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Sundance Film Festival 2021 Diary
Interested in learning what’s new at the Reimagined Sundance Film Festival? Read my diary and join the party.
Sundance Diary Day Two Friday, January 29, 2021:
The opening weekend of the reimagined Sundance Film Festival is underway, and I’m convinced that a digital Sundance will be more than a one-time affair.
I’ve been thinking about XR technology and Sundance since writing the Fast Company article ‘Live-Streaming Doc, “Life Itself,” and The Evolution of Sundance and Crowdfunding Films,’ and the QUARTZ article ‘This Year’s Sundance Film Festival uses your body as a movie screen.’ Like many creative colleagues, I’ve been joining virtual brainstorms and summits throughout the time of COVID-19.
XR storytelling projects in the New Frontier program continue to edge Sundance toward a virtual experience. Past interactive works like the Dance Trail app, a virtual dance activation, and The Book of Distance, a family history activation from artist Randall Okita, deliver augmented reality storytelling to global audiences. This year’s New Frontier section involves immersing yourself in the activations via an avatar and connecting with other attendees via chat zones. The experience feels welcoming, warm, and inclusive.