French Immersion at FilmGate Miami 2024

From December 4 to 8, 2024, the one-of-a-kind international event dedicated to immersive storytelling FGI X is set to take place at multiple locations across Miami.

Featuring an array of visual and interactive technologies and stories at its markets, fairs, interactive salons, exhibitions, and a competition, the festival will feature French VR and immersive pieces Impulse: Playing with Reality and Duchampiana in the official competition.

The Market will also highlight the innovative spirit of French projects, blending technology, art, and human connection. Among the speech sessions are Ugo Arsac’s Girl Friend Experience, Sarah Arnaud’s Duchampiana, François Klein’s Par le Corps, Blanca Li Studio’s The Shadow, and Sarah Silverbratt’s Collective Body.

Additionally, French professionals will be onsite to network and foster further collaborations, including producer Katayoun Dibamehr; 2023 Villa Albertine resident Ugo Arsac; director Sarah Silverbratt (Atlas V); producer François Klein (Digital Rise); producer Audrey Pacard (Blanca Li XR Studio); producer Sarah Arnaud (Duchampiana); Head of Digital at the Centre Pompidou Paul Mourey; New Media artist Salomé Chatriot; and producer Paul-Emile Skler (Le Clair Obscur).

Finally, Wuthering Summits, an immersive artwork by generative artist Milkorva, will be displayed on the Paramount Miami Worldcenter. Inspired by alpine landscapes, it combines AI-generated visuals and audio-reactive systems to celebrate the beauty of mountains while addressing climate change. Georges de Saint Mars, Producer at 36 Degrés will be present to introduce this remarkable piece.

French Immersion is a program dedicated to supporting the mobility of French XR productions and immersive experiences in the U.S. It is overseen by Villa Albertine and the Albertine Foundation, in collaboration with Unifrance, the Institut Français, the CNC, and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Competition + Exhibition:

“Impulse: Playing with Reality” (2024) – Directed by Barry G. Murphy & May Abdalla

Impulse: Playing with Reality invites audiences to explore how individuals navigate ADHD through immersive technology and storytelling. Co-created with people with lived experience and ADHD specialists, the project aims to challenge stereotypes and highlight ADHD as a complex condition, often misunderstood, especially in women and underrepresented groups. It emphasizes emotional struggles, impulsivity, and low dopamine levels, promoting timely diagnosis to prevent risks like anxiety, depression, and suicide.

Type: Mixed Reality
Genre: Documentary
40 min
Produced by Anagram, Floréal and France Télévisions

“Duchampiana” (2023) – Directed by Lilian Hess

Duchampiana is a groundbreaking VR installation that reimagines the representation of the female form, exploring themes of body politics and self-liberation. Inspired by Marcel Duchamp’s iconic painting Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2, the installation invites participants on a transformative journey of resilience and self-discovery. Here, the female form defies historical depictions of passivity, ascending skyward in a perpetual quest for authenticity and freedom.

Type: VR experience
Genre:
15 min
Produced by Tchikiboum and mYndstorm productions

Market:

“Girlfriend Experience” (2024) – Directed by Ugo Arsac

Girlfriend Experience is an immersive, interactive video-documentary installation that delves into the world of sex work and the “girlfriend experience” service. The project explores how digital platforms have transformed the search for not just physical intimacy, but also emotional connection, tenderness, and authenticity.

Type: Immersive multi-screens installation
Genre: Documentary
40 min
Produced by Dark Euphoria

“Duchampiana” (2023) – Directed by Lilian Hess

Duchampiana is a groundbreaking VR installation that reimagines the representation of the female form, exploring themes of body politics and self-liberation. Inspired by Marcel Duchamp’s iconic painting Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2, the installation invites participants on a transformative journey of resilience and self-discovery. Here, the female form defies historical depictions of passivity, ascending skyward in a perpetual quest for authenticity and freedom.

Type: VR Experience
Genre:
15 min
Produced by Tchikiboum and mYndstorm productions

“Par le corps” (2023) – Directed by Margherita Bergamo Meneghini

Par le corps is a hybrid performance blending live contemporary dance with virtual reality to explore six profound emotional states: addiction, obsession, jealousy, anxiety, depression, and paranoia. At its center is Eve, a dancer and storyteller who serves as the guide through these interconnected narratives.

During the performance, Eve invites six volunteers from the audience to join her on stage. Equipped with VR headsets, they step into the lives of six characters—Désirée, Lohan, Jonas, Fiona, Meredith, and Amir—each struggling with their unique emotional challenges. Through diary-like narratives, participants experience the characters’ journeys from discovering their differences to finding support and balance.

Type: VR Experience
Genre: Live performance
40 min
Produced by Cie Voix and Digital Rise

“The Shadow” (2024) – Directed by Philippe Monerris

“The Shadow” is an interactive mixed-reality and virtual experience, allowing participants to explore classical and contemporary dance movements: it immerses players in a contemporary aesthetic within the iconic Palais Garnier. Participants, represented by luminous avatars, learn choreographic sequences through a blend of gaming elements like Twister and Simon, enhancing skills through real-time feedback. The experience culminates in a virtual stage performance, fostering teamwork and celebrating the art of dance in an accessible and engaging way. This initiative transforms how audiences experience dance, highlighting its excellence in a captivating and innovative format.

Type: Mixed and Virtual Reality
Genre: Interactive Experience
20-30 min
Produced by Blanca Li XR Studio

“Collective Body” (2023) – Directed by Sarah Silverblatt-Buser

Collective Body is designed to help individuals reconnect with themselves and each other through the power of movement. By exploring each participant’s unique movement identity—their signature ways of moving through the world—the installation fosters a deeper awareness of the embodied self, counteracting the dissociative effects of excessive technology use. Guided by narration and interactive music, participants engage in free movement improvisation: their movements are transformed into expressive visual representations, creating personalized avatars that evolve throughout the 20-minute experience.

Type: VR experience
Genre: Multi-user interactive
20 min
Produced by Atlas V

“#DRIFT” (2023) – Directed by Frédéric Deslias

DRIFT is a 360° immersive arts/science experience exploring the universe through a child’s perspective. Guided by an astronaut, audiences journey to Trappist-1e, blending scientific wonders with poetic sci-fi storytelling. Created collaboratively by children, artists, and astrophysicists, it merges imaginative creativity with scientific concepts. Through stunning multimedia visuals, #DRIFT opens doors to the cosmos, inviting both kids and adults to explore infinite possibilities.

Type: Immersive Experience
Genre: 360 movie
55 min
Produced by Le Clair Obscur

Read more at https://www.filmgate.miami/