While the Offical Opening Screening of the 2016 Luxembourg Film Festival is not until tomorrow (Thursday) evening, Wednesday saw the official opening of the Magic Mirrors festival headquarters on the Place de la Constitution in Luxembourg city centre, with its full virtual reality corner.
The speeches were relatively short, with Guy Arendt, Secretary of State for Culture, and Colette Flesch, President of the Organising Committee, welcomed everyone and Mariette Goniva, standing in for Pierre Bley, President of the Oeuvre Nationale de Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte, explained the work of the charity.
The evening also included the launch of the 360° film "Hotel Budapest" directed by Eric Lamhène and produced by Bernard Michaux, which was made available via mobile app and (disposable) cardboard viewers, with Oculus Rift equipment on site for others to experience the full effects. The 10-minute film feature Syrian refugees at the Hungarian border. the director also mentioned another short film, less than 4 minutes in duration, of a protagonist experiencing the refugee recption centre at LuxExpo in Luxembourg-Kirchberg.
Many of those featured in the film were in attendance, with the vernissage including culinary specialities from Syria.
See www.luxfilmfest.lu for full details. The link to the two films are at www.realab.lu - you need just an Android smartphone or iPhone to view them both.
Photos by Geoff Thompson
