In the Netherlands, leading festivals such as IDFA and IFFR are increasingly supporting immersive art and storytelling, creating platforms where artists, technologists, and audiences can explore new narrative territories.
At this year’s International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), a symposium titled Reality Check: Building the Future of Immersive Storytelling brought together more than 110 creators, curators, funders, and policymakers to discuss how immersive narrative practices can thrive within the broader cultural ecosystem. Hosted at Katoenhuis — the festival’s hub for immersive media — the event marked the launch of Lightroom, IFFR’s new industry platform for immersive and non-linear work.
Rather than treating immersive work as a novelty, participants highlighted the need for clearer definitions, shared infrastructures, and sustainable pathways that align artistic ambition with institutional support. Conversations spanned how storytelling can be understood beyond traditional screens, how audiences with diverse needs can be engaged meaningfully, and what funding and exhibition models are necessary to ensure long-term viability.
This focus on immersive media is not confined to Rotterdam. At IDFA DocLab, the documentary festival’s new media program, interactive and immersive works tackle contemporary themes like digital presence and the paradoxes of online life, inviting audiences to engage deeply with narrative experiences.
Together, these initiatives reflect a vibrant movement within Dutch cultural festivals — one that embraces risk, innovation, and the expanding possibilities of immersive storytelling in our digital age.
How it goes in other countries? Have you ever heard about immersive and interactive media?
That's incredible, Antony Voronov! I've heard of VR storytelling, and I've written some VR scripts.