Conference aims

‘Radicalism’ is a concept with a diverse range of applications and ‘radical film’ can be used to describe a wide range of cultural practices. For most of those involved in the Radical Film Network, ‘Radicalism’ refers first and foremost to a political affiliation with the Left and the various traditions that underpin it: from anarchism and socialism to radical environmentalism and struggles for racial, sexual and gender equality. But, radicalism is about aesthetics as much as politics; it is about interrogating the nature of film language, experimenting with the medium and developing new approaches to audio-visual communication.

In keeping with the spirit in which the Radical Film Network (RFN) was founded, this conference aims to bring together the political and aesthetic avant-gardes, with a particular focus on the transnational nature of contemporary radical film cultures. By looking at how radical films are produced, circulated and engaged with in different parts of the world, the conference aims to shed light on the transnational nature of film cultures and the intersecting relationship between political struggle and aesthetic innovation. Bringing together filmmakers and researchers, the conference hopes to create new and consolidate existing connections and networks, facilitate transnational and cross-cultural dialogues, and forge global solidarity among radical filmmakers around the world. 

Conference partners