After three successful editions, the Film Criticism Conference in Riyadh returns with a fourth edition, focusing on aspects of film culture, history, analysis, and all aspects of criticism. The open call for the second year running, aims to provide film critics, academics, and researchers from around the world an opportunity to take part in the one-of-a-kind event, in which they gather in the Saudi capital to share a wide range of activities, panels, presentations, screenings, and workshops.
Please read the following information carefully, and if you believe you have a topic that can add value to the content of the conference, please don’t hesitate to submit it.
Basic Information:
When: November 2026 (Dates TBC)
Where: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Event: Film Criticism Conference, Fourth edition
Conference title: Author and Authority over the text: Reframing auteur theory in film criticism
The Conference Theme:
This conference explores the historical development of auteur theory and its relevance in contemporary film criticism. From its inception in mid-20th century criticism to its current transformations, the concept of “author” has remained central to the interpretation, evaluation, and establishment of films within film canons. The program revisits key intellectual milestones in this context: beginning with André Bazin’s and the critics of Cahiers du Cinema’s defence of the director as a moral and aesthetic presence, and then the codification and dissemination of auteur theory within American critical circles by the American critic Andrew Sarris. The conference also examines the criticisms levelled against auteur theory, starting with the declared position of the influential American critic Pauline Kael regarding the limitations of this conception, in addition to the theoretical shifts of Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault, who redefined the author as a discursive function rather than a fixed source of meaning, and the subsequent theoretical schools within structuralism and post-structuralism.
The conference also welcomes contemporary contributions; theorists such as Timothy Corrigan, Henry Jenkins, Robert Stam, and David Bordwell have broadened the concept of the author beyond the then-prevalent model of “individual genius,” placing it within the contexts of industry, globalization, and their cultural and social patterns.
The program includes a dedicated space discussing the impact of artificial intelligence and generative technologies on the concept of the cinematic author. This includes studies by critics and researchers such as Leif Manovic, Joanna Zielinska, and Kate Crawford. This space addresses the idea of the transformation of creativity from an individual act to a process distributed among humans, machines, technological infrastructure, and data.
The conference will discuss a range of fundamental theoretical issues, including:
- The historical development of the concept of auteur theory
- The relationship between the collaborative nature of cinema and the idea of the individual author
- Film canons and cultural authority
- The transformation of the author in digital industries and global platforms
- The impact of AI-enhanced production on the concepts of intention, purpose, style, and responsibility
The conference does not aim to defend or refute auteur theory, but rather to re-evaluate its critical value and explore its future trajectories in light of rapid cinematic and technological transformations.
The submissions are open to all proposals that fit, directly or indirectly, into the conference theme.
Needed Formats:
- Symposia Presentations: 15 minutes presentation (with slides), tackling one idea or topic. The topic can be very niche or non-universal.
- Beyond Criticism: One hour lecture (with slides) that fits between cinema and any other art, science, literature, or any other field.
- Panel Discussions: One hour panel discussion, featuring 2-3 speakers and one moderator, tackling a certain topic related to the theme.
- Workshops: 2-3 hours practical training related to the conference theme, audience can be beginner, intermediate, or advanced film critics / film lovers / young audience.
How to participate?
- Pick the format that suits your topic, go to the link and submit it before 7 August 2026 (23:59 Riyadh time GMT+3).
- Attach an abstract of your proposed idea, in maximum 500 words, and add photos if necessary.
- Fill in your details.
- The Conference will cover the speakers’ flight and accommodation during the conference days.
- The speakers will receive an honorarium for their contribution.
- Language: English or Arabic.
Application link:
https://forms.gle/XGKQ4phrJV6wV6x96
Can I share the news?
This call is issued based on the MOU signed between the Saudi Film Commission and the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) targeting the federation members. But participation in the conference is open to all film critics, academics, or researchers. So, if you think that there are some colleagues who can add value to the conference content, please share the call with them.
©FIPRESCI 2026