I Cine Bárbaras – International Conference on Cinema and Audiovisual on October 23-24, 2025 in Porto, Portugal

I Cine Bárbaras – International Conference on Cinema and Audiovisual

Dates: October 23 and 24

Venue: Lusófona University – Porto University Centre

Call for Papers

The call for papers is now open for the I Cine Bárbaras – International Conference on Cinema and Audiovisual Arts, which will take place on October 23 and 24,2025, at the Lusófona University – Porto University Centre, bringing togetherresearchers and professionals working in the fields of cinema and audiovisual studies.

Cine Bárbaras – International Conference on Cinema and Audiovisual Arts is a space for critical reflection and debate dedicated to gender studies and feminist film theories. The conference will address topics such as representativity, representation, feminisms in cinema, intersectionality, and the role of women and other marginalized identities in film creation and exhibition. By highlighting the diverse contributions of women and non-binary individuals both in front of and behind the camera, the event emphasises their vital role in shaping new aesthetic and narrative approaches in cinema.

Conference Topics

The organising committee invites submissions related to, but not limited to, the following topics:

● Cinema and Filmmakers: The relevance of women and non-binary people in the history of cinema in Portugal and around the world, addressing representations, invisibilities, and the contributions of filmmakers.

● Feminisms in Cinema and Audiovisual Arts: Feminine perspectives and the feminist gaze in counter-narratives and strategies of resistance in cinema; representations of the female body, and aesthetics of power and violence.

● Intersectional Approaches in Cinema: Exploration of the intersections between gender, race, class, sexuality, age, (dis)ability, and other identity dimensions in cinema production, representation, and reception. Critical reflections on how these intersections shape the experiences of both filmmakers and narratives, as well as the visible and invisible power dynamics in audiovisual contexts.

● Women and Non-Binary People in Film Production and Exhibition: Their roles in audiovisual production and in film festivals, creating spaces for visibility and action.

● Feminist Film Theories: Research on the history of feminist theories and new approaches in cinema and audiovisual studies.

Submission Guidelines

Interested participants are invited to submit proposals in the form of an abstract, written in Portuguese, Spanish, or English, with a maximum of 350 words and 5 to 7 keywords, by July 11, 2025. Abstracts should clearly outline the objectives of the presentation, the theoretical and methodological framework, and the main contributions to the conference theme. Submissions must be made exclusively through the following form: https://forms.gle/7sjDJ6ZB7Q7BLm9r8

Selected proposals will be notified by July 25, 2025, and authors will be asked to submit an extended abstract (in English) of up to 1500 words by September 15, 2025. The extended abstract must include: title, author(s) name(s) and institutional affiliation, 5–7 keywords, and a short abstract (100–150 words). The main body of the text should comprise an introduction to the topic and objectives, theoretical framework, methodology, critical analysis of the selected materials or data, and a conclusion highlighting the main contributions of the work. References must be formatted according to APA 7th edition. The extended abstracts will be published in the open-access electronic conference proceedings.

After the selection process, participants must complete their registration to confirm their participation. The registration fee is €25 for students and €50 for non-students.

A selection of full papers will be invited for submission to a special issue of the International Journal of Film and Media Arts, subject to peer review. Articles must be submitted in English and follow the journal’s editorial guidelines, available at: https://revistas.ulusofona.pt/index.php/ijfma/about/submissions. The publication timeline will be announced in due course. The publication timeline will be announced in due course.