Call for Panels: RAI Online Film Conference 2025
Where Are We Now? Visual and Multimodal Anthropology
Dates: 29 April – 2 May 2025 (Online only)
RAI Film and the Film Committee of the Royal Anthropological Institute invites panel, roundtable, and workshop proposals on any facet of visual, multisensory and multimodal Anthropology. We want to redouble our efforts to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all by learning more about how anthropologists are using these methods to respond to global challenges of our times. We encourage presentations that explore emergent methodologies and interactive approaches. We offer an inclusive forum to explore creative and innovative approaches, discuss collaborative and participatory methods and tackle practical problems.
Possible areas of contemporary interest might be dialogues between emergent and existing forms of film making; AI and changing technologies (extended reality (XR); storytelling and narrative, indigenous filmmaking; animation, and aesthetics.
In addition to this open call, we are also looking to highlight the global challenges for visual and multimodal anthropology. We ask how visual and multimodal methods can help to address the global challenges of our times. We want to learn how anthropologists are using visual and multimodal tools to respond to issues such as inequality, environmental protection, poverty, climate change, war, and justice. We welcome engagement with topics such as food and hunger, water, migration, forced displacement, extremism and intolerance, social inequalities, mental health, disability, discrimination and genocide, peace and justice, climate change and sustainability, renewables and just economies.
Discover our 2023 conference.
This virtual conference sits alongside the RAI Film Festival which is a biennial international event celebrating the best in documentary filmmaking from around the globe and established in 1985 by the Royal Anthropological Institute (UK). The festival showcases new work from academic anthropologists and related disciplines, and from filmmakers at all levels of experience from students to professionals. It looks for fearless films that ask difficult questions, build bridges, seek redress and promote social justice and dialogue.
Check out our most recent editions see here.
RAI Film Festival 2025 will celebrate our 40th anniversary both in person and online.
In person film festival – 27-30 March 2025 at Watershed & Arnolfini, Bristol UK
Screenings, gala events, workshops and talks
Online film festival – throughout April 2025
Streaming 80 films available 24/7 worldwide
RAI Film Conference – 29 April – 2 May 2025
Keynotes, panels, roundtable, workshops and paper presentations
Join us to explore the critical role of visual and multimodal anthropology in addressing contemporary global issues. Submit your proposals and contribute to a dynamic and inclusive forum for innovative and creative scholarly exchange.
Panel Submission Guidelines:
- Panel, Roundtable, and Workshop Proposals:
- Title: Concise and descriptive.
- Short Abstract: a (very) short abstract of less than 300 characters,
- Long Abstract: a long abstract of 250 words
- Important Dates:
- Call for Panels Closes: 1 October 2024
- Call for Papers Opens: 1 November 2024
- Call for Papers Closes: 17 January 2025
- Registration Opens: 24 February 2025
To Submit: All proposals must be made via an online form.
CONFERENCE FEES:
Conference only:
RAI Fellows: £90
RAI Members: £145
Non-members: £175
Concessions (students; unemployed; retired persons): £50
Delegates from low-income countries: £30
Combined Film Festival (in-person in Bristol) and Conference:
Combined RAI Fellow: £230
Combined Non-members: £295
Combined Members: £265
Combined Concessions: £150
Combined low-income countries: £120
Either registration type includes access to the online Film Festival.
