Immersive Films Competition

The Competition of Immersive Films showcases a curated selection of interactive virtual reality projects and 360° films that explore human rights themes in the broadest sense of the word.

From contemplations of geological time (Texada) and feminist explorations of pressing social issues (Missing 10 Hours) to spiritual insights (the Floating With Spirits project) and profound reflections on life with disabilities (Spots Of Light), this year's projects employ immersive technology that offers viewers deeply personal perspectives and viewing angles that transcend the boundaries of ordinary perception.

Taking flight with the project 21-22 China, viewers are treated to sweeping vistas of China's industrialised landscape from a bird’s-eye view, offering a stark portrayal of the Anthropocene's impact on an environmentally ravaged country. Taking audiences on a harrowing journey through the protagonist’s personal hell, I Took a Lethal Dose of Herbs sets out into the disturbing odyssey of a pro-life activist who is harshly confronted with the consequences of her ideology. These immersive projects not only expand the possibilities of cinematic storytelling but also provide insights into human perception – allowing viewers to experience a slowing down of reality, its fragmentation into micro-particles, and a closer approximation of the inner workings of the human mind.

The fact that our memories are fragmented and that stories cannot be fully understood in linear narration – but perhaps much more accurately through multidimensional immersive storytelling – is demonstrated by the intimate project Remember This Place: 31°20’46’’N 34°46’46’’E. In it, the author presents a compelling reconstruction of the pain and anguish felt by displaced individuals based on the fragmented narratives of Palestinian women.

Films in category Immersive Films Competition

Two 3D animated women with exaggerated features taking a selfie.

Virtual reality

I Took a Lethal Dose of Herbs

This bizarrely chilling story shows how postpartum psychosis and anti-abortion ideology can lead women to self-destructive behaviour.

Man and woman in a bathroom in video game format.

Virtual reality

Missing 10 Hours

Inspired by a true story, this interactive film gives viewers the chance to decide the fate of a woman harassed at a party. How hard is it to overcome the bystander effect?

Vibrant, surreal digital art landscape with colorful, misty rock formations.

Virtual reality

Texada

Stones, memories, melancholy – the key themes of this VR project in which a powerful authentic narrative about a vanishing industry brings even minerals to life.

Virtual reality

Comfortless

America Town was once a “haven of rest” for US soldiers. A realistic look into its streets and buildings reveals the desolate life of South Korean “comfort women”.

Person drawing at a desk by a window during sunset with cozy lighting and policia posters.

Virtual reality

Draw for Change: We Exist, We Resist

A Mexican artist draws attention to violence against women in her country through painting and street art in the physical world, and now also through an interactive VR experience.

Blurred room with speckled light effect, creating a dreamy atmosphere.

Virtual reality

Spots of Light

After being hit by shrapnel, Dan, a young soldier, had to accept that he’d see nothing more than fuzzy spots of light for the rest of his life. But over time his situation took several unexpected turns.

Silhouettes of figures hanging by hands behind back in a misty room with ethereal lighting.

Virtual reality

The Man Who Couldn't Leave

A visit to a former prison is also a journey into Taiwan’s past, profiling the island’s anti-communist regime of the 1950s.

Abstract art with splashes, posters, and a blue couch.

Virtual reality

Remember This Place: 31°20’46’’N 34°46’46’’E

In the story-filled Palestinian landscape, the collected statements of zealous Bedouin women are remnants of their inexorably vanishing homes.

Colorful digital art of flowers with a glowing, ethereal appearance.

Virtual reality

Floating with Spirits

The Mexican foothills are swathed in fog. On the Day of the Dead – Día de Muertos – the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is thinnest and Nature’s spirits awaken and speak.

City skyline at night with illuminated buildings and moon.

Virtual reality

21-22 China

An alarming flight over China needs no words to show the marks humankind leaves on the landscape.

Other Thematic Categories

Competitive Film Category

International Competition

The international competition features eleven titles, which includes premieres and acclaimed or award-winning films from other world festivals. These films, both in content and form, offer remarkable insights from both highly visible regions and countries that are often overlooked.

Competitive Film Category

Right To Know

The title of this competitive section speaks volumes about its thematic focus, centring on a dozen documentaries that address topical issues demanding a mass audience.

Competitive Film Category

Czech Competition

Every year, One World's national competition presents a rich array of documentaries on human rights issues. This year's lineup comprises nine films, each offering a unique perspective. Some investigate national icons, others tackle contemporary social challenges, whilst some cast their gaze towards the future.

Competitive Film Category

Immersive Films Competition

The Competition of Immersive Films showcases a curated selection of interactive virtual reality projects and 360° films that explore human rights themes in the broadest sense of the word.

Thematic Film Category

Middle East

The Middle East and North Africa, often abbreviated as MENA, have always been areas of focus for One World. In these regions, there are always numerous pressing issues that compel filmmakers to capture them on camera, whether it's the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the status of women in Iran and Syria, or the situation in Yemen or Lebanon.

Thematic Film Category

Ecosystems

In recent years, One World has dedicated a separate category to ecological issues. Whilst films addressing this topic continue to feature this year, we now approach the topic from a fresh perspective. How do nature, humans, and other entities coexist to form complex ecosystems?

Thematic Film Category

Searching For Freedom

The category Searching for Freedom has long been a cornerstone of One World. This year, we decided to reintroduce it into the program, but with a twist: our understanding of freedom has now been expanded to encompass a broader spectrum.

Thematic Film Category

On the Edge of Maturity

The delicate and pivotal phase between childhood and adulthood is marked by a period of self-awareness, acceptance of bodily changes, independence from one’s family, and the development of one's moral compass. It represents a profound personal metamorphosis, during which one attempts to navigate the boundaries of social norms, political liberties, and family acceptance.

Thematic Film Category

Identities

Films in this category address the process of searching for and defining one's own identity in various ways. They emphasise that identity is not bound by set limits or predefined boxes.

Thematic Film Category

Communities

Films in this category explore the diverse community experiences of contemporary society. It’s precisely communities – groups interlinked by various shared circumstances and bonds – that play a significant role in shaping society, perhaps even evolving into a new form of family — or perhaps acting as a “second family” has always been among the functions of any community?

Thematic Film Category

Structures of Power

The entrenched hierarchy of social status, in which the rich and powerful rule from the upper echelons whilst the marginalised and disenfranchised are stuck at the bottom of the barrel, remains a sad constant of our society. In this year's selection of top ten films exploring the rule of law and its exploitation, we witness the courageous endeavours of individuals and collectives striving to break through the usurping structures of power.

Thematic Film Category

Docs For Families

One World also caters to its younger audience. Films shown within this category enable children to learn more about the lives of others their own age from different parts of the world.