LynchCon ‘26 Call For Proposals

David Lynch: The Darkness of Future Past

Saturday, June 6, 2026
Online conference, via Zoom

David Lynch’s sudden passing last year left behind an extraordinary body of work spanning film, television, fine art and beyond. One year on, this moment offers an opportunity to look back at his work as a now-completed whole, while also considering how it might continue to speak to us going forward. Our first annual event will explore Lynch’s work from a variety of perspectives and academic levels via presentations, panels and group discussions. Your contribution will add great clarity to the occasion.

You're invited to participate

We welcome submissions from scholars, philosophers and artists across all professional fields and career levels, in a variety of formats, including formal presentations and video essays. Given the breadth of Lynch’s own work, limited space will be made for creative expression and short performance pieces, such as music, poetry and personal recollections. Please use the submission form below.

Format

Each session will feature three formal talks. Following their individual presentations, these speakers will reconvene as a panel for a moderated Q&A and open discussion. 
Talks: Up to 20 minutes, supported by visuals (e.g., PowerPoint or similar). 
Panels: 15-20 minutes.
Videos: Video presentations: Up to 10 minutes.
Stories, music & poetry: Stories, music and poetry: 3–5 minutes.

Submission deadline: April 1, 2026

Please submit a talk proposal of 200 words or less, along with a short bio. For music or video submissions, please include a link to a sample of your work. Acceptance notices will be sent out by April 15.

Thought Starters

Feel free to use these ideas for inspiration, but don’t let them limit you. 
Intersections: Lynch’s films sometimes quote other films or refer to real events. How do these intersections deepen our appreciation of his work, or of the world itself?
Dream Logic: How does the unusual, even confounding storytelling logic of Lynch’s films support their themes and concerns? What is the logic behind this seemingly illogical approach?Metaphysics & Spirituality: How can Lynch’s films deepen or challenge engagement with such traditions as Christian mysticism, Neoplatonism or Zen Buddhism? 
Philosophy: How does Lynch’s cinema think? Is there a “Lynchian” way of understanding reality, selfhood or morality? 
Beyond the screen: What can be said about Lynch’s work outside cinema—his painting, furniture and other media? 
Story Time: Do you have a Lynch-related, perhaps “The Moth”-like story to tell? For example, how were you first exposed to Lynch’s work, and how did it affect you?