VR Films ‘The Line’ & ‘The Key’ win big at Venice Film Festival 2019

The prestigious Venice International Film Festival concluded this weekend having showcased some of the best immersive experiences from around the world as part of the virtual reality (VR) programme. Featuring 26 projects, there were three competition categories with The Key, The Line and Daughters of Chibok taking away awards.

Awarded the Grand Jury Prize for Best VR immersive Work was The Key, directed Celine Tricart and produced by Gloria Bradbury and Celine Tricart of Lucid Dreams Productions. Narrated by actress and activist Alia Shawkat, it is a room-scale interactive experience where the audience is invited to pursue their own journey into darkness making their way to light. The twists and turns selected by the viewer then uncover a hidden past.

“We are so honoured to receive this award for Best VR Film, and to have had the opportunity to show The Key to the Festival and the Biennale audiences,” said Tricart in a statement. “Over the course of 10 days, more than 500 people went through the experience, cried, laughed and reflected with us. This project is derived from the hard work of a diverse team whose mission is to raise awareness about issues around the world. We are grateful for the opportunity to use immersive theatre and VR as a means to tell stories and help communities understand each other.”

A Linha (The Line), created by Brazil’s ARVORE Immersive Experiences won the Best VR Immersive Experience for Interactive Content. Narrated by Rodrigo Santoro (Westworld) and directed by Ricardo Laganaro, The Line follows the story of Pedro and Rosa, two miniature dolls who are perfect for each other, but reluctant to break boundaries to overcome limitations and live out their love story.

“It is a true honour to receive the award for Best VR Experience. We strived to break the mould in VR and deliver something to the Venice audience that would touch their hearts,” said Laganaro. “I’m thankful to my team at ARVORE, for their hard work and dedication to the project. A Linha reminds you to take chances and embody the moment.”

While Daughters of Chibok by Joel Kachi Benson won Best VR Immersive Story for Linear Content, documenting the Nigerian community of Chibok where terrorist group Boko Haram abducted 276 teenage schoolgirls. The piece deals with the aftermath of the kidnappings.

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