[Commlist] Call Out - Surviving and Thriving as a Filmmaker in the University

North East Universities Screen Network
*/2nd Surviving and Thriving as a Filmmaker/ /in the University/ Symposium*
Culture Lab, Newcastle University,
June 17 – 18, 2025
“For ethnographers I am a filmmaker, and for filmmakers I am an 
ethnographer”.
Jean Rouch
Following the success of our inaugural symposium in 2024, the North East 
Universities Screen Network is delighted to announce the second edition 
of /Surviving and Thriving as a Filmmaker in the University/, taking 
place at Newcastle University in June 2025. Please note that it is an 
in- person only symposium.

Our first one-day event proved the value of coming together to share 
experiences of teaching, researching, and making films within the 
university context. Many participants, however, expressed a desire for 
more time to reflect and connect. In response, this year’s symposium 
will span two days, providing greater space to exchange ideas, support 
one another, and develop strategies for navigating and flourishing under 
the challenging higher education landscape.

Through a programme of panel discussions, guest speakers, participatory 
sessions, and screenings, the symposium will examine our unique academic 
roles as filmmakers, focusing on the obstacles we face, but also on the 
creative potential of our often-liminal positioning.

This free event is open to all filmmakers working in academia, including 
postgraduate researchers, regardless of experience level. We 
particularly welcome colleagues interested in filmmaking as research to 
this in-person only symposium. Our aim is to foster dialogue and nurture 
a supportive community of practice that helps us all not only survive 
but thrive.

*Symposium Timetable*
*Day 1*
*11:30 – 12:00*
*Registration* (tea, coffee, and water provided)
*
*
*12:00 – 12:15*
*Welcome: Dr Ian McDonald (Surviving and Thriving Organising Group) & Dr 
Neil Percival (Chair of North East Screen Universities Network).*
*
*
*12:15 – 2:15*
*Our Lived Experiences as Educators – Teaching & Assessing Filmmaking*
A participatory session exploring the realities of teaching and 
assessing filmmaking in academia — including curriculum design, 
production management, university protocols, funding, ethics, and risk 
assessments. The session will be facilitated by Ian Fenton, Senior 
Lecturer in Film & TV Production at Teesside University.
*
*
*2:15 – 2:45*
*Break* (refreshments provided)
*
*
*2:45 – 3:45*
*Presentation 1:* *Filmmaking as Research: Practices, Challenges, and 
Possibilities*
*Guest speaker: Dr. Agata Lulkowska*, Associate Professor of Film and 
Creative Practice Research, Staffordshire University.

Dr. Lulkowska, an interdisciplinary creative practice researcher with a 
background in film, photography and multimedia arts, is Editor of the 
/International Journal of Creative Media Research/, founder of the 
/Rebellious Research Seminar Series/, and co-host of the /Taming Your 
Inner Artist/ podcast. She is also the author of /Filmmaking in 
Academia: Practice Research for Filmmakers/ (Routledge, 2024). In this 
talk, Agata will discuss the rise of film practice within universities, 
exploring the scope and breath of film practices across academia, the 
challenges, and opportunities of filmmaking as research both within and 
beyond academic contexts, and what distinguishes academic filmmaking as 
both a critical and creative pursuit. The session is chaired by artist 
and filmmaker Dr. Cecilia Stenbom from Northumbria University.
*
*
*4:00 – 5:00*
*Screening:* */Celebration of Practice/*
A curated showcase of film excerpts highlighting the diversity and 
quality of our filmmaking practices.
*
*
*5:00*
*Wine Reception*
*
*
*7:00*
*Dinner (optional)*
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Day 2*
*10:00 – 11:00*:
*Presentation 2:* */Making the Machine Work for Film Production/*
*Guest speaker: Dr Laura Canning*, Production Lead, Sound/Image Cinema 
Lab, Falmouth University

Dr Canning is the Course Leader for the BA Film at Falmouth where she 
runs final year film practice. In addition to her own academic writing 
(primarily on American independent film, small nation cinema and Irish 
film) and her emerging practice as a producer, writer and director, 
she is the Production Lead for the Sound/Image Cinema Lab at Falmouth 
University. Since 2010 this unique initiative has supported and 
facilitated award winning independent films which would not otherwise 
have been made, whilst providing learning opportunities for both 
students and staff.  Feature films produced, co-produced and supported 
by the Cinema Lab include /A Year in A Field/ (2023), /Enys 
Men/ (2022), and /Bait/ (2019), and it is increasingly regarded as 
central to the development of the growing Cornish film economy. In this 
session she will share insights into how film production can 
successfully operate within university structures, providing on-set 
experience for students whilst supporting the development of independent 
filmmaking. The session will be chaired by Lucy Jolly, Lecturer in Film 
Practice at Newcastle University.
*
*
*11:00 – 11:30*
*Break* (tea and coffee provided)
*
*
*11:30 – 12:30 *
*Break-out sessions based on different themes emerging from the symposium. *
*
*
*12:30 – 1:30*
*Lunch Break*
*
*
*2:00 – 4:00*
*Our Lived Experiences as Filmmakers – Filmmaking as Research*
A participatory session about the challenges and opportunities of 
filmmaking as research — including its relationship to the REF, and how 
we balance creative practice with teaching and wider academic 
responsibilities. The session will be facilitated by Dr Ian McDonald, 
Reader in Film Practice at Newcastle University.
*
*
*4:00 – 4:15*
*Final Reflections and Next Steps – Creating a community of film 
practice scholars.*

For details and any questions, please contact:
Ian McDonald: (_ian.mcdonald /at/ newcastle.ac.uk) 
<mailto:(ian.mcdonald /at/ newcastle.ac.uk)>_
*Book Your Place *_here <https://forms.office.com/e/WsAMJK1kAs>_
*Submit A Film* _here <https://forms.office.com/e/L9ZadV6340>_
*Call for Participants: Teaching & Assessing Filmmaking* _here 
<https://forms.office.com/e/vvN3jHbt4V>_
*Call for Participants: Filmmaking as Research* _here 
<https://forms.office.com/e/P93dVDM73B>_
Surviving and Thriving in the University is an initiative from The 
*North East Universities Screen Network* (NEUSN). We facilitate 
collaboration between staff and students from the five NE Universities 
(Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside) in subject 
areas related to screen-based production and industries. We seek to 
maximise the potential benefits of joint research, teaching, 
employability activities, skills development and income generation, in 
support of regional and national screen sector partnership, resilience 
and growth.


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