Kaleidoscope is an event that takes place in 11 cities around the world, showcasing 20 virtual reality projects from top local and global creators – and now it is coming to Sydney.
Sydney-based virtual reality studio Start VR has teamed up with Academy Xi and Screen NSW to host the Australian Kaleidoscope Showcase Volume 2 on April 28 at Carriageworks, Sydney.
HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Google DayDream and Samsung Gear VR units will all be available to show of projects like the Australian premiere of Within’s Life of Us – described as one of the first VR narratives to launch multiple people into a shared virtual space, co-directed by Chris Milk and Aaron Koblin, with music by Pharrell Williams.
Arnaud Colinart’s Kinoscope, Gabriela Arp’s Traces, Quba Michalski’s artistic Ex/Static and the World Premiere of Tender Claws; dystopian comedic masterpiece Virtual and Virtual Reality will all be on show.
Projects by Australian creators include Michael Beet’s VR documentary Jafri, which explores the life of the African-Australian man behind the powerful signs in Melbourne’s busy streets, as well as Sophie Ansel’s Out of the Blue, an inspiring story of the legacy inherited by the children of Cabo Pulmo.
Sundance film festival VR pieces, including Tyler Hurd’s latest creation Chocolate, Lily Baldwin and Sashka Unseld’s Through You, Oculus Story Studio’s Dear Angelica, Crystal Vibes, and the create-your-own animation experience Mindshow will also be exhibited.
There will also be a live Q&A with leading figures in the Australian VR community, including Start VR’s Chief Content Officer Martin Taylor and Kaleidoscope Official Selection director Michael Beets.
“The Kaleidoscope Showcase is a fantastic event to attend, with its curation of some of the most innovative and thought-provoking VR experiences around. This year’s selection truly highlights the advancements and disruptions made by the immersive medium,” says Taylor. “It’s an honor to have the opportunity to help coordinate this fascinating event and bring some of the most visually and emotionally stimulating VR pieces to Australia.”
Kaleidoscope was founded in May 2015 by designers René and Selena Pinnell. Joined by producer Jill Klekas, it is designed to give VR creators the exposure and support they need to do great work. Kaleidoscope showcases finished projects, helps secure funding for future projects, and host events around the world that explore the art, science, and business of virtual reality.
In 2015 Kaleidoscope produced the first Virtual Reality Film Festival. Kaleidoscope has since produced more than 20 high-profile events, in 5 continents, for over 10,000 attendees. Projects discovered by Kaleidoscope routinely go on to screen at major festivals such as Sundance, Tribeca, and Cannes, and the artists in the community are widely recognised as some of the most innovative voices in virtual reality today.
You can grab tickets here.