reflection, experimentation, and exchange among cinematographers, educators, students, and researchers from around the world.

TOPICS OF INTEREST

We welcome proposals for academic papers, practice-based research presentations, case studies, and roundtable discussions on (but not limited to) the following topics:

I. Cinematography as Art and Practice

• Cinematographer as author: shaping meaning, perception, and audience subjectivity.
• Gaze, power, and identity in visual storytelling.
• Embodiment and movement in cinematic space.
• Collaborative authorship and case studies: director/ cinematographer dynamics.

II. Technology, Innovation, and Materiality

• Evolution of cameras, lenses, and lighting as creative tools.
• LED studios, virtual production, and immersive environments.
• AI, CGI, and ethical considerations in posthuman visuality.
• Color science, psychology, and perceptual impact.
• Analogue processes and slow cinema aesthetics.
• Sustainable and eco-conscious production practices.

III. Education, Methodology, and Ethics

• Pedagogical approaches and fostering creativity in cinematography.
• Student projects, theses, and practice-based research projects.
• Professional ethics, labor, and working conditions.
• Inclusion, diversity, and gender in film education and industry.
• Mentorship and intergenerational knowledge transfer.

IV. History, Archives, and Research

• History of cinematography and the evolving role of the cinematographer.
• Archives, preservation, and cinematic memory.
• Scholarship connecting theory and practice.
• Practice-based, autoethnographic, and collaborative methodologies.
• Community-based filmmaking and participatory visual practices.
• Neuroscience and perception in cinematography.
• Film studies perspectives on cinematic language and spectatorship.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Abstract length: 300–500 words
Submission format: PDF or Word document, including title, author(s), institutional affiliation(s), and email.

Language: English (Portuguese or Spanish submissions are also accepted).

Optional: Include up to 3 images, or videos if relevant to practice-based research

KEY DATES

Abstract Submission Deadline: March 24, 2026
Notification of Acceptance: April 24, 2026
Registration Deadline: May 24, 2026
Conference Dates: June 24–26, 2026
Final Paper Submission for Conference Book: July 24, 2026

FORMAT

Presentations may take the form of: 20-minute paper presentations of Practice-based demonstrations, roundtable or panel discussions.

PUBLICATION

Selected papers and projects will be included in the conference proceedings and a peer-reviewed book of essays, Cinematography of Today, to be published following the event.

SUBMISSION FEES:

Researchers with an accepted paper and presentation: €150.
General participants attending all three days: €150.

FREE ATTENDANCE FOR:

Members of the CITO Association [International Association for Cinematography Research] (enrolled for 2026)
Professors participating in the BIP program
Students

SUBMISSION:

Submission for papers and registration link

For case studies, roundtable discussions, or any questions about the process, please email: emilia.lloret@gmail.com