IDFA DocLab

We are at IDFA DocLab R&D Summit today! Listening and thinking along with creators, producers and distributors about the challenges of the industry and the state of the field. Some good thoughts in particular on what 'care' means in VR, and when feeling is or isn't quite enough. @doclab.bsky.social

Explore the full program of IDFA DocLab 2025. Including the DocLab Exhibition, VR Gallery, Interactive Cinema, live performances, special installations, fulldome evenings at ARTIS-Planetarium, and the DocLab Playrooms:

festival.idfa.nl/en/collectie...

More information: www.idfa.nl/doclab

FULL SELECTION OF IDFA DOCLAB 2025 ANNOUNCED 💫

From an anti-big tech manifesto to frontline immersive journalism: explore all projects in the Digital Storytelling and Immersive Non-Fiction competitions + non-competition titles in DocLab Spotlight:

festival.idfa.nl/en/section/a...

With the new announcement of the theme and the first selected projects, we’re officially gearing up towards IDFA DocLab 2025, happening from 14 to 22 November in Amsterdam:

festival.idfa.nl/en/section/a...

This year's theme explores the paradox of our time: the growing desire to disconnect, the impossibility of ever truly logging off, and the inherent privilege of stepping offline. With 'Off the Internet,' DocLab turns to interactive and immersive art in search of new forms of presence and connection.

Reminder - we are looking for an intern to join the team:

A blue backgound with an image if immersive work called the Hum, texts reads, 'Are you and an artist based in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, or England?

The final round of Immersive Arts funding is now open! UK-based artists can apply for £5k, £20k or £50k to develop work with immersive tech. Open until Mon 29 Sep 2025. This is the last open call—apply now. immersivearts.uk/news/the-final-round-of-immersive-arts-funding-is-now-open

📌 Become part of our team!

As an intern in the New Media department, you learn about the ins and outs of creating a festival program, from the selection of interactive and immersive documentary projects to their exhibit during the festival. 

jobs.idfa.nl/internship-n...

⏰ Deadline: July 27 (EOD)

“I Will Become My Own Institution”: Alaa Minawi Discusses His Immersive Installation ‘The Liminal’ Alaa Minawi’s The Liminal gives an alternative definition of “immersive” from the typical technological, digital one. In his practice, the Palestinian-Lebanese-Dutch interdisciplinary artist explores ...

Artist Alaa Minawi's work bridges installation & performance, engaging the audience in an immersive way.

I talked to him about The Liminal, which recieved an award at IDFA's @doclab.bsky.social in its wip form, and his #arabfuturism series, for @documentary.org

www.documentary.org/online-featu...

Attention artists! IDFA DocLab 2025 is open for entries! We're seeking interactive & immersive new media projects, XR, performances, web docs, digital art, games, audio works, installations & more, that engage with or expand our understanding of reality. Details: idfa.nl/doclab

Starting next week at Het Documentaire Paviljoen: Shaping Bonds 🌀

The five-day program delves into the connections between humans, nature, and other living beings through films, installations, and the multisensory VR installation 'Symbiosis' (photo).

FULL PROGRAM: www.idfa.nl/en/strands/s...

DocLab Showcase: Tech vs Art vs Reality SXSW 2025 Schedule | How can tech art surprise and connect us to physical reality, instead of just feeding us endless algorithmic distractions? How can radical immersive and interactive experiences re...

TODAY at @sxsw.com:

The DocLab Showcase with Tamara Shogaolu (Ado Ato Pictures), Martijn de Waal (director of Centre of Expertise Creative Innovation), and @doclab.bsky.social founder/curator Caspar Sonnen.

11:30 - 12:30 | Fairmont | Manchester B | INFO:
schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/...

#SXSW

ICYMI: The 85-page report I wrote up for the @doclab.bsky.social R&D Summit is NOW LIVE! Includes a ton of photos and highlights from folks in the XR industry talking about the art and practice of immersive stories, debates about AI, LBE distribution insights, research into awe + XR. #longread

Every year, the IDFA DocLab R&D Summit reflects on the state of the new media sector and where it’s headed.

XR journalist @kentbye.com was present to cover the industry event in its entirety.

🧠 Download and read the full report—85 pages in total:

professionals.idfa.nl/stories/repo...

This Sunday at IDFA's Het Documentaire Paviljoen in Amsterdam:

The multidisciplinary project 'Battlefield of Dreams,' as presented at last year's IDFA DocLab Forum.

Sunday's program starts with a screening of 'OUR BODY,' and ends with an aftertalk.

All info + tickets:
www.idfa.nl/en/compositi...

While we’re gearing up toward IDFA DocLab 2025, photos like these keep reminding us of the wonderful times at last year’s edition.

Take a look at the photo galleries at idfa.nl/doclab to revisit and relive the DocLab Exhibition and two of the DocLab Playrooms.

#IDFA #IDFADocLab #virtualreality #XR

Humaneaty_TV

"HUMANEATY TV explores new forms of narrative at the intersection of food, technology, play, and the senses. By using play as a modality, it invites critical reflection on the consumption of technology in everyday life, reimagining how we interact with the digital world."

More: www.humaneaty.tv

The "absurd and delicious world" of Humaneaty TV is featured at the 16th A.I.R Biennial (Jan 11-Feb 9). "Food, tech, and play collide to reimagine our digital souls."

The project is derived from 'EAT TECH KITCHEN' (IDFA DocLab 2018: www.idfa.nl/en/film/612a...), which brought the artists together.

YouTube video by IDFA IDFA DocLab 2024 | DocLab at the Planetarium: Homes Unbound | Recap

DocLab at the Planetarium: Homes Unbound presented full-dome adaptations of works by Gregor Petrikovič and Queer.Space, and a full-dome project by Emese Pálovics.

We want to thank ARTIS-Planetarium and @wemakevr.bsky.social for making this evening possible. 🪐

RECAP: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFwz...

👋 from Amsterdam. DocLab (@doclab.bsky.social) is an interdisciplinary platform for interactive and immersive documentary art, with an annual festival and R&D Program as part of International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam.

#IDFA #IDFADocLab #DocLab

Editorial⎜A look back at IDFA DocLab R&D Summit 2024 - XRMust There was an irony at the core of IDFA’s DocLab programme this year. Distribution, which has long been a topic of conversation in the community, was front and center at its day-long DocLab R&D Summit....

Editorial⎜A look back at @doclab.bsky.social R&D Summit 2024, by @cirilism.bsky.social

xrmust.com/xrmagazine/i...

Editorial⎜A look back IDFA DocLab R&D Summit 2024 - XRMust There was an irony at the core of IDFA’s DocLab programme this year. Distribution, which has long been a topic of conversation in the community, was front and center at its day-long DocLab R&D Summit....

"Distribution is a difficult discussion for any art form, but as technologies are rapidly changing—both in the software used to create and produce, and the hardware to watch an exhibit—the issue at hand for XR is even more challenging."

✍️ @cirilism.bsky.social

xrmust.com/xrmagazine/i...

“Reality is not a simulation” – Caspar Sonnen (IDFA DocLab 2024) - XRMust The DocLab section of the IDFA is a key event for digital creation, in the broadest sense of the term, and returns this year with a new program of excellence, and a professional Forum showcasing futur...

"With 2 planetarium nights, we’ve been doing R&D into the potential of full dome to create collective experiences and versions of different works in the exhibition. And the new DocLab Playrooms honor and fuel the inherent playfulness and curiosity of the immersive field."

xrmust.com/xrmagazine/c...

Thanks, Kent. It was great having you at DocLab again! We look forward to revisiting the festival with your coverage 🎙️

Kent Bye’s schedule at IDFA DocLab 2024

IDFA DocLab 2024 was really amazing this year with lots of mixed formats, AI, & XR. I saw all 28 immersive experiences, and recorded 23 interviews with artists, producers, & a XR scholar. 17.5 hours of Voices of VR coverage coming soon.
Curator overview of selection:
voicesofvr.com/1492-idfa-do...

Hello there, @xrmust.bsky.social 👋 We've made the jump, good to be on Bluesky now. Only one post in, but we're just getting started. Thanks for the warm welcome!

Tomorrow! Hosted by MIT's @opendoclab.bsky.social.

Those who attended Anagram's Playroom at IDFA DocLab this year, know how playful and tactile their testing and creative process gets 👀

Photos coming soon...

#DocLab #digitalstorytelling #immersivenonfiction #XR #mixedreality #VR #documentary