News

Interactive storytelling has become a cornerstone of modern narrative forms, reshaping the processes by which stories are crafted and experienced. Building on the discussions and insights from last year’s conference seminar, this year’s Interactive Storytelling Seminar seeks to delve deeper into the concept of interactivity while addressing the challenges of archiving digital culture and preserving interactive projects. This seminar will emphasize the need for innovative methodologies and critical frameworks to sustain these narrative forms for future scholarship and engagement.

Seminar Overview:

This seminar will explore the transformative potential of interactive narratives and the challenges inherent in archiving digital culture. We invite scholars and practitioners from diverse fields, including literature, communication, film, digital media, gaming, and cultural studies, to participate in a comprehensive dialogue around the following key themes:

1. The Notion of Interactivity:
   • Reevaluate traditional concepts of interactivity, moving beyond user-computer interfaces to explore more nuanced interactive dynamics.
   • Address how meaningful interactive experiences can enhance narratives and gameplay.
   • Explore various forms of interactivity, from physical installations to digital platforms that offer narrative superposition and user agency.
2. Archiving Digital Culture:
   • Investigate the challenges and methodologies involved in preserving interactive media.
   • Examine the preservation of virtual reality experiences, multimedia installations, software, interactive fiction, and video game narratives.
   • Highlight the need for innovative solutions to maintain these media’s interactive and experiential qualities for future research and accessibility.

Call for Paper Presentations:

We invite participants to submit paper presentation proposals that engage with the seminar’s themes, focusing on interactive elements in novels, films, comic books, games, digital platforms, or other narrative forms. Proposals should demonstrate critical engagement with the seminar’s core themes and contribute to a deeper understanding of interactive storytelling and the complexities of digital archiving. Submissions on related topics will also be considered. Possible areas of focus include but are not limited to:

• Novels and reader engagement
• Interactive mechanisms in comic books
• The history of interactive storytelling
• Hypertext literature and non-linear storytelling
• Video games and interactive films
• Immersive storytelling in virtual and augmented reality

Submission Details:

• Proposal Length: 300 words
• Keywords: Include four relevant keywords with your proposal.
• Submission Deadline: October 14, 2024
• Submission Link: https://www.acla.org/interactive-narratives-rethinking-interactivity-and-digital-archiving

This interdisciplinary seminar and book welcomes proposals from scholars in Comparative Literature, Communication and Media Studies, Philosophy, Film and Game Studies, Digital Humanities, Cultural Studies, and Interactive Design.

Publication Opportunity (Edited Volume): 

In addition to presenting their papers at the seminar, contributors will be invited to submit their work for inclusion in a forthcoming edited volume to be published by Routledge. This book will focus on interactive narratives and storytelling, allowing participants to develop their papers further and contribute to a much-anticipated collection that unites essential theoretical discussions and critical perspectives in one cohesive volume. This edited volume aims to serve as a key resource in interactivity for film and media studies, providing valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of interactive storytelling. Submission for the volume is separate from the conference presentation, and inclusion will be subject to peer review.

Contact Information:

Hudson Moura ([email protected])
ACLA 2025 Annual Meeting.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: #IFM2025 Resonances Conference

Interactive Film and Media Annual Conference

June 10-13, 2025, via Zoom

Deadline: Monday, November 25th

The 7th Interactive Film and Media Conference is excited to announce its Call for Proposals centered around the captivating and multifaceted theme of “Resonances.”

Resonance is the ability to form deep, meaningful connections that provoke thoughts, evoke emotions, and stimulate the senses through personal images and memories, often drawing on an individual or community’s lived experiences. This concept is intrinsically linked to the dailiness of our lives—our routine encounters and personal interactions that shape our subjective cognitions and the associations we form with others. In our contemporary society, the increasing pace of life challenges our ability to engage in deep, interpersonal connections, leading to a decline in the meaningfulness of our communications. Yet, through these daily interactions, resonance finds its most potent expression. 

Interactive film and media offer a unique lens through which we can confront our world, contemplate the nature of our relationships, and carefully observe its intricacies. Resonance is not just about aligning with the context, content, and audience but also about listening and connecting on a level that acknowledges the everyday rhythms that bind us. As we reflect on the type of experiences we engender each day, we must explore how we can foster profound and substantial connections with our peers. What kind of day are we creating, what kind of web of relationships can we construct, and how can we resonate together as vibrant matter? Resonance, imagined through the prism of dailiness, invites us to consider whether and why stories produced and shared may align (or not) with the predispositions of the intended audience and what other dimensions of cultural and social resonance may serve as sites of reflection. Does resonance in our daily lives solve problems, aggravate them, or generate new issues? How can we reimagine resonance to build more meaningful connections in the fabric of our everyday existence, and how can these connections influence our responses to crises, foster resilience, nurture solidarities, and strengthen collective actions?

Response: Amidst crises—war, environmental degradation, inequity—our future remains unstable, and our lives are often uncontrollable. The challenge lies in forming a thoughtful response. How do we decide our stance, choose between hope and despair, and navigate the balance between being reactive and responsive? How does one respond?

Resilience: Engaged media work demands resilience to confront the chaos and cruelty of the 21st century. How do we sustain vision, adapt to new processes, and build resilient media practices? Can resilience be a form of resistance and build multi-vocal communities, and what structures support this effort?

Solidarities: Globalization’s impacts are felt in environmental, economic, and cultural arenas, often perpetuating stereotypes and Western dominance. How can we create solidarities across social differences that challenge these narratives? How can grassroots movements replace institutional discourses, fostering discomforting yet necessary change?

Collective: In a divided, isolated society, yet one that is hyper-connected, collective action is essential. How can collective activities and a sense of belonging deepen our shared experiences? What media practices can cultivate affective collectivity that challenges the status quo and fosters alternative futures?

The #IFM2025 Resonances Conference aligns with the core themes of meaningful connection, daily interactions, and the transformative role of media in shaping our understanding of the world. We are seeking submissions that critically engage with these themes, pushing the boundaries of traditional thought and practice to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing discourse in interactive film and media. 

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.

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 accessibility, gender parity, ethnic diversity, and LGBTQ+ inclusion in our work. We encourage applicants to align with these values and contribute to creating a welcoming and empowering space for all. 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: IFM2025 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 for each participant/author). Please download the application form here:  IFM2025 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

For those interested in participating in the book session to showcase their new book releases and the publication discussion workshop, please complete the form, including a description of your book and a brief Bio-CV (150-200 words for each author). Please download the application form here:  IFM2025 New Book Session Form and submit it to the section  ‘new book presentation’ at the #IFM Journal’s Submissions system by the deadline.

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)

Jenna Ng (University of York, UK)

Leah Shafer (Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 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 University, India)

Designs by Darius Shah and Anika Vielhauer

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

INTERACTIVE FILM AND MEDIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Contact email: [email protected] | [email protected]

SEMINAR

The Evolution of Interactivity in Storytelling: From Epistolary Novels to Digital Media

Day 1, Friday, March 15, 2024

Reconfiguring Realities: VR & Interactive Narratives in Documentary

Presenters: Ruohan Tang (University of Southampton, UK), Katy Morrison (Deakin University, Australia), Dorothy Santos (University of California Santa Cruz, USA), Broderick Fox (Occidental College, USA)

This panel explores the transformative impact of virtual reality and interactivity on documentary storytelling, delving into the evolving paradigms of spatial narratives, embodied interactions, and ethical concerns. Through various methodological lenses, it scrutinizes how these emerging technologies challenge traditional documentary forms, offering new dimensions of viewer engagement and narrative complexity, raising critical questions about presence, agency, and the complexities of representing ‘reality.’

Day 2, Saturday, March 16, 2024

Digital Narratives: Forms and Experiments Across Media

Presenters: Steffen Moestrup and Karsten Vestergaard (Danish School of Media and Journalism, Denmark), Jennifer Smith (North Central College, USA), Jonah Shallit (Johns Hopkins University, USA), Mitchell Gunn (University of Toronto, Canada)

This panel will examine the evolving landscape of narrative and storytelling in digital and interactive media, exploring everything from hands-on pedagogical models to literary experiments and technological obsolescence. Panellists will present empirical and analytical studies that unpack the complexities and opportunities of various forms, such as digital storytelling, social media, Adobe Flash, and experimental literature.

Day 3, Sunday, March 17, 2024

Intersections of Narrative and Interactivity: Unpacking Player Engagement in Video Games and Interactive Fiction

Presenters: Richard Joseph and Kayla Penteliuk (McGill University), Audrey Halley (Indiana University Bloomington, USA), Claire Carroll (University of Cambridge, UK)

This panel delves into the multi-layered interactivity and narrativity in video games and interactive fiction, exploring how player engagement intersects with storytelling mechanics and fan culture. It scrutinizes the implications of interactivity on narrative structures, from adaptations of feminist icons and classical myths to the affordances and limitations of choice in interactive fiction.

TALK

Culture of Hunger in Brazil:

From Glauber Rocha to Luis Inácio Lula da Silva

In the 1960s, Brazil’s Cinema Novo (New Cinema) proposed the decolonization of cinema. The “culture of hunger” emerged as aesthetic rupture and social criticism within it. Hunger was the nourishing force for revolutionary action in the arts. In 2003, hunger would become one of the symbols of the Left and President Lula’s administration. Did Cinema Novo’s prophetic ideas inspire Lula? What is the role of the “culture of hunger” in Brazilian culture? How does hunger become a significant factor for the independence of Brazilian culture? 

Revitalizing Cinema Novo’s manifesto and contemporary political discourse on “culture of hunger,” this communication aims to refashion the history of Brazil’s social-political aesthetics—to examine the complex hypertextual references and intersections between film and politics in Brazilian culture.

Presenter:
Hudson Moura, Ph.D., Lecturer, Politics and Public Administration, and Associate Member, Centre for Studies in Food Security, Ryerson University

Friday, April 23, 12:00 – 1:30 pm (EST) (13:00h – 14:30h Brasilia time) via Zoom
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/culture-of-hunger-in-brazil-tickets-150385889243