University of Nottingham Ningbo China, June 4-6, 2026
Deadline for submissions: March 1, 2026 – APPLY HERE.
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 gamble. 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 solidarity and creativity? 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 https://forms.office.com/r/LCusR2E5ZU.
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@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.