The Immersive Films Competition showcases virtual reality films that enhance the viewing experience by creating the illusion of direct engagement, offering encounters that would otherwise be unfathomable. A three-member jury of artists, theorists, journalists, and experts in immersive media, gaming arts, and virtual reality selects the project with the most significant societal impact. 

This year’s Immersive Films Competition Jury Award went to RAPTURE II – Portal. Directed by Alisa Berger, the film offers a brutal testimony of the Russian occupation of Ukraine and conveys the sorrow stemming from the loss of one’s home. 

"This piece powerfully navigates the profound loss of home through digital reclamation. The work's emotional resonance lies in its powerful portrayal of displacement—transforming private trauma into universal human experience. By allowing viewers to temporarily inhabit spaces affected by conflict, it addresses the fundamental human right to home and belonging with striking originality. The piece transcends mere documentation to become a haunting meditation on loss, memory, and our sacred connection to place—reminding us that home is not merely a physical but foundational to human dignity.   

The piece builds on horror-like aethetics, using  camera movement to depict emotional states from different angels. It also explores the potentiality of everyone being forced to face similar conditions" the jury said about the winning project RAPTURE II – Portal. 

The award was received by director Alisa Berger from the hands of Jan Deutsch, who serves as Strategic Business Advisory at Alza.

Immersive Films Competition Jury: Head of the Game Design Department at FAMU Andrej Sýkora, artist Ester Geislerová, curator and cultural manager Anna Szylar

 

Photo: © Lukáš Bíba