Newsletter #6 (2025)
Welcome to the last SSAAANZ newsletter for 2025! A lot of updates in this one so get comfy with a cuppa and have a read.
Annual General Meeting 2025
Thank you to all members who attended our Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 18 November. At the AGM SSAAANZ President Julia Erhart went through the organisation’s achievements for the past year - including the Online Conference, the launch of new Hubs and the success of the Mentoring Scheme - as well as our outward-facing work responding to the Australian government’s proposed changes to research funding, initial discussions about partnering with the British Association of Film, Television and Screen Studies (BAFTSS), and memorialising the passing of Australia’s legendary film critic David Stratton. We also looked at a number of exciting projects for the organisation in 2026, including our upcoming in-person conference (more details below).
The AGM also saw the election of the SSAAANZ Executive Committee for 2026 with members taking the following roles:
President: A/Prof. Julia Erhart
Treasurer: Dr. Tara Lomax
General Secretary: Dr. Jessica Ford
Vice-President (NZ): A/Prof. Arezou Zalipour
Vice-President (AU): A/Prof. Fincina Hopgood
Ordinary Members: Dr. Chris Comerford (AU) Dr. Missy Molloy (NZ)
Ordinary Members (ECR): Dr. Amy Boyle and Dr. Andrew Couzens
Ordinary Member (HDR): Sophie Tallis
The Executive Committee looks forward to further successes next year, and we are planning a Members Forum event early next year for wider consultation with SSAAANZ across the board. More details will be coming on this in early 2026.
Farewell and Thank You to Allison Craven
SSAAANZ wishes to recognise the amazing work of Associate Professor Allison Craven (James Cook University), who is stepping down from the Executive Committee at the end of this year. Over her seven years of service, Allison has left an indelible mark on the organisation, most recently as Treasurer. Throughout her tenure Allison has brought invaluable institutional knowledge and a buoyant warmth to her work, and the Committee will not be the same without her. Thank you, Allison, for all that you have done for SSAAANZ!
SSAAANZ Online Conference 2025 - Post-Conference Report
The SSAAANZ Online Conference 2025 was held on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 November, with the theme of “Emerging and Dispersed Scholarship”. Over the two days we heard from more than 30 presenters on diverse topics such as hauntology, innovations in creative practice, national and cultural screen studies, and the changing face of screen pedagogy. The Conference was a fantastic showcase of work from HDR students, emerging research and senior scholars alike.
Thanks to everyone who participated as presenter and audience alike, and to all the members of the conference working group who put in a Herculean effort getting the conference together over the past twelve months. We would like to give particularly special thanks to our conference’s keynote speakers, Associate Professor Jani Wilson (University of Canterbury) and Honorary Professor Sue Turnbull (University of Wollongong) for their fascinating presentations.
We also awarded two best paper prizes to the following scholars:
The Stephen Gaunson Award for Best Higher Degree Research or Independent Scholar Paper: Rebecca Lelli (University of Technology Sydney) – “Boyscape: relations of power, gender, and landscapes in Japanese cinema”
The Sue Turnbull Award for Best Popular Culture Paper: Dr. Phoebe Macrossan (University of the Sunshine Coast) – “Utopia and the Contemporary Screen Musical”
Congratulations to Rebecca and Phoebe for their awards – both amazing papers and presenters! Our deepest thanks and gratitude to both Stephen and Sue for sponsoring these prizes.
The online conference is a way to “maintain the pulse” of SSAAANZ between in-person conference years, so we highly encourage everyone to continue connecting with each other over screen research, teaching and creative practice. Please join us in 2026 for our Regional and Dispersed (R&D) Hub events online and for our 2026 in-person conference!
SSAAANZ 2026 Conference @ The University of Melbourne
We’re thrilled to announce that the 2026 in-person SSAAANZ Conference will be held at the University of Melbourne! We received a fabulous pitch from the UniMelb team and are looking forward to seeing everyone in Melbourne. Updates in the new year!
SSAAANZ Mentorship Scheme 2026 Update
The SSAAANZ Mentorship Scheme is resuming again in 2026, and mentors and mentees are invited to express interest now for commencement in February. This scheme pairs Early Career Academics and Higher Degree Research students with more established scholars in the field. Mentors can include senior scholars as well as more experienced Early Career Academics. Mentorship is typically task or project based but can also include professional development.
We would like to thank all the Mentors who participated in the 2025 mentorship scheme. Your support of our early career and student scholar members is much appreciated.
Interested mentors and mentees can find more information and register for the 2026 Scheme on our website.
Upcoming AUT Conference: Rethinking Tomorrow
Auckland University of Technology’s Communication for Social Change Research Centre is holding its inaugural conference on the 1st and 2nd of December. Rethinking Tomorrow: Emerging Research for Social Change is a two-day event dedicated to addressing some of the most pressing issues of our time:
Artificial Intelligence & Social Change
Technologies & Everyday Life
Gender, Sexual Diversity & Social In/tolerance
Race, Racism & Cultural Differences
Structural Inequalities
Migrants, Refugees & Lived experiences
Indigeneity in Aotearoa and the Pacific
Climate emergency
Social Policy & Governance
Advocacy & Education
The conference is being held at AUT’s City Campus. Attendees can also join online for access to the online stream as well as an online livestream to the main conference room. We have three amazing keynotes - Dr Gary Payinda, Dr Emmy Rākete and Professor Mohan Dutta - as well as over 60 presenters who will showcase their research, their insights and their perspectives on how to address the challenges of our time and RETHINK TOMORROW.
You are invited you to register and be a part of these important conversations, by either scan the QR code on image above or visiting Humanitix to buy your ticket!
Petition: Save the Film Studies program at Leicester University
The UK’s University of Leicester is currently considering removing their Film Studies program alongside five other disciplines as part of their “Strategic Review”, despite the department’s profitability and the importance of screen studies. Please sign and share the linked petition to help save the Film Studies program.
Final Word and Happy Holidays!
As this is our last newsletter for the year, the Executive Committee wants to thank all the members of SSAAANZ for your participation and enthusiasm this year with the online conference, the research hubs and the information you share with us on important events and initiatives for Screen Studies. 2025 has been a fantastic year and we look forward to further successes in 2026!
We wish everyone a safe and restful holiday season, and a wonderful and Happy New Year!
Something you want to promote or share with the SSAAANZ Community? Email ssaaanz@gmail.com