Returning for a second consecutive year, the Immersive Competition was introduced in 2024 to celebrate new forms of storytelling through spatial and sensory experiences. By freeing themselves from the screen and traditional cinematic language, immersive works invite viewers to enter into the narrative, and often interact with it.

This year’s Immersive Selection will showcase nine works in the Competition, two non-competitive, and a Focus program featuring five Luxembourg creations that will give festival-goers an unprecedented insight into immersive creative processes.

Together, these sixteen proposals offer an overview of a rapidly evolving language – from virtual reality and mixed reality to video mapping and artificial intelligence. Designed to be experienced rather than viewed, these works take us into imaginary worlds where space, narrative and emotion intertwine. They also invite us to question our relation to power, domination and the complex, ambivalent ties we maintain with the natural world, technological systems, our own bodies and our fellow human beings. This year’s talented cast includes Fanny Ardant, Daisy Ridley, Zar Amir and Rod Paradot.

For the first time, the Immersive Competition will take place at the Carlton Hotel from May 14 to 23. The Croisette’s iconic venue will thus be transformed into a showcase dedicated to experiential and innovative forms of narration.