Announcement: IIFSA Launches Global Joint Research Center Initiative 

New York / July 28, 2025 – The International Institute of Film Science and Arts (IIFSA) is proud to unveil a strategic initiative to establish Global Joint Research Centers in collaboration with leading film/media research institutions and universities worldwide. This initiative is designed to foster cross-border academic research, institutional collaboration, and innovation in the fields of film science and media arts.

 Vision & Objectives

• Create transnational research platforms dedicated to film content, media philosophy, archival preservation, AI and digital imaging technologies, and media policy.

• Partner globally renowned universities, archives, and research institutions to enable shared resources, faculty exchanges, co-publications, and post-graduate training.

• Host regular international symposia, film screenings, and collaborative research forums for sustained interdisciplinary dialogue and impact.

 Exemplary International Models

IIFSA draws inspiration from the successes of global research centers, including:

• The BFI–TORCH Research Partnership (British Film Institute & University of Oxford’s TORCH), which collaborates on digital archiving, AI in preservation, and film-based public health humanities.

• The Centre for International Film Research (CIFR) at University of Southampton, known for its multidisciplinary projects, visiting scholars, public lectures, and international co-publications.

• ZKM | Hertz Lab, a media art center in Karlsruhe, Germany, that pioneers research in AI, immersive media, and experimental digital archives.

• DocWest at University of Westminster, a documentary and experimental film hub that integrates research, teaching, and creative public programming.

• The Screen Studies Group (SSG) in London, a consortium encompassing multiple universities researching screen culture, media theory, and visual arts.

 Initiative Highlights

1. Establish IIFSA–Global University Joint Research Centers, each focused on specific thematic areas and governed by mutual collaboration agreements.

2. Launch co-funded research projects spanning AI imaging, archival science, film criticism, and media policy.

3. Facilitate international talent development via joint PhD supervision, visiting scholar programs, and faculty exchange workshops.

4. Organize global conferences, public screenings, and interactive forums to maximize visibility and interdisciplinary discourse.

 Next Steps & Contact

Institutions—be they universities, archives, film research bodies, or cultural labs—that are interested in collaborating with IIFSA are welcome to submit a formal letter of intent. IIFSA will convene a joint review committee to evaluate prospective partnerships and propose center establishment or co-research alignment.

To express interest or explore cooperation opportunities, please contact:

International Institute of Film Science and Arts (IIFSA)
secretary@iifsa.org
www.iifsa.org

We invite scholars and institutions around the world to join IIFSA in a transformative pursuit to advance film science, media arts research, and global academic collaboration.

International Institute of Film Science and Arts (IIFSA)
Date: July 28, 2025