VR Pavilion Returns to In-Person Format at Neimënster

During a press conference at Neumünster Abbey (neimënster) on Wednesday morning, Guy Daleiden, Director of Film Fund Luxembourg, and Ainhoa ​​Achutegui, Director of neimënster, unveiled the programme for this year's Virtual Reality (VR) Pavilion and VR Day (3 March 2022).

The 5^th edition of the VR Pavilion will return to its in-person format in the vaulted cellars of neimënster, as part of the 12^th edition of the Luxembourg City Film Festival (LuxFilmFest), which is taking place from 3 to 13 March 2022.

Ainhoa ​​Achutegui began by highlighting the good collaboration that has existed between Film Fund Luxembourg and neimënster over the past three years. She noted that the first edition in 2020 was very successful but had to end earlier than planned due to COVID-19. Last year's reduced format was also a success albeit less "extraordinary" than the 2020 edition. In any case, the project has managed to prove that VR is for all ages and tastes. 

Guy Daleiden joked that neimënster is "getting smaller and smaller with all the installations". He thanked neimënster and other project partners, namely LuxFilmFest, the PHI Centre in Montréal (Canada) and Digital Luxembourg, among others. Mr Daleiden emphasised that the VR Pavilion has become an integral part of LuxFilmFest. 

Throughout the duration of LuxFilmFest, the public will be able to discover at neinënster a dozen original and completely new experiences in a high-quality scenographic context that will immerse them in the heart of the action. The facilities will be free to access and all measures will be taken to ensure health security.

A specially equipped VR cinema will also offer a selection of 360° films allowing the public to be transported into the world of this technology.

As every year, the VR Pavilion programme will serve as a showcase for works produced or co-produced by Luxembourg; this is the case with "The Assembly" by Catherine Elsen (a Bidibul Productions co-production) which will be accessible at the opderschmelz cultural centre in Dudelange, "Le Bal de Paris" by Blanca Li (a Fabrique d'images co-production) and "Metamorphosis" by Karolina Markiewicz and Pascal Piron, which will return to neimënster. A live experience of "Le Bal de Paris" is also in the pipeline for May or June 2022.

International immersive works "The End of Night" by David Adler and "Glimpse" by Benjamin Cleary and Michael O'Connor, winners at the Venice Biennale, but also "The Book of Distance" by Randall Okita and "We are at home" by Michelle and Uri Kranot released right from the official selection of the Tribeca Festival will be part of this programme.

Guy Daleiden explained that each of the works featured at this year's VR Pavilion have been chosen because they tell a story, have a particular message and / or represent specific values.

The VR Pavilion will also be an opportunity for the Film Fund to organise the 4th edition of its VR Day on Thursday 3 March 2022, a day dedicated (but not limited) to professionals in the XR industry during which national and international experts will establish an inventory of XR after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event is also open to those interested in the evolution and production of new XR creations.

From 14 March 2022, the “VR to GO” concept, which emerged as a result of the pandemic, will make a comeback. The public will once again be able to rent a VR headset from neimënster for two to three days allowing them to watch all the VR Cinema works presented at the VR Pavilion from the comfort of their home. VR headsets will be made available at an affordable rental rate (€20) and will follow a strict sanitary protocol of disinfection with ultraviolet rays after each use.

2022 will also see the return of the VR competition, with the Grand Prix of €4,000 going to the best VR work. An experienced international jury comprised of Ana Brzezinska, Tupac Martir and Monique Simard will decide the winner; they will also be present in their function as experts at VR Day.

Further details about this year's VR Pavilion, including the full programme, are available at: http://www.filmfund.lu/film-catalogue/films/vr-pavilion-vr-to-go-2022.