NewImages Competition not too long ago returned for its eighth version, and we checked out the newest in XR filmmaking.
I will typically joke that I’ve one in all media’s extra distinctive jobs, which largely comes right down to the sheer breadth of experiences I face. Masking the XR trade full-time typically means there’s overlap with movies, with many large occasions now internet hosting a devoted XR section. I beforehand known as NewImages Competition 2024 and its XR Market an eye-opening occasion, and that is nonetheless true in 2025.
Now becoming a member of Venice Immersive on my annual occasions calendar, this 12 months’s competition as soon as once more offered an intriguing mix of VR and combined actuality tasks. Not every little thing showcased is a success and there is much less competitors this 12 months, but the creativity is obvious. Many of those transient experiences aren’t afraid to sort out harder-hitting themes, showcasing continued creativity in XR filmmaking.
This 12 months’s occasion featured 14 completely different immersive experiences in its official XR competitors, alongside a number of further ‘out of competitors’ tasks. A few of these tasks we have given particular person write-ups that we have linked under, however for every little thing else, listed below are our full impressions.
My competition started with One other Place by Le Fresnoy, a seated expertise that focuses on a Thai asylum seeker and trans lady known as Renée in search of refuge in France. I encountered some efficiency stutters and there is some unusual narrative selections, like seeing Renée float via the bushes into her residence, that feels misplaced. Nonetheless, it is a deeply private story that resonates, presenting a guided expertise that focuses on the loneliness of her journey.
Ito Meikyū got here subsequent with the promise of exploring a VR digital labyrinth impressed by Japanese artwork historical past and literature. As a result of Quest 3 does not have eye monitoring assist, motion is restricted to gaze monitoring that always feels frustratingly exact, and I additionally encountered two development blockers. Given this presents a visually hanging world, I would love to come back again sooner or later on a headset like Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional or Quest Professional.
Ito Meikyu Is A Digital VR Labyrinth Impressed By Japanese Artwork Historical past
Ito Meikyū takes you thru a VR digital labyrinth impressed by Japanese artwork historical past and literature.
Subsequent up was Trans-Composition by Shiuan Yan Studio, an expertise that goals to poetically discover the thought of transformation. Impressed by Go and Chinese language philosophical thought, it is an intriguing surrealist journey of self reflection that dives into the cycle of reincarnation and the soul.
Soul Paint is narrated by Rosario Dawson, and it is what I would take into account to be my private spotlight from NewImages Competition, though it wasn’t within the XR Competitors. This challenge combines 3D drawing with private introspection, supplying you with area for self reflection and to contemplate your feelings as you ascend to an ethereal area.
What follows throughout the subsequent 20 minutes feels calming, enjoyable, permitting you to attract no matter you feel and connect that to your self. You may then draw throughout your digital physique and go away a voice observe on the finish, which you’ll select to avoid wasting for others to come across. It is a pretty concept for sharing your sentiments with others when phrases aren’t sufficient.
If Venice Immersive is something to go by, XR movie festivals would not be full with out illustration from VRChat tasks, and I shortly discovered one with Yorutouge. Utilizing the works of Vocaloid songwriter and producer Kikuo, this presents a nonstop 20-minute rave via a public VRChat world that is designed to be uplifting.
Between the robust environmental design, spectacular shows and gratifying music, it will get my advice.
Yorutouge Is A Trippy Vocaloid Rave World In VRChat
Yorutouge is a psychedelic Vocaloid rave world you possibly can discover in VRChat.
Misplaced and Discovered quickly adopted. This brief VR expertise goals to replicate themes referring to loss, feelings, reminiscences, psychological well being, and extra. It is a scholar challenge created for the European Joint Grasp in Animation program, ReAnima, and there is a curious method to this world that focuses on what occurs to gadgets you have misplaced throughout your life.
Misplaced And Discovered Is A Roomscale VR Expertise Centered On Loss
Misplaced and Discovered is a brief interactive VR expertise that explores loss, psychological well being, and reminiscences.
Three extra tasks rounded up my time at NewImages Competition. Heartbeat isn’t a narrative I really feel makes use of a VR headset significantly successfully, as this might simply be a extra conventional manufacturing. Nonetheless, this frankly heartbreaking 10-minute story a few lady’s miscarriage will persist with me for a very long time.
Subsequent is All I Know About Instructor Li, an interactive combined actuality documentary centered on the titular artwork scholar that lives in Italy, who turned well-known throughout 2022’s COVID-19 protests in China. Mixing hand-drawn animation with archival 3D footage, it is an intriguing examination of social media activism that held my curiosity.
Final up is 444.2, a 6DOF movie that takes its identify from the primary star cluster mapped by stargazers constellates which are over 444.2 gentle years away. Provided that we have continued seeing ever extra artistic approaches to XR filmmaking, 360° video arguably does not reduce it anymore after we’re a decade previous fashionable VR’s return. Watching this journey via area is definitely fairly, however there’s not a lot else to this.
I would be remiss to not spotlight the XR Competitors experiences I did not get the prospect to immediately go hands-on with. Cell Swimsuit Gundam: Silver Phantom I would beforehand tried, Uncanny Valley: A New Day presents a extra theatrical VR expertise, whereas Duchampiana takes intention at physique politics. Spectral Haven appears at a future “the place AI holds not one of the guarantees of as we speak however all of the regrets.”
Saying I “loved” plenty of these experiences does not really feel like the appropriate phrase given the heavier themes. I typically discovered myself wishing for one thing a little bit lighter, but I got here away feeling constructive. In the event you’re planning to make use of a VR headset to your work, you could use the medium’s strengths to make it worthwhile. In any other case, you are unnecessarily limiting your self, and several other experiences fell foul of that.
Nonetheless, most of this 12 months’s lineup showcased an thrilling vary of experimental tasks that sometimes do not get many headlines throughout wider VR leisure. I will be eager to return to NewImages Competition subsequent 12 months to see the continuing state of play.
NewImages Competition 2025 ran from April 9 till April 13, 2025.
