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press kitThe showcase of french VR creation

C U LT U R E V RCULTURE VR

As the Cannes film festival celebrates its 70th birthday, French authors, producers and artists continue to explore uncharted territories in terms of creation and nar-ration, notably through the opportunities offered by new technologies. Having shone in the fields of special effects, animation, or digital writing, the french cinematographic scenery has been exploring over the last few years the fascinating field of virtual reality.

Watchful of the developments of new practices and of the emergence of new markets, France is making a name for itself on the international stage through the quality of its productions and the quick structuring of the field. Following closely the evolution of various technologies, of equipments and tools which are constantly evolving, French creation offers through a diverse and fascinating body of works new experiences in terms of immersive and interactive narrative.

By placing digital innovation at the heart of its strategy, the French Institute and french cultural network abroad actively support the development of this field by promoting the international diffusion of French works, authors, and technological know-how. The French foreign cultural action allowed for the promotion of French VR abroad: from Beirut to Singapore through New York, Chicago, Bogota, Dar-El-Salam, Johannesburg, Bangkok and Hong-Kong. Both the general public and profession-als were able to discover the wealth of French productions, not only in television and motion pictures but also across the wide spectrum of its creative fields: living theatre, visual arts, music, video games, books, or education. These are as many fields in which the French Institute promotes the creations of French professionals around the world.

Today the French Institute offers to discover the cultural creations in virtual reality through culture vr, a website dedicated to the field. This unique online panorama is multilingual, participative and scalable, and aims to gather and present for the very first time the body of works and the cultural actors of the field (authors, producers, publishers, distributors...).

«Virtual Reality». Few names can claim to be so boldly contradictory. Yet, the expression perfectly captures the upheaval in our perception of the world and of the other brought about by the digital revolution. Since this revolution brings with it countless new creative opportunities, new means to promote works, thought, or yet new ways of learning, the French Institute made it one of its top priorities.

editorial Agnès AlfandariDigital DirectorFrench Institute

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missions

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Over the past two years, the French have made a name for themselves on the international VR stage. Numerous expe-riences have been awarded in international festivals and the enthusiasm for French productions is tangible from key American VR actors, exhibitions commissioners, Festival com-mittees, and foreign producers.

The appeal of VR creation is strong in France, and a distinctive creative identity is emerging. What are its staples? In which way does it carry specific themes and practices? How does it link with existing practices, and finally what does it bring to the rising ecosystem of global VR?

It is by exploring a selection of works and by exchanging with its authors that culture vr attempts to answer these questions, by capturing the excitement of these experimental years and by documenting the invention of a new language to address immersion, experience and sensorial space.

Through three different thematics, culture vr explores these new virtual realities: visual arts, performing arts, and finally filmed and interactive narratives.

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A primary selection of 25 cultural works of VR, to come out

between May and July3 thematic paths: film and interactive,

visual arts, theatre arts

Filmed interviews with key authors of the VR scene

portraits of French VR figures

20

A glossary in order to better understand creative VR

abc

A directory of the main producers, broadcasters and useful resources

of cultural VR in France

A constant update as important and innovative works are released

C U LT U R E V RCULTURE VR

the artworks

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Firebird - La PériBalthazar Auxiètre /Innerspace

Regarded as a pioneer work of VR, Firebird - La Péri was met with great enthusiasm, mainly thanks to an inter-active narrative that borrows as much from dancing and music than from vir-tual worlds. A must play experience.

AlterationJérôme BlanquetOKIO-STUDIO

Alexandro volunteers for an experi-ment carried out to study dreams in this poetic trip into the future. He can’t imagine that he will be subjected to the intrusion of Elsa, a form of Artificial Intelligence who aims to digitize his subconscious in order to feed off of it.

The EnemyKarim Ben KhelifaCamera Lucida, Chloé Jarry

An innovative, immersive experience in the heart of the planet’s long-est-running conflicts, and at the inter-section of virtual reality, neuroscience, artificial intelligence and storytelling.

Atelier Utrillo et ValadonArtofCorner, Frédéric Purgal& Arforia, Henri Vivier etGuillaume Gourier

A mesmerizing photogrammetric experience in the universes of painters Valadon and Utrillo, in the heart of village Montmatre.

Fan ClubVincent Ravalec/a_ BAHNLes Films du Garage

Fan Club is the first VR feature film of Vincent Ravalec. With Sylvie Testud, Irène Jacob, Mathieu Kassovitz, Denis Lavant.

L’OiseleuseHayoun Kwon

After the noteworthy DMZ, Hayoun Kwon showcases in The Bird Catch-er the way a particular memory is created. This ambitious project is well served by the possibilities of VR.

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LegacyBenjamin HuelLes Produits Frais, Honkytonk

Far, far away in the future, Earth has become an unfriendly place. Huma-nity has left the planet and colonized other solar systems. Access to Earth is now strictly regulated.

La Tentation de Saint AntoineCarlos FranklinLes Poissons Volants

The film explores the uncanny creati-vity of Hieronymus Bosch. The 360° experience transforms his triptych in an animated space and allows us to dive into one of the masterpieces of this undeniable genius from middle age.

Red Light, Green LightArnault Labaronne / Wonda VR

Maybe you remember playing the game Red Light, Green Light as a kid, also known as the “Statues”game… Discover the life of a stranger playing this game in VR to unveil his worst and best memories.

Las Meninas de Diego VelázquezCarlos FranklinLes Poissons Volants

A VR work between illusion and rea-lity, revealing how Velázquez seizes our senses and endlessly questions our reason.

A primary selection of 25 cultural works of VR, to come

out between May and July

C U LT U R E V RCULTURE VR

culturevr.fr

C U LT U R E V RCULTURE VR

culturevr.fr

C U LT U R E V RCULTURE VR

culturevr.fr

C U LT U R E V RCULTURE VR

culturevr.fr

C U LT U R E V RCULTURE VR

culturevr.fr

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The Institut français, under the aegis of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development and the Ministry of Culture and Communication, active-ly contributes to France’s soft power. Its projects and programs take local contexts into account and can be successfully implemented thanks to the vast network of the French Embassies’ cultural services, as well as the many Instituts français and Alliances Françaises pres-ent across five continents. Its task is at the crossing of all the cultural fields (visual arts, cinema, architecture, performing arts, music, book), intellectual exchanges, cultural and social innovation and linguistic cooperation. It supports the promotion of French language, the cir-culation of works, artists, ideas and innovation across the world.

culture vr, is an initiative by the French Institute

C U LT U R E V RCULTURE VR

C U LT U R E V RCULTURE VR

credits contacts

Communication Department

Jean-François GuégannoDirectorT +33 (0)1 53 69 83 06 jeanfrancois.gueganno@institutfrancais.com

Hélène ConandDeputy Director of Communication T +33 (0)1 53 69 83 51 helene.conand@institutfrancais.com

Olivier CoudercPress AttachéT + 33 (0)1 53 69 83 86 olivier.couderc@institutfrancais.com

Digital Department

Sarah ArcacheHead of Digital Cooperation and DevelopmentT + 33 1 53 69 83 41 sarah.arcache@institutfrancais.com

Concept and project management

Sarah ArcacheHead of Digital Cooperation and Development, Institut français

Clara AstierDigital Project Manager,Institut français

Coordination and productionFabien Siouffi

Art direction and Graphic desginFrancisca Torres (byfrancis.pt)

Web developmentLlos.co

Film direction Molly Ledoux

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Discover the best from the french VR scene press kit