Call for Proposals:

IFM 20256: 8th Interactive Film and Media Annual Conference
June 9-12, 2025
Via Zoom
https://journals.library.torontomu.ca/index.php/InteractiveFilmMedia/cfp
http://commlist.org/archive/all/2025-all/msg01843.html

Deadline for submissions: Monday, January 19, 2026 (extended)

The 8th Interactive Film and Media Conference is excited to announce its Call for Proposals centered around the provocative and multifaceted theme of “Yet-To-Be-Known.”

We live in trying times. Cascading crises—from climate collapse to social injustice to political upheaval—mean that uncertainty is a defining condition of our moment. But we need not see the horizons before us as insurmountable. Interactive Film and Media invites proposals for its eighth conference that engage with the yet-to-be-known. Here, the yet-to-be-known is interpreted as a space of speculative inquiry and creative possibility. We ask: How might we reimagine knowledge, practice, and being in ways that embrace the indeterminacy we now face? How might we work together to harness the potentials of the here-and-now in order to anticipate new futures?

We seek proposals that explore the speculative as method, as critique, and as world-making gesture; we seek contributions that foreground the emergent, the unstable, and the transformative. Topics might include speculative ecologies, more-than-human ethics, radical pedagogies, future imaginaries of care, experimental archives, and technologies of resistance. Together, let us consider how the yet-to-be-known might become a site of collective imagination and critical intervention.

FULL FREE ADMISSION:

No fee is charged for presentation and attendance at this conference or publication in the journal.

COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVITY AND EQUITY:

At IFM, we are deeply committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and accessible environment.We prioritize inclusive accessibility and parity for protected identities including gender, ethnicity, race, and sexual orientation. Get familiar with Our Commitments.

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS

We invite academics (faculty, researchers, and Ph.D. students) from a range of disciplines—including media, communication, film, digital studies, visual arts, and beyond—along with practitioners such as filmmakers, artists, VR and game designers, and media producers to submit their proposals for papers, research-creation projects, and new book presentations. While proposals that align with this year’s theme are encouraged, we welcome any topics that resonate with the IFM community and its broad intellectual and creative spectrum.

KEY AREAS:

1. Digital theory: history of digital media, intermediality, transmedia storytelling, multimedia
2. Digital humanities: e-literature (e-Lit), fan fiction, remix culture, web serials, e-Learning
3. Interactive film: documentary, fiction, animation, experimental
4. Interactive platforms: teleconference, streaming, mobile screens, virtual museums, multimedia installations
5. Interactive media: webseries, digital news, snack media, ecomedia, social media
6. Games: storytelling, educational games, docugames, serious games, games for change
7. VR (Virtual Reality) / AR (Augmented Reality): immersion, alternative environments and realities, interfaces
8. Database and Big data: digital archiving, politics and ethics, metadata

PAPER ABSTRACT SUBMISSION:

To submit your abstract (500 words long, including the research objectives, theoretical framework, methodology, and hypotheses) and a brief Bio-CV (150-200 words), please download the application form here: IFM2026 Paper Presentation Form and submit it to the section ‘conference paper abstract’ at the #IFM Journal’s Submissions system by the deadline.

RESEARCH CREATION SUBMISSION:

For research creation and artist/collective project presentation proposals, complete the form, including description, research objectives, theoretical framework and methodology, and a brief Bio-CV (150-200 words). Please download the application form here: IFM2026 Research Creation Form and submit it to the section ‘research creation presentation’ at the #IFM Journal’s Submissions system by the deadline.

NEW BOOK SUBMISSION:

To take part in the book session, where you can showcase your new release and participate in the publication roundtable during the conference, please complete the form with a brief Bio-CV (150-200 words). Visit the website for more details on this session. Please download the application form here: IFM2026 Book Presentation Form and submit it to the section ‘book presentation’ at the #IFM Journal’s Submissions system by the deadline.

Join the #IFM list to stay updated on deadlines and discover our community’s latest initiatives.

INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE FACILITATORS (TBA):

The Interactive Dialogue Sessions, conceived by Professor Patty Zimmermann, are crafted to foster participant engagement through focused daily discussions centered around one of the conference themes. Each day, a prominent scholar or practitioner will lead the discussions, bringing diverse perspectives and insights. These sessions will also provide an opportunity for participants to share their views and profiles, setting the stage for dynamic and meaningful exchanges and networking.

ORGANIZING & SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

Hudson MOURA, Chair (Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada)
Heidi Rae COOLEY (The University of Texas at Dallas, USA)
Stefano ODORICO (Technological University of the Shannon, Ireland)
Dale HUDSON (New York University Abu-Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)
Leah SHAFER (Hobart and William Smith, USA)
Marta FIOLIC (NOVA University of Lisbon, Portugal)
Il Sun MOON (Kingston University, UK)
Logan ACTON (The University of Texas at Dallas, USA)
Sonali SHARMA (Jamia Millia Islamia University, India)
Ar DUCAO (NYU/MIT, USA)

Designs by Darius Shah and Anika Vielhauer

Join the  #IFM list to stay updated on deadlines and discover our community’s latest initiatives.

Volunteer opportunities:  Conference Volunteer Opportunities Sign-up Form

Website: https://journals.library.torontomu.ca/index.php/InteractiveFilmMedia/IFM2026

CONTACT

Contact email: ifmjournal@torontomu.ca | interactivefilmconference@gmail.com