Virtual Reality

(Virtual Reality)

Virtual reality offers immersive experiences of unseen imaginary worlds as well as starkly real, urgent topics that resonate across society: from an anti-capitalist fairy tale About a Sad Little Mouse Who Wanted to Be Someone, to the visual epic Revival Roadshow, which deconstructs Dutch colonialism in Australia, and finally to a gentle essay on mental health in Japan, When You See a Cat.

This year’s selection is dominated by themes that set the mind—and sometimes even the body—in motion. You certainly won’t remain still during the darkly humorous and chilling game We Are Dead Animals, which tasks you with collecting dead animals in a post-apocalyptic landscape. But virtual reality can also be a powerful medium for raw, documentary testimony about terrifying realities. A report on the genocide in Gaza is brought by the film Under One Sky, in which a local journalist closely witnesses the destruction of his homeland.

Choose for yourself which films you want to watch during the hour-long blocks at Gallery 35 at the French Institute (the films run from 12 to 40 minutes). Seven films are in English, and the film 8 Billion Selves has no dialogue, making it accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing.

Films from the screening block

A collapsed building with a pile of rubble, around which people are walking. In the distance, other buildings can be seen.

Virtual reality

Under the Same Sky

Under the same sky, a completely different world exists. This documentary film offers an intimate look into the daily reality of Gaza’s inhabitants and shows what life looks like amidst constant threat.

The room is illuminated by red light, with a bed on which there are pillows and plush toys. On the wall, there are photographs, and beside the bed, there is a bookshelf.

Virtual reality

Another Place

A young trans woman awaits asylum in France, wandering the city at night in a state of unease. Will she ever return home to her cats?

A person is standing on the roof of a building and looking at the city with the Eiffel Tower in the background at sunset.

Virtual reality

The Sad Story of the Little Mouse Who Wanted to Become Somebody

An animated Christmas tale about a clever little mouse driven by the pursuit of recognition and success, only to discover what is lost when genuine creativity is replaced by corporate practices and machinery.

Surrealistic figure composed of various animal and plant elements on a turquoise background.

Virtual reality

We Are Dead Animals

Have you ever wondered what a fox with a pigeon’s head might look like? This VR game lets you play with dead animals. You can revive them, splice them together, or even eat them to save yourself from death.

Illustration of children with backpacks walking between cars, one of the children is looking at a cat sitting on the hood of a car.

Virtual reality

If You See a Cat

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to see the world through a cat’s eyes? This immersive virtual reality film offers a way to look at things from an unusual perspective.

Two people in red overalls and helmets are sitting in a motorboat on the water. In the background, wind turbines and a large ship can be seen.

Virtual reality

8 Billion Selves

Is it possible to attain uniqueness among eight billion others? 8 Billion Selves is a flowing, dreamlike journey through a world where people “are born, work, wage war, love, dance, create art, and die”.

A person in armor holds a flag and stands on a pile of rubbish under a cloudy sky.

Virtual reality

Revival Roadshow

This provocative comedy takes aim at consumerism, colonial fantasies, and the dangerous belief that charismatic leaders can save us from catastrophe.

A room with a broken mirror, a sofa with cushions, and a coffee table on which papers are lying. Red petals are floating in the air.

Virtual reality

Space for Action

Violence alternates with love bombing, a seemingly endless cycle of abuse that many women are forced to endure. Inspired by real-life stories, this film gives survivors the space to express their experiences and emotions.

All screenings

A ticket to the Lucerna Gallery for films from the Immersive Films Competition category is always valid for a specific time slot. If there is available capacity, it is possible to stay longer in the Lucerna Gallery. The ticket can also be purchased as part of a discounted package.

12. 03. 15:00