The Australian Screen Production Education and Research Association (ASPERA) annual conference brings together screen production educators, researchers, and practitioners to share insights, strengthen teaching and research, and foster local and international collaboration. Since 2004, the event has been hosted by a different member institution each year. In 2025, the University of Wollongong hosts the conference under the theme "Experiments in Screen."

This year’s conference celebrates experimentation in Australian screen production, education, and research. From the earliest days of cinema to the rise of AI-generated imagery, innovation has thrived when artists push beyond convention—whether through bold storytelling, unconventional production methods, or playful engagement with image and sound.

Across three days, filmmakers, educators, and industry practitioners will explore how curiosity, risk-taking, and creative disruption shape the way we teach, make, and think about screen media. The program features daily keynote presentations from prominent voices in the field, a full schedule of papers, roundtables, and panels, plus updates from the ASPERA community. Together, we’ll examine how experimental approaches amplify diverse voices, reimagine our connections to place, and transform the screen industries.

Full schedule and program to be announced soon!

VENUE

UOW Jillian Broadbent Building 29
Ground floor G07
Registration from 8:30am Tuesday

TRAVEL

NSW Trip Planner is a useful tool for navigating public transport around Sydney https://transportnsw.info/trip#/trip Opal Cards can be purchased to use for ticketing, alternatively any bank or credit card or smart phone with payWave function can be used directly on the ticket sensors.

Airport - the easiest and most cost effective way to reach Wollongong from Sydney Domestic Airport is by train. The airport train station is located beneath the terminals. Catch one of the frequent trains to Wolli Creek. From Wolli Creek change platform for the South Coast Line to North Wollongong. There's an express service roughly every hour (not on the hour). The journey should take approximately 1.5 hours from Domestic Airport to North Wollongong Station.

North Wollongong Station - North Gong Shuttle is a frequent free bus between UOW main campus and North Wollongong Station.

Wollongong City - The Gong Shuttle is a free bus service that regularly circles around the Wollongong CBD and stops at UOW campus. Finding accommodation on or near this route is convenient.

Sydney - South Coast Line trains depart from a variety of stations in the CBD. There's an express service roughly every hour (not on the hour). The journey should take approximately 1.5 hours from the city to North Wollongong Station.

Parking - ticketed parking is available on UOW campus. P4 Western Carpark is the closest car park to the conference venue. Driving between Sydney and North Wollongong takes approximately 1.5 hours. EV charge facilities (operated through Chargefox) are available on campus.

Here is a Getting to Wollongong Campus Guide

ACCOMMODATION

Wollongong city and surrounding suburbs have a wide range of accomodation options from hotels by the beach to B&Bs nestled in the mountains.

We have secured a couple of special accomodation deals for ASPERA delegates:

Novotel Wollongong Northbeach

https://all.accor.com/hotel/1654/index.en.shtml

The booking code is 2511ASPERA or mention the “ASPERA conference @ UOW”. To receive the discount, guests will have to contact the hotel directly either via email or on 02 4224 3111 and ask for the Reservations Department and quote either the code or the event to receive the discount. Office hours are 8am-6pm Mon-Fri and 9am-5pm Saturday.

The reservations team will provide a quote of a discounted rate of 15% based on the rates on offer. Rates do fluctuate so they may not be the same as each day.

SAGE Hotel Wollongong

https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/fiQ3CE8wRRtEQl7AUNf2i7C2tX?domain=be.synxis.com
Promotional code: GRPUOW
Valid for stays across: 23/11/25 - 29/11/25

CONTACT

Please do not hesitate to contact Aaron with any questions:
conference@aspera.org.au
SMS 0418652672

https://www.aspera.org.au/