Cinematic installation headlines University's plans for 2026 BEYOND Conference

Ahead of the conference’s return from Monday 23 November to Wednesday 25 November, we can confirm that Nested Cinema, an AHRC-funded project led by Dr Pavel Prokopič, will present its latest installation at the conference, alongside two further pieces of work from Salford-based artists, commissioned via the CreaTech Artist CoLab programme.

Nested Cinema, which involves presenting a film through multiple distinctive layers of cinematic techniques to create an immersive experience for the viewer, will showcase Sisyphos at the conference as part of the free festival programme.

The triptych film from filmmakers Kay Voges and Andrea Schumacher, will be screened at Media City Studios shown in an expanded version through additional screens, light and spatial sound.

The film is about the absurdity of existence and the beauty of repetition, with three simultaneous films merging together to form one audiovisual composition. Shown on an infinite loop, with no beginning to wait for, visitors can arrive at any point, and watch for however long they want.

It is the first unveiled piece of work from the Nested Cinema project since it was awarded more than £250,000 of AHRC Catalyst funding earlier this year, with Sisyphos selected for the project after it was screened at the 2026 International Network of Experimental Fiction Filmmaking festival this summer.

Dr Pavel Prokopič, Lecturer in Film Production and Principal Investigator for Nested Cinema, said: “It means a lot to bring Nested Cinema back to MediaCity, where we installed our first pilot in 2023. Since then, the project has grown from a single installation into a system we are designing to travel to cinemas, festivals and other spaces. BEYOND is a chance to show people where we are and to learn from how they respond, before we invite filmmakers to expand their own films with our tools.

“Sisyphos is an ideal film for this stage of the project. It’s a film about repetition that, shown as a loop, never really ends, so there’s no right moment to arrive and no plot to keep up with. We’re very grateful to Kay Voges and Andrea Schumacher for trusting us with their work.” 

The project is the first stage of plans for a full spatialised presentation of the technology featuring Sisyphos at MediaCity in March 2027 and a planned open call for filmmakers to present their films using the technology.

The University is also delighted to unveil the results from this year’s CreaTech Artist CoLab programme with two new digital art commissions to be presented at this year’s conference.

Ali Abedzadeh and Freddy Mendoza Noto were both successful at securing £5,000 commissions for their pieces of work.

Ali’s piece, ‘Lament for a Mill’ reimagines Salford Twist Mill as a virtual ruin. Drawing on archival images, historical accounts, and fragments of memory, the project brings the mill back as a virtual space where soundscapes by collaborator Babak Mirsalari are woven through its darkened spaces, carrying echoes of its former life.

Freddy (otherwise known as FENO) will unveil his piece ‘Standing Wave’. Dubbed as a living sonic altar, its column of microbial batteries holds mud and sediment from the River Irwell which, as the bacteria lives and feeds, generates electrical signals which feed light into the head of the piece whilst water rests at its base. When touched, the water trembles into visible cymatic patterns. The piece asks its audience to listen to the smallest life, and to the river that carries it.

‘Lament for a Mill’ was commissioned by the University’s Art Collection and ‘Standing Wave’ was commissioned by Quays Culture. Both projects were also commissioned in partnership with the University of Salford, Salford City Council and Lowry.

Roger McKinley, Creative Technology and Content Manager at the University of Salford said: “We are delighted to be working again with Salford City Council, The Lowry, Quays Culture and the Beyond Conference on the expanded CoLab programme following last year’s hugely successful pilot.

“This year focused on many of the University’s specialist spaces and our creative technical team members helped deliver a rich, deep and meaningful programme with and for Salford-based artists and creatives looking to make a significant move into working within the creative industries.

“The programme highlights the kind of joined-up thinking across Salford’s key stakeholders that makes working here so exhilarating and rewarding. The fact that the projects get showcased at BEYOND is testament to the whole vision for this programme.”

Alongside the installations, the University is also represented at the conference by a number of our academics. Andy Miah, Chair of Science Communication and Future Media, will be delivering one of the key opening speeches whilst Garry Crawford, Professor of Cultural Sociology and researcher Dr Charlotte Gislam will be discussing outcomes from their GAMEHEARTS project.

The CreaTech Artist CoLab has been made possible through funding from the UK Government via the Economic Development and Regeneration Flexible Grants (EDRFG) programme, distributed through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Salford City Council and was supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.