This year, AFF returns with the second edition of the section called THE FUTURE IS NOW, dedicated to the new documentary formats. The festival’s audience will have the opportunity to view a broad selection of documentary projects of virtual reality, as well as screenings that are specially presented in the dome theatre, within the most diverse and bountiful programme of virtual cinema, a unique experience in Romania. In the field of virtual reality and 360-degree videos, aside from developing more efficient and reachable systems, novelty also resides in the diversity and usefulness of these innovative technologies being applied to the real world. These new developments can be experienced at AFF.

 WebVR, the latest technical innovation in virtual reality  

The purpose of WebVR applications is to simplify the audience’s access to virtual reality experiences, regardless of the available viewing device, whether it’s headphones or gadgets specific to video games. Three films are included in the WebVR programme: Deprogrammed, offering the perspective of extremism in three different cases, transposing the viewer into a virtual setting that narrows down according to the degree of indoctrination; visiting the Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv, which no longer exists, is possible in Tzina: Symphony of longing, an experience that blurs the line between the wild world and the virtual world; the perspective of a grizzly she-bear that lives in the Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies, in Bear 71.

Virtual reality, employed by journalists and NGOs at AFF

Virtual reality is used today in various fields – from architecture, fashion, education, medicine, and up to businesses, the military, journalism or NGOs. Many news and livestream agencies employ the 360-degree technology for a more objective perspective on the events and in order to attract a younger audience. By means of animation, Bashir’s Dream reshapes the real story of a 14-year-old boy who dreams of playing basketball, but got shot by a sniper. The displaced tackles the stories of three children from different places who survived the war, with respect to their lives after the war. Through virtual reality, Inside Auschwitz recreates experiences and moments from the past.

The WebVR themes of the festival’s programme also include topical issues in the contemporary world landscape, such as environmental protection (Out of the blue), social inclusion (A grandmother’s love), women’s rights (Women on the move), domestic violence (Notes to my father), or the possibility to see an exotic and vibrant scenery, with a selection of VR productions from Kenya (Nairobi berries and Let this be a warning), Senegal (The other Dakar) and Ghana (Spirit Robot).

Romanian VR productions

This year, the virtual reality programme will also include three local productions, putting Romania on the map of VR experiments: the testimony of one of the few survivors of the mass murders that took place on the 23rd of January 1941, led by the members of the Iron Guard in the Jilava Forest, in Jilava Massacre; The AI comrade brings the audience the first spy-robot created in 1979 of Communist Romania, and the Vodafone campaign See your future illustrates the potential to picture the jobs of the future.

The dome theatre returns to AFF

For the second time in a row, the AFF viewers have the unique chance to view 360 films on a dome-like screen, which give them the feeling of direct participation in the film. The programme offers a selection of unique projects that introduce a journey beyond the limits of reality, at the crossroads between technology and art. The joint effort of painters, photographers and digital artists presents a new way of experiencing art in Samskara, Art universe, Circles of Time and The Game. Classic music themes or eclectic mixes (Music from the Cosmos – a Visual Concert and Jules Verne’s Voyages), as well as dance, classic tango or with various influences (Tango 360), can be appreciated as exceptional productions in the dome theatre set up in Piata Mare. The full-dome documentaries will try to answer a few questions of virtual reality: Will we ever be able to communicate to other civilizations? (Hello Earth), Could a super-volcano erupt during our era? (Supervolcanoes), What happens during a solar storm? (Solar Superstorms), Can our galaxy be precisely mapped? (Journey to a billion Suns), What does it mean to live in the present-day interconnected world? (Habitat Earth), Can we detect asteroids before they reach Earth? (incoming!), What is the mystery of orchids? (Darwin and his fabulous orchids).

“For 24 years, AFF is a platform connected to the latest technical innovations in documentary film. Given last year’s success, we wanted this year’s edition to give film buffs a quality film experience, with a selection of the latest full-dome, VR or 360 video productions”, stated Dumitru Budrala, founding director of Astra Film Festival.

 

Astra Film Festival 2017 is organized by Astra Film, CNM Astra and the Astra Film Foundation
With the support of Sibiu County Council, the Ministry of Culture and National Identity, the European Union – through the Creative Europe-Media programme and the National Centre for Cinematography
Co-financed by Sibiu Local Council through Sibiu City Hall
In collaboration with Lucian Blaga University
Partners: ICR - Romanian Cultural Institute, UCIN – Romanian Filmmakers Union, Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany in Sibiu, Cinetic, Refresh, Habitus
Digital partner: Urby
Title sponsor: Construcții SA
Sponsors: Romgaz, Electrica, Banca Transilvania, Takata, Aqua Carpatica, Happy City, HBO, Cinelab
Car of the festival: Toyota
Media partners: TVR, Europa FM, HotNews, Revista 22, VICE, Revista Timpul, Transilvania Reporter, Cineuropa, Film New Europe, Radio România Cultural, Radio România Actualități, Radio Cluj, Radio Antena Sibiului, Radio Târgu Mureș, RFI România, Cinemagia, LiterNet, CineFan, Sub25, All About Romanian Cinema, Cooperativa Urbană, ÎnFestival, Recorder, Iqads, Filmtett, Thinkout of the Box, Zile și Nopți, Tribuna, Turnul Sfatului, Sibiu 100%, Eveniment TV, Ora de Sibiu