Venice Immersive | Venice Insider Guide

The 81st Venice International Film Festival, taking place from August 28 to September 7, 2024, presents Venice Immersive, a dedicated section to the ever-evolving world of Extended Reality (XR).

This year, the Venice Immersive section returns to the Venice Immersive Island (Isola del Lazzaretto Vecchio), just off the coast of the Lido of Venice, offering a comprehensive exploration of immersive media.

What is Venice immersive?

Venice Immersive is the Venice International Film Festival’s platform for showcasing the best in immersive media. It encompasses all forms of XR creative expression, including immersive videos, XR installations, haptic experiences, and virtual worlds.

This section aims to push the boundaries of storytelling by blending traditional cinematic techniques with cutting-edge technology, providing audiences with a deep dive into the future of narrative experiences.

A diverse selection of Venice immersive projects

The Venice Immersive 2024 selection is a testament to the diversity and innovation within the XR industry. A total of 63 projects from 25 countries have been curated, ranging from 360° videos to standalone VR experiences, installations, and virtual worlds hosted on VRChat. The selection is divided into several categories:

26 Projects in Competition: These are the best and most innovative XR projects competing for top honors at the festival.
30 Projects in the Best of Immersive Section: Split into two categories, "Best of Experiences" and "Best of Worlds," these projects represent the pinnacle of immersive storytelling and virtual world creation.
7 Projects from the Biennale College Cinema Immersive: These projects are developed through the Biennale’s initiative to support and nurture new talents in the XR field.

Accessing Venice immersive

Venice Immersive is accessible to all accredited participants of the 81st Venice International Film Festival. The Venice Immersive Island, where all the XR experiences are hosted, is open to festival attendees, and a free shuttle service runs from Riva di Corinto to the island, with the crossing taking just three minutes.

For those specifically interested in Venice Immersive, special accreditation is available. This allows access to the selected projects and comes in three formats:

2-DAYS Venice Immersive Accreditation (€40)
5-DAYS Venice Immersive Accreditation (€60)
10-DAYS Venice Immersive Accreditation (€100)

This accreditation is available to anyone over 18 years old and allows the holder to experience the full spectrum of Venice Immersive’s offerings. The XR experiences can be viewed by reservation only, with time slots available from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily during the festival.

Booking Your Venice immersive experience

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience, all accredited participants must reserve their viewing slots online through the festival’s dedicated platform. Press previews are scheduled for August 27, while accredited press, industry professionals, and Venice Immersive participants can start booking from August 28. Other accredited attendees can begin booking from August 29.

Venice Immersive is not just a showcase of XR projects; it is a gateway to exploring the future of immersive media. Whether you are a filmmaker, a tech enthusiast, or simply curious about the next frontier in storytelling, Venice Immersive offers an unparalleled experience in the heart of one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals.

The impact of Venice Immersive on the Extended Reality Landscape

The Venice Immersive section at the 81st Venice International Film Festival is a highlight of the extended reality (XR) world. Held on the Venice Immersive Island (Isola del Lazzaretto Vecchio), this section of the festival is entirely devoted to immersive media, encompassing virtual worlds, virtual reality, and immersive arts.

As part of La Biennale di Venezia’s commitment to advancing the visual arts, Venice Immersive creates a unique platform for XR creative expression.

The Venice Immersive selection features projects from 25 countries and offers a broad spectrum of immersive experiences, from VR theatre to worlds gallery installations.

This year’s festival includes a range of new and innovative projects, many of which have their world premieres at Venice Immersive.

The Venice Production Bridge and the Venice Gap Financing Market further support these immersive projects by providing crucial industry connections and financing opportunities.

The Venice Immersive section

The Venice Immersive section includes competitive categories such as the Venice Immersive Grand Prize, the Immersive Special Jury Prize, and the Venice Immersive Achievement Prize, recognizing excellence in this new art form.

The Special Immersive Jury Prize and the Immersive Media Achievement Prize are awarded to standout works, showcasing the festival’s dedication to highlighting the most significant advances in virtual and mixed reality.

As part of the festival's official program, the Venice Immersive accreditation provides access to all XR experiences and immersive projects, including those released or premiered elsewhere. This dedicated Venice Immersive accreditation offers a comprehensive experience for industry professionals, independent artists, and accredited visitors.

The Venice Immersive Market and Biennale College Cinema VR further facilitate connections and development within the XR industry, reflecting the festival’s role as a major platform for XR extended reality.

In addition to its prominence at the Venice International Film Festival, Venice Immersive has sparked enormous interest among international professionals and film industry insiders, rivaling even the Cannes Film Festival in its scope and impact.

The immersive experiences presented at Venice Immersive are a testament to the evolving nature of creative expression in the digital age, making it a key destination for those engaged in the immersive arts and XR extended reality.