Sydney Film Festival Announces Immersive New Program

The 63rd Sydney Film Festival has announced a new program of free, cutting-edge cinematic experiences, Beyond Cinema, to launch this June.

The three immersive experiences include virtual reality, 360-degree 3D cinema and a four-sided video art installation — in addition to the world famous festival's 12 days of red carpet events, panels and international guests.

Down the Rabbit Hole — Virtual Reality at The Hub will screen nine virtual reality films at Sydney's Lower Town Hall from June 9 to 19, allowing audiences to experience cinema through Samsung Gear VR and Facebook's new Oculus Rift. Experiences include strolling along the streets of Havana (A History of Cuban Dance), losing your sight (Notes on Blindness: Into Darkness), haunting an asylum (Madeleine) and falling into a Lewis Carroll-inspired rabbit hole (Fabulous Wonder.Land).

Over at the University of New South Wales, iCinema will host the world premiere of two interactive experimental films — Deluge, which deals with Queensland's Cyclone Yasi, and Nebula, a dream work exploring the human and natural worlds.

Then, at four-sided video installation Hossein Valamanesh: Char Soo, viewers can immerse themselves in the scenes and sounds of an Iranian Bazaar. The installation will be open to the public at Carriageworks, from 9 June to 17 July.

The festival runs from Wednesday 8 June to Sunday 19 June, with the full program of talks, performances, parties and events to be announced on 11 May. 

For more information, head here.