As you may know, last month saw the second edition of the Sandbox Immersive Festival (SIF) come and go. Held in the “Hollywood of the East” as part of Qingdao International VR Week 2019, the four-day festival presented a range of keynote speakers (including VeeR’s own Chen Jingshu), panel discussions, and over 40 international immersive projects. As China’s premier event dedicated to interactive and immersive storytelling, this year’s theme followed the concept of an “Immersive City”, where “present and future collide and collapse, laying bare the raw emotion of the city.”

For those of you that were unable to make it to the festival, VeeR is proud to announce our role as SIF’s official virtual extension partner bringing a range of featured content from the festival for a limited-time-only online exhibition.

Available globally between July 23 and August 21, 2019, the exhibition will be available on the VeeR VR app across all major VR platforms, such as Oculus Go, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and more, as well as VeeR VR’s mobile and desktop apps. 

 

The exhibition will include the following titles:

Boris Karloff – In the Sky

The brainchild of young Czech director Martin Živocký, In the Sky allows us to explore the universe as we listen to the soft vocal tones of singer Boris Carloff. From looking out at mountainous landscapes as the sun sets to shooting through the sky on a cratered moon, the experimental music video is an immersive experience you won’t want to miss.

 

The Atomic Tree

Produced and directed by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee and Adam Loften, The Atomic Tree follows the life of a 400-year-old Japanese White Pine bonsai tree. You might be asking yourself “What’s so special about a tree?” Well, it’s not just any tree. This tree survived the US nuclear attack on Hiroshima despite being only two miles from the epicenter of the blast. The ten-minute story follows the journey from the tree blossoming high in the cedar forests of Japan to it spending 5 generations in the Yamaki family’s care.

 

Fresh Out

Produced by Eddie Lou and Eason Chow of Sandman Studios, Fresh Out may just be the cutest horror film you’ve ever seen. Following a family of carrots living underground in a backyard, Fresh Out is seen from the perspective of a baby carrot listening to tales of a horrifying monster. If you’re looking for a fun mix of playful and horrifying, be sure to check out the 6-minute-long production.

Shennong: Taste of Illusion

Co-directed by Mi Li and Wang Zheng of Pinta Studios, Shennong: Taste of Illusion is based on ancient Chinese mythology. The story follows Shennong, the god-king of Chinese medicine and agriculture, battle tirelessly against his own hallucination. Free of spoken dialogue, the 10-minute-long experience uses its animation and soundtrack to tell the story. Take part in the experience and see yourself wander without restraint through the forest as well as
Shennong’s imagination.

 

A Bar at the Folies-Bergère by Edouard Manet

Held in the Courtauld Gallery in London, A Bar at the Folies-Bergère is most famously known as the last major work of famed French painter, Edouard Manet, but here we see it brought to life by director, Gabrielle Lissot, in a stunning four-act experience. First presented during 2018’s festival, the story takes us back-and-forth between the viewpoints of Suzon, the barmaid, Edouard Manet himself, and two other outside spectators. Click play and see yourself transported back to the 19th century.

 

Sanctuaries of Silence

As the name suggests, Sanctuaries of Silence sees us explore some of the quietest corners of North America. Directed by Global Oneness Project’s Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee and Adam Loften, the 7-minute VR film follows
acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton as he explores the diverse sounds of Hoh Rain Forest. Watch and experience Gordon Hempton’s solution to what he sees as the looming extinction of silence.

 

Crow: The Legend

Inspired by Native American legend, particularly the Lenape story of the Rainbow Crow, Eric Darnell’s film is a star-studded affair with an impressive voice cast of John Legend, Oprah Winfrey, Constance Wu, and more. Following the story of the forest’s most admired animal and his ultimate sacrifice, Crow: The Legend is a visual masterpiece and, as a winner of 4 Emmys, surely won’t disappoint.

 

As a leading VR content platform, our mission is to bring the best in the VR world straight to you. If you’re interested in exploring the future of VR, make sure you check out VeeR x SIF’s limited online exhibition here between July 23 and August 21 2019.