Venice Immersive Curators Michel Reilhac and Liz Rosenthal Reflect on a Decade of XR at the 83rd Venice Film Festival

During the 83rd Mostra del Cinema di Venezia, curators Michel Reilhac and Liz Rosenthal marked the tenth anniversary of Venice Immersive by discussing the transformation of immersive media into an independent art form. They observed that technology now prioritizes emotional engagement rather than its original purpose. Reilhac pointed out the blending of different disciplines and the transition from headsets to immersive spatial experiences, admitting that his earlier forecast for 2025 was overly ambitious. Rosenthal noted the revival of VR, driven by fashionable eyewear from Ray-Ban and Oakley. Both curators highlighted location-based experiences as a viable economic model and expressed optimism about future developments in smart glasses, hoping Venice Immersive will be recognized as a crucial milestone in the integration of art forms.