#IFM Blog: IFM2025 Resonances

7TH INTERACTIVE FILM AND MEDIA CONFERENCE

RESONANCES

Hosted Virtual by

Toronto Metropolitan University (Canada)

June 10-13, 2025

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.

FULL FREE ADMISSION

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

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS

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)