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immersiVenice: Beyond Cinema

Venice, March 18th 2025. The pre-opening of the Ca' Foscari Short Film Festival, dedicated to the world of animation with the event Anymation, concluded with the presentation of immersiVenice, the new research center of the university for supporting and stimulating technological and scientific developments in immersive media with a mission to help to consolidate a culture of immersive language. Digital animator Igor Imhoff, sound designer Davide Tiso, and, participating remotely, US-based multimedia artist Mika Johnson -three authors of the project- presented the findings of the most recent immersive media initiatives. 

Imhoff, who works in video art, immersive VR experiences, and video mapping, described his projects as a collection of experiments that bridges multiple disciplines. He also stated that these projects could be adaptable tools "that allow an individual to address multiple needs." On the one hand, they expand cultural potential, offering applications in artistic performances and installations. On the other hand, they hold scientific value, with possibilities for medical use, social research, and behavioral monitoring, provided they are applied with care and intention. Imhoff presented two key works to illustrate this versatility. The first is a "magical" VR mirror, which captures an audience member's image and reflects it within an immersive digital environment. This mirrored image is then reinterpreted, weaving a new narrative through thematic overlays that blur the boundaries between virtual and physical spaces. The second project is an artistic VR installation where Imhoff himself becomes the protagonist of a fictional cosmos. Within this unsettling world, he is accompanied by a spectral child figure deliberately designed to evoke a sense of unease in the viewer. 

Davide Tiso, a multimedia designer, composer, and professor of sound design and music informatics, collaborated with Imhoff on several projects. During the talk, Tiso addressed a persistent challenge in immersivity: moving beyond a solitary, enclosed experience toward a more shared and transparent space, blending technology with human interaction in a way that feels increasingly natural, noting that "the issue remains open and in need of further expansion." 

In contrast, Mika Johnson shifted the focus from technology to the broader concept of immersion itself. "My background is in immersive theatre," he noted, emphasizing that a deeply engaging experience does not always depend on digital tools. Johnson described how, by stimulating all five senses, immersive storytelling can transform the audience into active participants, much like characters in a videogame, who contribute to and reshape the narrative. His approach was exemplified through three key works: The Infinite Library (2022) is a multimedia installation featuring an expansive VR library set within a symbolic cave, reimagining libraries as interactive, narrative-driven spaces. The Republic of Dreams (2021), inspired by the works of modernist writer Bruno Schulz, invites visitors into a dreamlike realm where reality and fiction blur. Finally, VRwandlung (2018), Johnson's first XR project, adapts Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis into a virtual reality experience, offering an unsettling reinterpretation of the classic tale. The event ultimately showcased new performative possibilities within the context of the Festival, reinforcing its commitment to expanding the boundaries of artistic innovation. 

Artistic and Operative Direction
Maria Roberta Novielli
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Media Relations
Studio Morabito
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in collaboration with: Eugenio De Angelis
and Press Relations Group CA' FOSCARI SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 15
Telefono: 041 234 6244 | Email: cafoscarishort@unive.it

Communications and Institutional Promotion Office
Media Relations Branch
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Enrico Costa: Tel. 041 2348004
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Email: comunica@unive.it