We are looking for 10 VR concepts, of up to 30 minutes duration that can be made within € 60,000 and completed for exhibition at the Venice International Film Festival in 2021. It is essential that the projects submitted can only be realized using VR technology and they truly engage with the new form and what it has to offer.

The Call is open from 6^th September  to 26^th October 2020 (23:59 CET)  to teams of director and producers from all over the world, at their first, second or third VR project.

There is no age limit and no participation fee. All participants have to cover their own travel costs for the workshops and the events they are invited to attend.

The selected teams will sign an agreement with the Biennale that assures their presence throughout the whole Biennale College Cinema – Virtual Reality process. Please read the programme description and FAQ-VR page, before completing the application.

Who can apply

As Virtual Reality is a new audio visual form whose language and grammar is still being discovered we are looking for a mix of creative professionals to enrich the programme and maximise opportunities to fully explore the innovative nature of the new medium. Applications are welcomed from people involved in film, gaming, theatre, dance, opera, visual arts and other creative fields.

Participants will need to provide work that demonstrates their creative, visual and production skills, openness to taking on new practices and a desire to fully engage with the technology.
The training will be project led and applicants will be expected to apply in director and producer teams. For those applying from the film world experience in short films, documentaries, and/or features is required and for those creative professionals applying from outside the film world they will need to have a body of work which can demonstrate their ability to understand narrative and spatial concerns.

How to apply

The application consists of a number of written and visual materials, which you will need to submit (see list below). Please spend the time getting the materials together as we won’t consider incomplete applications.

You will have to provide the following materials in English:

a. A project concept for a VR project of maximum 30 minute length (1 page, max 350 words or 1.800 characters)

b. A treatment that fully describes the VR project (5-10 pages, max 3.500 words or 18.000 characters)

c. a Director’s Vision, which can be represented by a mood board, a project-book (few pages of a storyboard, a colour script, a series of drawings or photographs) or by a video (max 3 minutes). It visually complements the written concept, and describes the project through images

d. Previous works by the director (max 2), to be uploaded directly on the website (360°and/or flat)

e. A Total Budget up to a maximum of 60.000 €

f. Biographies and filmographies of the director and the producer  The filmography needs to include the following information: all previous works including the title, year, length of film, genre (documentary or fiction) and role in the production.

g. Production Company Profile

h.  Video-Pitch Presentation, in English, by the director (max 3 minutes)

i. Audience Engagement Plan (1 page, max 350 words or 1.800 characters), which describes how to create audience awareness through on-line communities

j. Rights Disclosure with regards to full ownership of rights to the submitted project or, should the rights of third parties be involved, a guarantee that the acquisition of all rights in view of production has been concluded or is currently being negotiated. In the latter case the cost must be indicated in the budget, which in any case as specified above in point d, cannot exceed the total of € 60.000 

k. Signed agreement between the producer and the director confirming their willing to complete the project within the requirement and schedule of the program.

l. Confirmation that the project has not being supported already with finance for development or production.

m. List of training courses and events in which the project has circulated already.

The acceptance of all conditions of the International Call makes the application eligible.

For further details please visit our FAQ –VR page

For any additional questions please contact: college-cinema@labiennale.org

La Biennale di Venezia reserves the right in any case to modify, cancel or interrupt the initiative described above, in that the announcement or the selection do not constitute a binding contract for the same, nor do they entail the right to the reimbursement of any expense other than those specified above.