Revelation announces free Virtual & Augmented Reality festival and conference

Revelation announces free Virtual & Augmented Reality festival and conference

Last Updated: 06 Nov 2020
Charli Peasley

After smashing their first year, Revelation Perth International Film Festival have announced the second edition of XR:WA, the state's first festival dedicated to Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR, AR), immersive technology and locally developed computer games. In an effort to level the playing field for those interested in the industry, XR:WA has announced the festival and expo will be totally free this year; all you have to do is register here.

Held at Perth Cultural Centre (PCC) from December 3 - 6, the festival will be split into two parts: the first being a two day Revelation Academic Conference for those in the industry, and the second is a four-day expo of the technology, with the latter totally free and open to the public. You can expect a host of family-friendly VR and AR games and experiences, documentaries on the benefits and potential implications of the immersive technology, workshops and panel of local, national and international guest panellists hosting talks on topics from immersive technology's role in medicine to the idea of building robots to aid in situations of emergency and disaster response.

For those in the industry, you can buy day or weekend passes for entry into the conference side of the festival, including workshops, talks and keynote speaker events. The rest of the events are free to the public - just check their program and register for your chosen events here.

Undeniably the most exciting element is the world-premier of Revelation-produced FourByFour, an experimental VR dance project featuring four immersive VR short films. Each with a different director, choreographer, dancer and composer, the films will dive into an interpretation of four of PCC's hotspots: the WA State Library, the AGWA, the State Theatre Centre of WA and PICA. Watch them all for free over the festival period at any of the aforementioned locations, bar the State Theatre. Check out the trailer here:

Other notable mentions include On Exactitude in Science (IRE), an internationally acclaimed art installation presenting a side-by-side, synchronised screening of Godfrey Reggio’s Koyaanisqatsi (1982) alongside a 2017 version from artist Alan Butler made entirely within the virtual world of the popular video game, Grand Theft Auto. For those a little confused as to what that would look like, here's a still from the film:

Plus, you can look forward to a free 360 degree VR cinema, a special Developing the Developers mentoring program connecting upcoming practitioners wanting to break into the industry with experienced game designers and producers, as well as beer and board game events at the Alex Hotel to finish up each night.

XR:WA is on from Thursday Dec 3 to Sunday Dec 6 at the Perth Cultural Centre, with all expo events completely free and open to the public. Weekend Academic Conference passes available here.

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