HOLLYWOOD MEMORIES at the HoMER Conference 2026
The Hollywood Memories team once again took part in the annual conference of the HoMER (History of Moviegoing, Exhibition and Reception) network. The conference took place from 8 to 10 July, with workshops held the day before, and was hosted by the University of Exeter. This year’s conference was organised in collaboration with Cinema for All (a charity dedicated to the promotion and development of community cinema in the UK); the theme reflected the organisation’s 100th anniversary and its commitment to community cinema. You can view the full programme here. Below you will find an overview of our days at the conference, including our panel session where we presented the findings of our case studies, as well as some photos we took during our trip.
Our team arrived in Exeter, UK, after two short flights and a long layover. Because we arrived so late, we weren’t able to attend the pre-conference workshops, but we made it just in time for the pub quiz at the White Hart Inn. We didn’t win any of the top prizes—which included T-shirts and tote bags sponsored by Cinema For All—but we finished in a satisfying middle spot. We’ll practice more for the next pub quiz that’s surely coming up!
The next day was very eventful: After registering and greeting old and new friends, we had the opportunity to take a guided tour of the Bill Douglas Museum at the University of Exeter. The exhibition features artifacts from all areas of cinema and film history: from 17th-century antiques to scrapbooks, program booklets, and promotional materials—and much more—we were able to experience the history of cinema up close. Afterward, we attended the general sessions (you can read more about the various presentations here) before traveling on to Dartington Hall to watch a special screening of the short documentary Rebels with Projectors (2025) by Cinema for All.
The big day finally arrived: After more general sessions and a light lunch, our team presented a panel on the topic “Shared Screens, Shared Worlds: Hollywood Memories and Global Viewer Communities.” Clara Pafort-Overduin kindly chaired our panel, which was opened by Tina with her presentation “Blockbuster Mentality: Identity and Community Formation in U.S. Video Rental Stores,” which was based on initial findings from the U.S. case study. Next up was Kathleen, who presented “Screams, Sequels, and Social Bonds: Horror Audiences in Mexico,” sharing Alejandra’s findings from the Mexican case study. Unfortunately, Alejandra herself was unable to attend this year. Yining delivered the concluding presentation on “Young Chinese Viewer Communities of Hollywood Fantasy Blockbusters,” offering insights particularly into the younger generations in her case study. The day ended with a keynote from Cinema for All and the conference dinner at Rockfish on Exeter Quays, where we had the opportunity to exchange ideas with more of our fellow researchers.
Friday was the last day of HoMER 2026: We had the opportunity to hear more presentations from our wonderful colleagues, participate in workshops on new research projects, and attend the annual general meeting, including all related organizational matters. The conference fittingly concluded at a pub with well-deserved drinks and food.
Saturday was travel day: Yining continued on to Bristol and then to London, while Kathleen and Tina took a flight back to Hannover in the afternoon. Before their departure, they took a short city tour—they visited the cathedral, bought souvenirs, ate ice cream, and drank iced coffee to beat the heat. In the evening, they arrived home safely, bringing this year’s HoMER conference to a close.
Register now to participate in the HOLLYWOOD MEMORIES project!
You want to be part of the project and share your memories of Hollywood movies with us? Then register here to participate. We will let you know when the questionnaire is launched on our digital research platform.