Jenna Ng, courtesy of University of York
The seventh edition of the Milan Machinima Festival features an international jury panel comprising four esteemed members, including Jenna Ng.
Jenna Ng is an accomplished multi-award-winning researcher, highly regarded in the fields of digital media and culture. With an impressive educational background, including a PhD from University College London, she has transitioned from a finance lawyer to a trailblazer in academic research. Her work is primarily focused on theoretical, cultural, and critical analyses that intersect digital and visual culture. Her areas of expertise are diverse, encompassing digital media, digital culture, creative technologies, AI and algorithmic culture, interactive storytelling, and interactive media.
Ng's commitment to digital media and culture is evident in her extensive publication record. She is known for her groundbreaking work in digital imaging, screen cultures, and interactive storytelling. Her innovative approach includes practice-based methodologies, leading to unique research outputs such as a second-screen installation for theatre performance, multimedia scholarship, video essays, and online open-access collaborative initiatives. Her latest project, a creative research website on the nature of virtuality, has earned accolades such as the John Culkin Award for Outstanding Praxis in the Field of Media Ecology, the Learning on Screen Special Jury Prize, and the MeCCSA Practice-Based Research of the Year award.
As an esteemed speaker, Ng has delivered over 25 invited talks worldwide, including keynotes and plenaries at major conferences like the Society of Cinema and Media Studies (SCMS) and the British Association of Film, Television and Screen Studies (BAFTSS). She has also been a guest speaker at various public events and a juror for the Critics’ Choice Award at the Milan Machinima Festival.
Ng’s first book, Understanding Machinima: Essays on Filmmaking in Virtual Worlds (Bloomsbury, 2013), is a multimedia academic collection exploring the remediation of machinima in various fields. It has been well-received for its insightful exploration of machinima and is considered a foundational text for the emerging field of machinima studies. Her second book, The Post-Screen Through Virtual Reality, Holograms and Light Projections: Where Screen Boundaries Lie (Amsterdam University Press, 2021), delves into new theories of image display and has been awarded Honourable Mention for Best First Monograph by BAFTSS. Ng’s third book, currently in progress, will explore the existential tensions of living in the age of Artificial Intelligence.
In addition to her books, Ng has contributed significantly to academic journals like Cinema Journal, Animation, Games and Culture, and Screening the Past. At the University of York, she serves as the Head of Creative Technologies and has held various significant roles, including founding the Interactive Media BSc programme and establishing the MA Digital Media and Culture programme. Jenna Ng's multifaceted career and contributions to the academic world underscore her status as a leading figure in the study and exploration of digital media and culture.
