We’re going back to virtual reality! For the second time, we invite you to the festival screenings of VR films. This year’s selection is curated by Joanna Popińska, the creator of one of last year’s productions. The films will be presented at the 64th Krakow Film Festival from Monday to Friday at Pałac Potockich. Admission is free.
When selecting projects for the VR section, I aimed to showcase titles from Central and Eastern Europe, as well as ones thematically connected to this region. Wanting to inspire both viewers and creators attending the festival, I sought diverse projects in terms of themes and utilised techniques. Our selection includes an impressionistic tale about the power of music in the darkest of times; an interactive experience that presents the viewer with a choice with surprising consequences; a meditative journey through the mysterious world of the Vistula River, accompanied by Eurydice’s song; a story about depression and ways of coping with it; and an uplifting journey through war-torn Ukraine, where artists strive to maintain normality and bring hope. Each project has been developed using different techniques and offers various approaches to storytelling, which I hope will be intriguing for viewers wanting to explore the world of VR, – adds Joanna Popińska, curator of the VR section.
Darkening, dir. Ondřej Moravec
How does a person suffering from depression perceive the world? This animated immersive film uses virtual reality to explore the topic of depression as well as coping mechanisms. The director and main character, Ondřej, guides us through landscapes that he associates with his history of battling depression since adolescence. Through animation that combines stylised representations of Ondřej’s surroundings with abstract depictions of his emotions, viewers will get to experience and understand what it’s like to live with this illness, how to manage it, and the strategies people suffering from depression use to feel better.
Human Violins, dir. Ioana Mischie
Human Violins is an interactive VR experience dedicated to the transformative power of music in the darkest of times. It’s inspired by a true story: during the Holocaust, Jews were allowed to take only one item before being transported to the camps, and many chose violins. We follow the fictionalised story of Alma, a violin enthusiast, and get the chance to play and continue the legacy of her music.
Missing 10 Hours VR, dir. Fanni Fazakas
Welcome to Missing 10 Hours, a night party where the most important thing is to have fun, no matter the consequences. Here, everything is permitted. At least, that’s what Greg believes. From excessive drinking, through invading women’s privacy in the bathroom, up to getting arrested by the police. Missing 10 Hours VR takes us on a journey filled with challenges and difficult decisions, ultimately leading to a shocking revelation. This interactive story, based on real-life experiences of young people, guides the user through the narrative, allowing them to make choices that affect the outcome. WARNING: For viewers aged 18 and over.
Simple Songs about Death, dir. Marta Wieczorek, Maciej Czurychta
This experience takes you on a meditative journey through the misty landscapes of the Vistula River. As a viewer, you are merely an observer, with no influence over the course of events. You sit on an ice floe, drifting slowly with the river’s current. Within the installation, you can move around and change your point of view. You hear the wind’s gentle murmur to the rhythm of a calm breath. The fog around you gradually lifts, revealing the vague outline of the shore and passing spaces and objects. A flock of cranes flies overhead. Over time, you notice a body lying on one of the passing islands, but the surroundings remain safe and peaceful.
You Destroy. We Create. The War on Ukraine’s Culture, dir. Felix Gaedtke, Gayatri Parameswaran
What happens when museums can no longer display their collections but instead must hide them? What does it mean to be a street artist when your city is being bombed? What does it mean to be a musician when your country is under attack? You Destroy. We Create. takes us on a 25-minute, immersive journey through a war-torn country, where artists and cultural professionals are protect, rebuild, and create art. Since the beginning of the war, the number of civilian casualties has risen to over 6000, and more than 7 million people have fled the country. Art and culture are other significant casualties. According to UNESCO, by November 2022, over 200 sites of cultural significance across the country had been destroyed. The creators use a combination of 360°/180° stereoscopic video, drone footage, photogrammetric scans, and CG animation to present a deeply engaging emotional story.
Admission to VR screenings is free. The VR stations will be located in the underground section of Pałac Potockich (Rynek Główny 20).
Passes and tickets for the 64.th Krakow Film Festival are on sale now! The schedule of screenings and accompanying events is available here.
The Krakow Film Festival is on the exclusive list of qualifying events for the Oscars® in the categories of short film (live action, animated, documentary) and documentary feature, as well as a recommending event for the European Film Awards in the same categories.
The Kraków Film Festival is organised with the financial support of the Municipality of Kraków, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the European Union’s Creative Europe program, the Lesser Poland Province, the Polish Film Institute. The festival is co-organised by the Polish Filmmakers Association.
The 64th Krakow Film Festival will be held in cinemas from 26 May to 2 June and online across Poland on the KFF VOD platform from 31 May to 16 June 2024.