Discover the immersive world of virtual reality in our Virtual Reality Cinema. Explore innovative documentaries, playful animation and hair-raising experiences, using one of the latest consumer models to hit the market, the Samsung Gear VR.

This 1 hour session will give you the opportunity to browse from a selection of films on your own headset. See below for more information about the experiences on offer. Age 14+

Purchase of a ticket to the Virtual Reality Studio includes a free ticket to the Tech Hub on the same day. To claim your free ticket, visit the EDEF box office on on the day of your session and present your Virtual Reality Studio ticket. You may then choose to access the Tech hub before or after your session.

Virtual Reality Films

Notes on Blindness: Into Darkness

Using audio recordings from the late professor and author John M. Hull, who narrated his own deteriorating vision on a series of cassette tapes, this immersive experience simulates what it feels like to go blind. Your surroundings begin as ill-defined blobs of light, as the narrator slowly pieces together what’s going on around him based on audio cues. The multi-chapter experience, with each chapter representing different locations from parks to churches, manages to be chilling, disorienting, mesmerizing, and relaxing at the same time.

The Artist of Skid Row

Ramiro Puentes is an outstanding artist – photographs, paintings, sculpture, poetry. But more than that, he’s risen from crippling poverty and used art to reimagine the streets of Skid Row.

The Dolphin Project

The Dolphin Project 360 is the first virtual reality film that takes you swimming with wild dolphins to help urge humanity to put an end to their captivity.

The Crystal Reef

A rocky reef off the coast of Italy demonstrates the future of climate change. Meet Dr. Fio Micheli, the marine scientist who studies this reef, and dive underwater with her to learn about ocean acidification and how human-produced carbon dioxide will turn all the world’s oceans into what scientists are calling “the ocean moonscape.

The Crossing

“The Crossing” is a virtual reality film and immersive reporting series by Tyson Sadler & Susan Sarandon chronicling the refugee crisis as it unfolds in Greece. The shores of the Mediterranean see thousands of refugees every day who arrive on small boats, evidence for which is seen everywhere in massive piles of discarded life vests.

Seeking Home

This 360-degree, virtual reality video documents the camp in northern France where migrants and refugees hope to make it across the English channel to start a new life in the United Kingdom. Known to residents as the “Jungle”, migrants have turned the rugged landscape into a makeshift town with churches, mosques, restaurants, and even a beauty salon.

10 Shots Across the Border

On 10th, October 2012, Mexican teenager Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez was shot and killed by a US Border Patrol agent through the border fence that divides the two cities of Nogales, raising troubling questions about the United States Border Patrol. This VR piece tells the story of how Rodriguez was shot and the territorial, jurisdictional and philosophical questions that happen with cases like this. Narrated by Elias E. Lopes the film begins with a fly over of Nogales, introducing where and what happened, continuing on the ground with footage recorded from both sides of the border fence.

Ashes

Playing with movement, space and time, ASHES shares the tragic story of two lovers, told specifically for 360-headset environment. Director/Producer Jessica Kantor draws upon her classical ballet training to bring us this unique piece inspired by choreographer Pina Bausch, known for telling stories through dance.

Kanju

Journey across Africa in search of Kanju, “creativity born of struggle.” Visit a floating school rising from the slums of Makoko. Witness President Obama’s historic speech in Nairobi from the press pit. This uplifting, immersive documentary seamlessly layers traditional narrative techniques and 360°live action. Feel the power of storytelling merged with technology and rediscover Africa as the bright continent. https://www.harbersfoundation.org/

The Ark

When production on The Ark started, there were four northern white rhinos on Earth. Now there are only three. This documentary allows viewers to get up close to the last surviving members of a critically endangered species, inventing a revolutionary new use case for VR in the process: The ability to revisit things that may not be around for much longer. That’s not the only fascinating aspect of the experience, as filmmakers Eline Jongsma and Kel O’Neill employ an innovative 180-degree wipe effect to guide the viewer from scene to scene.

Invisible

Guided by the powerful voices of survivors, Invisible takes the audience on an immersive journey into the uncertainty and despair of the UK’s immigration detention system.

Witness

On the 7th July 2005 Jacqui Putnam stepped on to a Circle Line train in London on her way to work; a journey she had taken many times before. At 08:50am Mohammad Sidique Khan would detonate a bomb in the carriage next to hers. This is the story of her day, the immediate aftermath of the explosion and her road to recovery.

Man on Spire

Man on Spire by Taffy Brodesser-Akner, which documents a climb to the upper reaches of One World Trade Center’s spire, conducted by adventure photographer Jimmy Chin and safety liaison Jamison Walsh. On the expedition, the two not only worked out the magazine’s cover image, but were also the featured subjects of aerial photographs by George Steinmetz, and a video that documents the climb in 360 degrees.

The Click Effect

Free dive with two marine scientists, as they capture the secret “click” communication of dolphins and sperm whales. This immersive VR experience follows researchers Sandy Smolan and James Nestor as they dive 100 feet under the ocean’s surface, on a single breath. Presented by Annapurna Pictures and Within.

Take Flight

The New York Times celebrates this year’s best actors for their annual Great Performers issue with the Virtual Reality experience “Take Flight.” Inspired by some of the most iconic airborne moments in cinematic history, The New York Times offers a spellbinding Virtual Reality feast with powerful performances from Melissa McCarthy, Michael Fassbender, Lily Tomlin, Kristen Wiig, Jacob Tremblay, Jason Mitchell, Rooney Mara, Mya Taylor, Benicio del Toro & Charlize Theron.

Ready for 100

Narrated by Jared Leto, The Sierra Club and RYOT partnered to film the first climate change PSA in 360 virtual reality. Just two months shy of the international climate negotiations in Paris, this transports you to the front lines of climate change and urges world leaders to take meaningful actions on climate.

Waves

Burning with originality, intelligence, and a deft use of the medium, Reggie Watts weaves a virtual reality story that is a dream-within-a-dream meta-ride down the rabbit hole, in this Ben Dickinson directed experience where the only constants seem to be Watts’ philosophical musings, comedic insights, and musical genius.

Hard World for Small Things

Award-winning film and theater director Janicza Bravo ventures into the world of VR with an exploration of the circumstances and lives affected by a single tragedy in Los Angeles. Drawing from a real-life experience, Bravo and studio collaborators Wevr craft a remarkably powerful narrative that culminates in a devastating conclusion.

Holidays: Christmas

When a man stoops to dangerous new lows to get his son the ultimate VR headset for Christmas, he finds out more about himself and his family than he ever wanted to know. From writer/director Scott Stewart (LEGION, PRIEST) and starring Emmy Award-winning actor Seth Green and Clare Grant, CHRISTMAS is part of Distant Corners’ HOLIDAYS anthology featurecreated by John Hegeman and produced in association with XYZ Films.