Venice Immersive 2022 comes to VRChat
The international film festival is back in Venice. Among 43 XR projects are well-known names like Peaky Blinders VR.
After two largely virtual festival years, the world's oldest film festival is back in Venice, also with an XR program. On the island of Lazzaretto Vecchio in the Venice Lagoon, the International Film Festival will present the Venice Immersive Festival starting at the end of August. Represented are a total of 43 projects from 39 countries, including VR films, VR games, and other immersive experiences.
After exclusive press and industry days on August 30-31, the festival will be open to the public and accredited visitors from September 1-10. Technical support is provided by Meta and HTC. A supporting program in VRChat can also be visited from home (see below).
Over 40 VR movies and VR games
The program includes some familiar names to VR gamers, including Maze Theory's upcoming adventure Peaky Blinders: The King's Ransom and MikeTeevee's dreamlike, surreal puzzle game Shores of Loci.
Also represented are the insane climbing documentary The Soloist VR by John Griffith and the episodic VR space walk Space Explorers by Felix & Paul Studios.
A total of 30 projects will compete for the "Best Experience," "Grand Jury Prize" and "Special Jury Prize" awards. Ten projects will be presented out of competition under the title "Best of Venice Immersive".
The VR films in the "Biennale College Cinema VR" category for emerging filmmakers will also be shown out of competition. As part of a special event, organizers will screen Joe Hunting's documentary We Met in Virtual Reality, shot in the social app VRChat.
This year's name change from "Venice VR Expanded" to "Venice Immersive" is meant to reflect the growth of immersive media beyond virtual reality. The festival will also feature 360-degree videos, virtual worlds, installations, and live performances that use mixed reality techniques.
VR festival with supporting program in VRChat
Like last year, there will be a preview of the projects in VRChat, accessible from home with a VR headset. The digital counterpart of Lazzaretto Vecchio is being created together with the creators of the art event app Vroomm. It will once again serve accredited visitors as a networking hub and venue for virtual parties. In the "Worlds Gallery," 30 VRChat worlds can also be examined in guided tours.
For the full program, visit the official Venice Immersive 2022 website.
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