By Travis Johnson
The film industry and other creative sectors are embracing Virtual Reality and are keen to show off its imaginative and technical possibilities. The Melbourne International Film Festival is getting in on the act, with a special VR Showcase program running at SpACE@Collins from August 9-14.
Australian and international creators will showcase their work, illustrating the broad sweep of possibilities inherent in this emerging medium. As MIFF programmer Al Cossar noted, “In a year where MIFF celebrates its 65th Anniversary, it’s also fantastic to look forward to the future possibilities of storytelling. MIFF is proud to present boundary-pushing VR experiences from some of the best Australian and international artists currently writing the rules and setting the standard for a new technology, a new medium whose potential is quickly being discovered.”
Guests include Madagascar writer and director, Eric Darnell, who will be presenting his VR experience, Invasion!, wherein two bunny rabbits contend with an alien incursion; Jessica Brillhart, the principal VR filmmaker at Google; and local filmmaker Oscar Raby, who will be bringing his works The Turning Forest and Easter Rising: Voice of a Rebel.
Seven VR films will also screen: The Ark, Jafri, Invasion!, Invisible, Notes on Blindness: Into Darkness, VR Noir: A Day Before Night and 6×9: An Immersive Experience of Solitary Confinement. Up to eight viewers will be able to experience each film simultaneously.
For full details, head over to the MIFF website.
