Conference

SCSMI 2026 in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Wednesday, June 10 to Saturday, June 13

Hosted by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU).

About the Conference

The Society for Cognitive Studies of the Moving Image (SCSMI) is an interdisciplinary organization of scholars interested in cognitive, philosophical, aesthetic, historical, psychological, neuroscientific, and evolutionary approaches to the analysis of film and other moving image media.

The annual conference provides a space for dialogue between moving image theorists, historians, critics, philosophers, and scientifically-oriented researchers. The 2026 edition will be hosted by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) in the Netherlands from June 10 to June 13, 2026.

Conference presentations will support the Society’s mission to foster rigorous, interdisciplinary conversations around how we understand, create, and experience film, television, and other audiovisual forms.

Submission procedures and travel award details can be found on the Oxford Abstracts submission portal.

For questions about the conference, contact the organizing team at scsmi.conference.2026@vu.nl. The team includes:

Dr. Katalin Bálint (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam – Lead Co-Organizer)
Dr. Cynthia Cabañas (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam – Lead Co-Organizer)
Gaya Yonah (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
Dr. Tess Lankhuizen (University of Amsterdam)
Margriet Schager (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
Sylvia Gielink (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

Presenter Information

Presenters must be current members of the Society. Nonmembers may submit a proposal but, if accepted, they must join SCSMI by Saturday, March 15, 2026 or acceptance will be withdrawn. For more information about SCSMI, to join, or to learn about membership costs and privileges, visit https://scsmi-online.org.

Presenters should plan to physically attend the conference. However, a limited number of online presentation slots will be made available on a needs basis, and can be requested as part of your presentation proposal.

Presenters unable to attend for financial reasons are encouraged to apply for a Travel Award.

SCSMI will sponsor five travel awards for presenters in the amount of $1000 apiece. Travel award procedures and criteria are listed on the submission portal. If applicants do not receive a travel award, or if the award is not sufficient to cover their expenses, or in the case of a chronic health condition or comparable circumstance, participants may petition to give a remote talk provided they have a justified reason. Such petitions should include a short paragraph explaining the reason for the request.

If attending the conference, please be sure to register no later than 11:59 pm (UTC-12) on Friday, April 3, 2026.
You may register for the conference at https://register.oxfordabstracts.com/event/73947.

Regular fees: US$200
Student fees: US$100
Regular late fees: US$300
Student late fees: US$150

Venue

The conference will be held at the NU Building on the campus of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam:

Address: De Boelelaan 1111, 1081 HV Amsterdam, Netherlands

[📍 Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TCufCkbGNfy4BHj99 ]

The NU Building offers:

A 120-seat plenary space
Multiple breakout rooms for panels and parallel sessions
Full AV and livestreaming support
On-site café, restaurant, and bar
Step-free, wheelchair-accessible facilities

The Zuidas district, where VU is located, is Amsterdam’s modern business and academic hub — home to multinational companies, legal offices, and cultural institutions. It’s exceptionally well-connected: