Wilmington, North Carolina, USA, May 31-June 3, 2023. Hosted by the Film Studies Department at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Deadline for proposals: Midnight (EST) December 12, 2022.

PHOTO BY: JEFF JANOWSKI/UNCW

http://scsmi-online.org/conference

The Society for Cognitive Studies of the Moving Image (SCSMI) invites proposals for presentations at its annual conference to be held May 31-June 3, 2023, at the University of North Carolina Wilmington in the United States. SCSMI is an interdisciplinary organization of scholars interested in cognitive, philosophical, aesthetic, historical, psychological, neuroscientific, and evolutionary approaches to the analysis of film and other moving image media. Presentations should facilitate the society’s mission: to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue between moving image theorists, historians, critics, and philosophers, and scientifically-oriented researchers working on moving image media.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES/

Types of Proposals/
Participants may propose a long paper presentation, short paper presentation, poster/demonstration, or author-meets-critics panel. In some cases, presenters may be asked to revise their proposal for a different format. For all proposals, presenters should plan to physically attend the conference, although remote presentations may be allowed in cases of emergency or disability.

Long Paper Presentation
A 50-minute session divided between a 25-minute presentation and a 25-minute Q&A. This format is reserved for well-developed projects that present conceptually complicated ideas or extensive research data.

Short Paper Presentation
A 25-minute session divided between a presentation of 15 minutes or less with the residual time used for discussion. This format is suitable for works in progress or research that may be presented more succinctly.

Poster Presentation or Demonstration
Any form of research display or demonstration. Posters/demonstrations may present empirical research, scholarship with a single question or thesis, short movies, essay films, or interactive installations. Presenters will display and discuss their research during a plenary session.

Author-Meets-Critics Panel
A pre-constituted panel focusing on outstanding publications of interest to the society, such as monographs or empirical studies offering important new insights. Proposals include names of the panel chair, participating author, and 1-3 critics who have agreed to serve as panel members. The author of the work should not be the panel proposer or chair. Only works published between March 2022 and September 2023 will be considered for such panels.

 

Submission and Evaluation Procedures/
Submit proposals by midnight (EST) December 12, 2022, through Oxford Abstracts at https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/4454/submitter. Late proposals or those that do not fulfill proposal requirements will not be considered. You should not have previously made your presentation elsewhere.

Proposals include/

• Title
• Format (long paper, short paper, poster presentation/demonstration, or author-meets-critics panel)
• Presenter(s) name(s)
• Biographical statement for each presenting author (up to 75 words)
• Abstract (75-150 words) for the conference program
• Proposal (500-800 words)
• Bibliography of key sources (up to 5; MLA or APA format)

The conference program committee reviews and selects proposals blindly based on merit, according to the following criteria/

• The appropriateness of the topic to the interests of SCSMI
• The conceptual clarity and intellectual rigor of the project
• The project’s contribution to current understanding
• The carefulness and thoroughness of the proposal

Presenters must be current members of the Society. Nonmembers may submit a proposal but, if accepted, they must join SCSMI by March 15, 2023, or acceptance will be withdrawn.

The Society for the Cognitive Studies of the Moving Image is dedicated to welcoming and encouraging all participants, regardless of ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, class, disability, neurodivergence, religion, and other such characteristics. We actively seek to enhance the diversity of our membership and encourage research in areas related to diversity, equity, and inclusivity. Visit the website for the full SCSMI Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Policy.

TRAVEL AWARDS/

SCSMI will sponsor three travel awards for presenters in the amount of $1000
apiece. You are eligible for a travel award if you fit one of the following criteria/

1. It is your first-time presenting in person at an SCSMI conference, or
2. Your paper addresses issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (e.g. ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, class, disability, neurodivergence, religion, and other such characteristics) from the perspective of cognitive film studies, or

3. Your employment circumstances make it financially difficult to attend the conference (You are a student, an adjunct, or a part-time employee; you lack travel funds or come from a university in a developing nation; the cost of travel or some other such circumstance makes travel financially difficult), or

4. You are a member of an “underrepresented group” (defined by ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, class, disability, neurodivergence, religion, and other such characteristics).

Those applying for a travel award must submit a brief personal statement (300 words or fewer) addressing one or more of the four criteria listed above, which are nonhierarchical. Each application will be evaluated holistically based on the criteria. The application for the travel award is included in the proposal submission portal here.

VENUE/

The Film Studies Department at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) is proud to host the conference. One of the premiere departments at UNCW, Film Studies combines critical studies with production, and, in Fall 2020, launched integrated MA/MFA programs. The department also hosts the Visions Film Festival and Conference and the Film Matters journal and has a robust working relationship with EUE Screen Gems Studios, the Cucalorus Film Festival, and area filmmaking professionals. A Research 2 public institution, UNCW is consistently recognized for academic excellence by publications such as U. S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review.

Conference participants may choose to extend their stay in the coastal resort area in order to enjoy beaches, Wilmington’s historic downtown, the Cape Fear River area, the Battleship North Carolina, boating and kayaking, Airlie Gardens, the North Carolina Aquarium, walking tours, and other nearby sites.

Wilmington International Airport (ILM) is closest and is served by Delta, American, United, and Avelo airlines. Other nearby airports include MYR (1.5 hrs. by car), RDU
(2.5 hrs.), and CLT (3.5 hrs.)

OTHER INFORMATION/

Notifications of acceptance will be made by February 10, 2023. The conference registration deadline is March 31, 2023, although late registrations will be allowed for a higher fee.

For more information about SCSMI, to join, or to learn about membership costs and privileges, visit https://scsmi-online.org

Further questions about the conference or submission process should be addressed to scsmi2023@uncw.edu