European Events Join Forces for Eurofest XR

Eurofest XR, set up by several European events dedicated to immersion and innovation, aims to be a think tank and a professional, collaborative and participative organization.

Eurofest XR Network brings together the Geneva International Film Festival (GIFF), VRHAM!—Virtual Reality & Arts Festival Hamburg (VRHAM!), Stereopsia, PiXii Festival (Sunny Side of the Doc), Encounters Film Festival, Virtual Worlds and The Les Ailleurs festival. The objectives of Eurofest XR are to share networks, highlight talents and support creation throughout the year by consolidating a European XR ecosystem.

The Eurofest XR Network Association was officially launched in December 2020 at the online edition of Stereopsia.

Eurofest XR objectives are: ensuring the best possible distribution of European XR works; to explore possible collaborations with other members to better support XR artists and producers by improving their participation and visibility in as many European festivals as possible; to limit the costs of XR equipment for its members; to promote the exchange of knowledge and sharing of best practices within the association and support international collaboration and curation ideas; to develop frameworks and standards for the XR industry to strengthen the European XR ecosystem; to strengthen the European ecosystem with better visibility and publicity as an association; and to highlight real-world examples of year-round venues to learn exhibition practices and develop feasible distribution models for work beyond the festival circuit.

First initiatives include improving the dissemination of XR content and publishing a European study on audience engagement. Eurofest XR will select an XR work from among the award-winning pieces from the various festivals and marketplaces of the associated members, which will be announced at the Geneva Digital Market in November 2021. This piece and its creators will then be invited to participate in all the events of the network’s members in order to give them the widest possible international exposure throughout 2022.

The growing interest in XR from film festivals and other events in Europe and around the world has led several leading festivals and marketplaces to team up in 2019 to “assess together the potential synergies to better support artists, share best practices, ensure the best possible distribution of European artworks and strengthen the European XR ecosystem,” said Paola Gazzani Marinelli, head of digital and professional programs at the Geneva International Film Festival (GIFF).

“After our first discussions at GIFF in 2019 it was clear that there was a growing collective of exhibition organizations keen to find ways to collaborate and build a strong XR industry across Europe,” Rich Warren, director of the Encounters festival in the U.K., said.

Warren added: “Encounters is built on collaborations with like-minded individuals and organizations, as such we are excited by the potential of this new group and the opportunities it will create for practitioners in the future.”

Astrid Kahmke, director of the Virtual Worlds festival, said: “Collaboration and networking are key for the growth of a European ecosystem that helps visionaries, creatives, artists and producers work in immersive media. It felt quite organic to continue the already strong partnerships between our festivals and join forces for the benefit of the creative XR industries. The Eurofest XR Network is a commitment of festivals to collaborate and support our artists. I am very glad to be part of this initiative that will take an active part to shape the future of XR in Europe.”

Alexandra Gérard, chief operating officer at Stereopsia, said: “We also found it relevant to fund a study on how to engage audiences with online events and digital exhibitions to better support creativity in these challenging times for the industry. This study will be carried out in partnership with universities from the European Union in order to raise maximum awareness when disseminated.”

Stéphane Malagnac, PiXii Festival development manager, said: “At a time when the health crisis is having a major impact on our entire industry, from authors to broadcasters and producers, it seems vital to us to pool our skills, expertise and international networks to give XR works the greatest possible visibility and support creativity and innovation in Europe.”

Ulrich Schrauth, artistic director of VRHAM!, said: “We strongly believe in the power of networking and cooperation, and with joined efforts, we are putting XR art and immersive technologies on the agenda across Europe!”