iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Call for Papers: The Virtual Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts 5 (VICFA5) Speculative Visions of Care and Hope Guests of Honor: Zoha Kazemi (Iran) and Ahmed Naji (Egypt) 17-19 September 2026 Organized by IAFA and CoFutures Full CfP can be found at iaftfita.wildapricot.org/page-1820583

031

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

For those who were not lucky enough to grab one of the donated early copies from your ICFA luncheon table, you might like to know you can now get a copy for your own! It was such a treat to have Ann Leckie as an ICFA Guest of Honor this year at ICFA 47! #ICFA #ICFA47 #IAFA #FantasticArts

Ann Leckie, reading from Radiant Star, at a podium for her nighttime reading panel at ICFA 47 (2026).
Photo by BE Allatt

210

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Artwork for ICFA 47: Metacognition by Aneka Ingold Aneka can be found at www.anekaingold.com and on Instagram as @anekaingold

A young femme stands center, her eyes closed, with a growing plant held in her cupped hands. Behind her is a network of interconnected dots, leading upward to two circles, one on either side of her head, each containing a silhouette of her body in a more relaxed posture. The silhouettes are turned halfway toward each other, while also still facing the young femme. All three figures seem to be reflexively contemplating each other.

010

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Did you know that the ICFA Book Room is the only part of the conference available to everyone, even those not registered for the conference? It's true! Anyone can come buy a book and help support the organization; no membership or registration required. #ICFA47 #FantasticArts #IAFA

141

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

We couldn't be the org we are without our volunteers! And I mean that quite literally, since we're an all-volunteer org, but the registration volunteers are a vital and necessary component of our in-person conference, so many thanks to them!

Three Registration volunteers hard at work.

010

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

ICFA 47 is here! The IAFA Registration and Membership Coordinator and her team of fantastic volunteers were hard at work on Tuesday, getting everything ready for you to pick up your badges and meal tickets! #ICFA47 #FantasticArts #IAFA

IAFA Registration and Membership Coordinator Amanda Firestone

140

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

ICFA 47 is almost here! All registered IAFA members should have gotten an email today with some important information, including the hotel phone number for the airport shuttle, a link to the digital schedule app, and more! #ICFA47 #FantasticArts #IAFA

120

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Poetry on Drugs: Language, Dreaming and the Coming Revolution Call for Proposals drive.google.com/file/d/17LfTxAKUUrKS32ddK2VespoNNjGy8dqP

A post for "Poetry on Drugs: Language, Dreaming and the Coming Revolution."
This image is black and white, with a large abstractly filled circle inside of a stylized rectangle adorned with leaf-life imagery.
The title for the symposium is listed, as well as "Event Date: 20 February 2026."

001

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

All registered IAFA members should have gotten their latest issue of the JFA via email. Just a quick reminder: You have 24 hours to submit your proposal for ICFA 47 before the submission portal closes! See our website for the complete CfP and other needed details (iaftfita.wildapricot.org/ICFA).

The cover of Journal of Fantastic in the Arts, volume 36.2, features the reflection in a mirror of a femme-appearing person putting on red lipstick.

011

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

After careful consideration of many well-qualified applications the IAFA Executive Board has appointed Michael Furlong as incoming ICFA Gothic and Horror Literature Division Head.

A photo of Michael Furlong, with steps and the entrance to a building in the background.

120

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

If you have yet to read the IAFA President's letter on the referendum results and the IAFA moving to a rotating location model for future ICFAs, please do so at IAFA.org/Blog/13548208 !

IAFA President David M. Higgins at the podium during the ICFA 46 banquet.

010

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Thank you to VICFA 4 Distinguished Scholar Mads Haahr and his Haunted Planet Studios team (not present except in their work) for a truly different conference experience! #VICFA4 #FantasticArts #IAFA #HauntedPlanet

A screenshot of a Zoom session displaying video from "Alice Dalí MR," next to Mads Haahr. In the top half of the video, a human-controlled virtual hand "grows roses" based on artwork by Dalí for the 1969 anniversary edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. On the bottom half of the video. Mads Haahr is seen reading aloud from the text next to a pianist playing live music while the game-player can be seen reaching out to the roses in real life.

Screenshot of Zoom session, showing Mads Haahr during the panel, smiling.

031

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

VICFA 4's Distinguished Scholar Immersive Event was incredible! We learned about Haunted Planet's DreaMR series (Meta Quest 3). This included video from a staging of Haunted Planet's "Alice Dalí MR," which uses Dali's artwork for Carroll's 𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦'𝘴 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘞𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 (1969 anniversary ed.).

Screenshot of Zoom session, showing titled page of presentation, which reads "Dreaming with Mixed Reality (DreaMR): Cultural Engagement with Art, Music, and Stories," next to an image of Mads Haahr.

A screenshot of a Zoom session displaying video from "Alice Dalí MR," next to Mads Haahr. In the video, a human-controlled virtual hand reaches out to artwork by Dalí for the 1969 anniversary edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

A screenshot of a Zoom session displaying video from "Alice Dalí MR," next to Mads Haahr. In the top half of the video, a human-controlled virtual hand reaches out to virtual dresses based on artwork by Dalí for the 1969 anniversary edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. On the bottom half of the video. Mads Haahr is seen reading aloud from the text next to a pianist playing live music while the game-player can be seen reaching out in real life.

121

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

VICFA 4's Roundtable Discussion on "Conjuring in Diverse Literature" was a real treat! Joy Sanchez-Taylor led this discussion with Suzan Palumbo, Zig Zag Claybourne, and A.W. Prihandita, three of the fantasy authors featured in Sanchez-Taylor's new book, 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 F𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴.

A screenshot of a Zoom session with panelists, clockwise from top left: Joy Sanchez-Taylor, A.W. Prihandita, Suzan Palumbo, and Zig Zag Claybourne.

A screenshot of a Zoom session. Far left is an image of Zig Zag Claybourne's books with social media tag @zzclaybourne. Below that is information for Suzan Palumbo: https://suzanpalumbo.carrd.co/ and @sillysyntax.bsky.social. Along the bottom center are images of the covers of Palumbo's 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 and 𝘚𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘦f and Sanchez-Taylor's 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 F𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘴. Top center displays A.W. Prihandita's information: https://awprihandita.com/. @awprihandita.bsky.social, and "Negative Scholarship on the Fifth State of Being" at https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/prihandita_11_24/. The right side of the screenshot shows panelists, from top to bottom: Joy Sanchez-Taylor, A.W. Prihandita, Zig Zag Claybourne, and Suzan Palumbo.

160

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

This wide-ranging exploration of "What is an embodied spirit?" intersected with so many schools of thought and metaphysical questions that some are still absorbing it. Many thanks to Mads Haahr and panel host Regina Hansen for a fantastic discussion following this foray into embodied spirits.

A screenshot of Zoom session. showing Mads Haahr and an image of a metallic, humanoid robot interacting with flowers, studying what it is to be a flower.

A screenshot of Zoom session. showing Mads Haahr and Regina Hansen.

121

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

VICFA 4 Distinguished Scholar Mads Haahr took us on an meditative and beautiful journey in his presentation, "Midnight in the Garden of Spirits." #IAFA #VICFA4 #FantasticArts #HauntedPlanet

A screenshot of Zoom session. showing Mads Haahr and the title page of his presentation, "Midnight in the Garden of Spirits."

A screenshot of Zoom session. showing Mads Haahr and a poster for "Bran Stoker's Vampires," an award-winning game from Haunted Planet.

A screenshot of Zoom session. showing Mads Haahr and a still image from Haunted Planet's "Bram Stoker's Vampires" that is a semi-opaque vampire woman against a dark outdoor neighborhood background.

A screenshot of Zoom session. showing Mads Haahr and a glowing lightbulb seemingly growing from the ground in the Garden of Spirits.

122

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

The IAFA Student Caucus's early morning VICFA4 panel with special guests, invited Creatives, and scholars hosted panelists from five continents! So many perspectives represented from locations across the globe is one of the best things about a virtual conference, as well as an international one.

The image is of a Zoom session with panelists and attendees shown. from left to right. Top row: Mads Haahr, BE Allatt, Joyce Ch'ng; middle row: David Farnell, Gillian Pollack, Michael Terlouw; bottom row: Luis Filipe Silva.

142

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

What a historic night! Prolific South Korean SF author Djuna spoke about their career and South Korean SF. We are so honored! Host Sang-Keun Yoo: "This marks the first time in history that a Korean SF writer has delivered a keynote address at a major international science fiction conference."

187

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Many thanks to Robert T. Tally Jr. for joining us for a special session on A Mismeasure of Orcs: A Critical Reassessment of Tolkien's Demonized Creatures! It was great to hear some of this critical text and have a discussion with its author. #VICFA4 #FantasticArts #IAFA #UnabashedOrcSympathizer

271

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts - IAFA @iafa.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

Are you curious what's in store for VICFA 4 and haven't registered for it yet? Not to fret! See our blog for a short schedule with participants' info removed to protect them. The full version will be sent to registered attendees soon, so don't delay; register for VICFA 4! We hope to see you there!

A strange multi-colored figure shaped like a person holding a staff is backlit by a light source that may or may not be the sun. The image is next to the front cover of the VICFA 4 program, which reads "The Virtual Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts / Embodied Spirits / Guests of Honor Bo-Young Kim | Djuna | Vince Gerardis | Mimi Mondal / Guest Scholar Mads Haahr / September 17-21, 2025

Distinguished Scholar Mads Haahr

132