Call for Papers and Films

Hosting institutions: Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Shanghai, China.
Conference venue: Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Shanghai, China
Conference dates: 16-18 July, 2025

The 4th International Symposium of the ICTMD Study Group on Audiovisual Ethnomusicology will take place as a joint event with the 4th China Musics Ethnographic Film Festival (CMEFF). This Symposium aims to advance discussions on the growing importance of audiovisual media in ethnomusicological research and the ways it facilitates the creation, dissemination, and experience of ethnomusicological knowledge. By fostering debates on the methodologies and roles of audiovisual practices, this event will offer scholars, filmmakers, and practitioners a space for critical reflection on the emerging field of audiovisual ethnomusicology.
We warmly invite submissions of papers and films from scholars and filmmakers in ethnomusicology, folklore, anthropology, and related fields. We particularly welcome contributions that explore the audiovisual ethnomusicological history of your own country/region or your fieldwork area. In addition, submissions related to any topic within audiovisual ethnomusicology are also encouraged. Submissions that incorporate ethnomusicological research methodologies, explore innovative ways to utilize audiovisual materials in research, education, and public outreach, or focus on music-making in ethnic minority communities are particularly welcome.

Conference Language
• Papers & workshops: Presentations should be in English (in the case of other languages, the speaker should provide English subtitles or an interpreter).
• Films: English subtitles are required for films presented in other languages.

Submissions
The deadline for submissions is 28 Feb. 2025. All proposals should be sent to qiaoqiaocheng922@gmail.c om with the subject line indicating whether your submission is a paper, a film or a workshop. The email should include the name of the author(s), the title of the presentation, and an attached file (Word or Open Office format) containing the abstract (max. 250 words) and 5 keywords without any reference to authorship. Each individual may submit up to one proposal in each category (i.e., 1 paper + 1 film).
Papers: Presentations will be allocated 20 minutes, followed by a 10-minute discussion. The use of audiovisual materials during presentations is encouraged.

Films: We welcome full-length ethnographic films (maximum 90 minutes), short films, and curated collections of short films (2-4 films) that share a thematic connection. Film abstracts must include a hyperlink to a trailer, teaser, or the complete film. The Film Committee may request the full film for evaluation. Films should be available in at least 1080p resolution and should not exceed 5GB in file size. The submitted abstract (max. 250 words) should explain the film’s ethnographic significance, purpose, and engagement with ethnomusicological themes.

Workshops: There is no particular format or form for the workshop proposals, but they should be non-presentational occasions of sharing experience-based knowledge of specific audiovisual technologies, research techniques, etc. Workshops should not exceed 2 hours. The organizers must specify into the abstract any special equipment request.

Evaluation Process
All paper submissions will be reviewed using a double-blind peer-review system, Each abstract will be evaluated by two anonymous reviewers, with a third reviewer involved if necessary. Notifications of acceptance will be sent by 30 March 2025.

Registration Fee
• Waged participants: €80
• Students and unwaged participants: €60
The registration fee will cover conference meals (lunch and tea/coffee breaks) during symposium hours.

Programme Committee
Helen Rees (University of California, Los Angeles, United States)-Chair
Yuri Prado (University of São Paulo, Brazil)
Xu Xin (Shanghai Conservatory of Music, China)
Marco Lutzu (Università di Cagliari, Italy)
He Hua (Yunnan Normal University, China)

Film Committee
Xiao Mei (Shanghai Conservatory of Music, China)-Chair
Daniele Zappatore (Sapienza University of Rome, Italy)
Julian Grey (University of Michigan, United State)
Miguel Angel Garcia Velasco (Proyecto Etnovisual Afrokuba, Brazil)

Local Arrangements Team
Feng Lei
Xiao Mei
Zhiyi Qiaoqiao Cheng

Executive Committee of the SG on Audiovisual Ethnomusicology
Leonardo D’Amico (Independent Scholar) – Chair
Marija Dumnić Vilotijević (Institute of Musicology SASA, Serbia) – Vice Chair
Zhiyi Qiaoqiao Cheng (Shanghai Conservatory of Music, China) – Secretary

Further Information
For additional details, please contact:
Zhiyi Qiaoqiao Cheng - qiaoqiaocheng922@gmail.com
We look forward to your participation in making the 2025 Symposium a success!

www.audiovisualethnomusicology.com