The Society for Cinema and Media Studies held its annual conference in Chicago from April 3-6, 2025, gathering over 3,000 members from 39 countries to engage in interdisciplinary discussions on film and related cultural phenomena. Attendees explored diverse topics, including AI, experimental film history, and activism, with prominent local scholars presenting alongside international voices. Workshops focused on important themes like DEAI in audiovisual projects. The conference also overlapped with significant protests against political figures, illustrating participants’ commitment to social issues alongside academic discourse.
This annual international conference always intrigues with its imaginative POV on film and film-like phenomenon in world culture, covering diverse topics from AI to film history.
A timely workshop was on 'DEAI Integration and Implementation: Approaching Collaboration in Audiovisual Archival Projects', emphasizing the importance of collaboration in the evolving media landscape.
Prominent in the roster of 1,688 presenters were locally sourced academics from the University of Chicago and Northwestern University, showcasing regional scholarly engagement.
Conference attendees also participated in the Hands Off! Rally and March to Rise Up and Fight Back Against Trump/Musk Attacks protest, reflecting their commitment to activism.
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