The Festival de Cannes is introducing a new Immersive Competition, aimed at highlighting the next generation of international artists who are redefining storytelling through new narrative-driven experiences that transcend the traditional two-dimensional cinema screen. The competition will feature immersive, collective, and interactive works that utilize virtual reality, augmented reality and other cutting-edge technologies to transport audiences to other worlds, narratives, and eras.
The competition is supported by the National Center for Cinema and the moving image (CNC). For its inaugural edition, a committee of industry experts and Festival representatives will select eight immersive works in competition. In addition, a curated selection of non-competitive works that illustrate the synergy between immersive experiences and cinema will complement the program.
The selected works will be accessible to Festival de Cannes and Marché du Film attendees throughout the Festival, from May 15 to 24. The works will be displayed in an exhibition space at the Cannes Cineum – the cinema complex of Cannes La Bocca – and the Georges Méliès Campus, a university institution dedicated to creative writing and film.
This initiative comes seven years after Alejandro González Iñárritu made history at the 70th edition of the Festival de Cannes with his groundbreaking virtual reality piece, ‘Carne y Arena’ (Virtually Present, Physically Invisible), marking the first immersive work ever presented as an official selection at a major film festival. Iñárritu received a special Academy Award for the project and continues to be a prominent figure at Cannes, even serving as President of the Jury in 2019.
The in-competition works will compete for the Best Immersive Work prize. An international jury composed of notable figures from cinema and immersive art will present the award at a special closing ceremony, celebrating the creativity and innovation of immersive artists.
Alongside the Immersive Competition, the Marché du Film will continue to explore the commercial and technical aspects of the immersive sector through a lineup of conferences, expert panels, demonstrations and professional networking events. Also, Cannes Immersive, supported by artist Jean-Michel Jarre and the CNC, aims to establish Cannes as a global hub for immersive creations and AI-generated art. Innovative events will be integrated into existing and upcoming Cannes events to showcase Cannes as a premier destination for immersive cultural experiences. Cannes Immersive will also create a permanent venue in Cannes to showcase exceptional immersive creations.
