Cannes' First Ever Immersive Film Competition Starts Today

This year cannes has chosen to open up its prestigious competition to a new branch of immersive films. These are films that push the very definition of cinema by using new and largely untapped mediums. These films use wall projections or virtual reality to enhance the viewer experience by integrating them into the story. There are eight films competing in this new competition, but they are not the first immersive films ever shown at the festival. Carne Y Arena by Alejandro González Iñárritu was the first immersive piece ever presented for official consideration at a major film festival in 2017. Iñárritu’s work helped reveal the potential of this young type of storytelling. Now new pieces have a chance to shine as the immersive competition officially starts for the first time today.