Immersive Tech Week 2022 reveals first projects of Church of VR selection

Immersive Tech Week 2022 reveals first projects of Church of VR selection

• Selection includes original works as well as critically acclaimed and award-winning projects, including works from the VR Awards finalists.
• The selection features world premieres and Dutch premieres.?
• Church of VR open for attendees of Immersive Tech Week with a Full, Day, Student or Trade Pass 10.00 -13.00 and general public 13.00-17.00?in de Doelen, Rotterdam.

Rotterdam?- Today, VRDays Europe's?Immersive Tech Week?revealed the preliminary selection for its Church of VR: a collection featuring some of the most inspiring national and international XR works of the year. The selection features new and original works as well as critically acclaimed and award-winning projects, and for the first time reveals works from the?VR Awards?finalists. The lineup also includes both world premieres and Dutch premieres.?

The current 2022 selection of Church of VR is as follows:

CATEGORY:?BREAKING BOUNDARIES

Showcases urgent topics and works that inspire reflection and debate in our society at large.?

• This is not a ceremony?-?National Film board of Canada (New Frontiers Sundance)?- Dutch premiere
• The Choice?-?Infinite Frame Media (Audience Award Winner SXSW 2022 + VR Awards finalist)?
• (Hi)Story of a Painting: The Light in the Shadow?-?Fat Red Bird and Monkey Frame (Winner SXSW 2022)?- Dutch premiere

CATEGORY: INNER WORLDS.

Investigates our inner human experiences as well as virtual poetry.

• Immortelle?-?MUTEK Immersive collection?- Dutch premiere
• I pity the garden?-?Mariam Natroshvili and Detu Jincharadze?- Dutch premiere
• Diary of a shapeshifter?-?Variable Means?- World premiere
• Darkening?-?Frame Films?- Dutch premiere?

CATEGORY: PERSPECTIVES ON OUR VIRTUAL EXISTENCE

Embraces, questions and explores this post-physical era.

• Quantum Bar?-?XaosPrincess?- World premiere
• Uncanny Alley?-?Rick Treweek,?Metaverse and Community?- Dutch premiere
• Clouded VR?-?UNI_VERSE studio?- World premiere

CATEGORY: DANCING THE DIGITAL

Explore performance and movement in digital space.

• Chroma 11?-?ifva, Hong Kong Arts Centre?- Dutch premiere
• Everywhen?-?Maria Judova?- Dutch premiere?

CATEGORY: VIRTUAL REALITY (EXPLORE)

Delves into immersive and interactive experiences, from documentary to gaming, from educational to drama and everything?in between.

• Space Explorers ISS Experience: Spacewalkers?-?Felix & Paul Studios?
• Kubo walks the City?-?Innerspace VR (Tribeca & Kaohsiung Competition 2022)
• Lavrynthos?-?Delirium XR (Kaboom competition 2022)
• From the Main Square?-?Babelsberg Film University (Winner Venice Biennale 2022)?- Dutch premiere

Innovation needs creativity

Compared to other media such as books and film, VR is still a young medium and its immersive qualities provide a unique and personal way of storytelling, different from any other medium before. With Church of VR, Immersive Tech Week aims to unite and showcase the most innovative and immersive ways to experience storytelling in VR from around the world.

“Through creativity, artists overcome cultural and technical barriers, change our perspectives, and inspire the XR industry and future development of immersive technologies,” said?Benjamin de Wit, founder VRDays and director of Immersive Tech Week. “With Church of VR, we hope to create an environment for inspiration and growth for people from all walks of life, and professionals from business, science and arts, making Immersive Tech Week an industry event like no other.”

Heralding a new era in VR storytelling

The Church of VR selection was put together by award-winning audiovisual artist and philosopher Victorine van Alphen.

“What can VR do that no other medium can do? I was delighted to see VR becoming more expressive and unique in what it tells and how,” said?van Alphen. “Since no physical rules limit our imagination in VR, VR is a powerful and poetic tool to investigate deep human experiences. I was also stunned with how many works - whether subtle or confrontingly - break social taboos and conventions. This year’s selection truly demonstrates what makes VR unique and powerful, and I was honoured to assist in the selection.”

Event information:

Church of VR entrance can be found at de Doelen’s Willem Burger Hall Entrance at: Kruisplein 40, 3012 CC Rotterdam

Ticket price:?29 Euros

Full Pass, Day Pass, Student Pass and Trade Show pass attendees of Immersive Tech Week have access to Church of VR included.

Opening Hours: Full/Day/Student/Trade pass holders exclusive 10.00 -13.00?and general public 13.00-17.00 at Immersive Tech Week 2022 in Rotterdam. Monday starts at 13:00