The Sehsüchte Film Festival is just around the corner, and for anyone looking for an exciting new experience between film blocks, workshops, and panels, the VR section is the perfect fit. Even without a festival pass, you can experience the Virtual Reality program completely free of charge! With the announcement of this year’s program, the Virtual Reality program has also been released. This year, seven wonderful projects can be experienced in the foyer of Waschhaus through VR headsets provided by INVR.
Our team has watched our record-breaking number of submissions together and curated a versatile, exciting, and diverse program. It was a challenging task with all the interesting submissions our team got to see this year. We have strived to present as many different perspectives and thematic areas as possible and are excited to engage in conversation with visitors, filmmakers, and anyone who is interested in the projects. We hope to shine a spotlight on the medium of Virtual Reality and bring fun and joy to Potsdam and international visitors with its unique interactive storytelling and stories while also encouraging reflection.
Our festival is especially interesting for students in Brandenburg as the festival passes are free for them. So be quick and secure your weekend experience on April 14th, whether you’re a student, a family, or a film enthusiast! If after enjoying the VR projects you’re hungry for more, a festival pass will also give you access to the rest of the program.
On Saturday, during the awards ceremony, the winning project of the VR section will also be announced and rewarded with a prize donated by INVR! INVR is offering the winning project post-production, production services, or equipment rental worth €5,000 to make another creative VR project a reality. This special prize not only honors the quality of the project but also fosters young talent in the VR scene and encourages continued creative work. Our expert jury, consisting of Florian Siebert, Lilian Hess, and Wen-Yee Hsieh, who are all professionals in the VR industry and thus have a trained eye for the projects, will announce the winning project during the award ceremony.
Anyone who wants to know which project our jury has selected as the winner should definitely stop by the foyer beforehand and see the selection for themselves! The projects will be available daily from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, from Thursday to Saturday. Some international filmmakers from this year’s program are even traveling especially to be at the festival. You might even be lucky enough to meet them and ask a few questions about how the projects were made!
This year, our program features two German projects from the Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, bringing Sehsüchte’s home to us. “Walking Alone, Text you when I’m home” is a feminist 360° documentary in which a woman shares her experiences with everyday harassment and how these are often downplayed, despite being serious violations that can lead to long-term fear and trauma. It’s an important perspective, conveyed in an artistic way.
The second film from the Filmuni is “Der Schlagbaum,” which tells an emotional story about two border guards. Symbolic messages about generational conflicts, territorial behavior, and loss are conveyed without dialogue and in a 360° film in the charming style of 1920s German Expressionism.
International perspectives are offered by “The Daladala Verse,” also a 360° film that explores the Tanzanian transportation network and presents hidden stories of Tanzania’s iconic buses through real insights.
“Magic You,” an interactive VR experience from China, deals with growing up with ADHD using animations and captivating interactive elements, combining artistic vision with an important subject.
Mental health is also a key element in “Looking for Kay,” a Swiss project. In this minimalist reinterpretation of “The Snow Queen” by H.C. Andersen, depression is explored through the eyes of Kay and Gerda. The serene atmosphere is enhanced by the enchanting art style and the ability to experience the project at one’s own pace.
Completely different is the experience in “In the Picture,” a horror game from South Korea. In this interactive VR project, you step into the role of a gallery owner. However, strange things start happening at night in this gallery. A must for horror fans, as the tense story of the painter Malo and the sudden jumpscares are sure to give you a good scare.
To recover from this fright, “Kabaret” from Norway must not be missed at the end! The interactivity is fun, and the story with a little shrimp and synchronous coral spawning is not only entertaining but also educational, playfully addressing real-world issues. The colors and animations are breathtaking, and the musical elements make this project one of the most enjoyable experiences at our festival.
Don’t miss our program and definitely visit the festival to discover what else it has to offer!
We look forward to seeing you there and wish you a wonderful Easter in the meantime!