Call for Abstracts Screening the Scene: Rethinking European film competitiveness

Call for Abstracts
Screening the Scene: Rethinking European film competitiveness

Conference Dates: 9 and 10 October 2025
Location: Department of Communication, University of Vienna
Deadline for Abstract Submission: on a rolling basis until August 17th, 2025

We are inviting scholars, practitioners, policymakers, creatives, and industry stakeholders to
submit abstracts for the REBOOT Conference, a two-day, no entry-fee event dedicated to
critically reflecting on and advancing the future of the European film industry.
Conference Theme
The European film industry stands at a critical juncture, shaped by shifting technologies,
evolving societal demands, global political changes and the need for more inclusive and
adaptive institutional frameworks. Under the theme “Screening the Scene: Rethinking
European film competitiveness”, this conference seeks to explore innovative strategies and
fresh perspectives that can reinvigorate the industry for a sustainable, equitable, and
competitive future.
As streaming platforms challenge traditional distribution, AI reshapes storytelling and
production processes, and as underrepresented communities continue to push for visibility
and participation, the question is no longer whether the European film industry must adapt,
but how, and who gets to lead the change.

Rebooting the industry requires an intersectional approach, one that considers the dynamic role of people (creators, audiences, and different groups), technological innovation (AI, digital platforms, XR), and institutions (festivals, funding bodies, policy frameworks). This conference will be a space for critical exchange, bold ideas, and collaborative futures.

We welcome contributions that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:
● What is film industry competitiveness?
● European policy/legal frameworks concerning the European film industry (e.g.
copyright law, public support and European funding frameworks, media/entertainment
law, platform regulation and content moderation, protection of minors)
● The role of children & youth for the European film industry as creators and audiences.
● Bringing overlooked European films into the spotlight (e.g. alternative film festivals,
alternative film modes of film production, collectives, centre vs. periphery in European
film industries)
● European distribution & new technology (e.g. streaming platforms and digital
disruption)
● Innovative storytelling (e.g. AI/VR/XR, interactive formats)
● The interplay of generative AI and filmmaking (e.g. working conditions of creative
workers, AI and ethical creativity, AI literacy and cultural industries)
● Representation and inclusion in the European film industry
● New narratives by women, youth, diaspora, and intersectional identities