Chinese XR Works Lead Narrative Innovation in Venice International Film Festival

Venice Immersive Grand Prize Unveiled: Chinese XR Works Lead Narrative Innovation

The 82nd Venice International Film Festival officially opened today, with its Venice Immersive section once again emerging as a global focal point for cutting-edge extended reality (XR) storytelling. Among 69 XR works from 27 countries and regions, 30 will compete for the prestigious Venice Immersive Grand Prize, widely regarded as the “Oscar” of immersive creation.

The winners were announced by the five international Juries during the Awards Ceremony that was held on Saturday 6th September

Venice Immersive

The Venice Immersive Jury, chaired by Eliza McNitt and comprised of Gwenael François and Boris Labbé, after viewing the 30 projects in competition has decided to award:

Grand Prize

Venice Immersive Grand Prize to: “The Clouds Are Two Thousand Meters Up” by Singing Chen (Taipei, Germany)

Special Prize

Venice Immersive Special Prize to: “Less than 5gr of Saffron” by Négar Motevalymeidanshah (France)

Chinese Creativity: From Cultural Heritage to Futuristic Visions

Chinese entries stood out this year. MULAN2125, developed by China’s Well-Leap Studio, is the only independently produced work from mainland China in the main competition. Reimagining the legend of Hua Mulan in a 22nd-century cyberpunk setting, the piece combines real-time rendering and haptic feedback to immerse audiences in a poetic narrative of empowerment. The team’s proprietary “cloud rendering + lightweight local device” solution bypasses traditional barriers in high-end VR content transmission.

Also garnering attention is Cloud at Two Thousand Meters by Taiwanese director Singing Chen, adapted from Wu Ming-Yi’s novel of the same name. Using VR to recreate the misty ecosystems of Taiwan’s Central Mountain Range, the piece integrates 8K panoramic cinematography with spatial sound design, constructing a multi-user exploratory environment centered on ecological storytelling. The work had previously been nominated for the Golden Headset Award at France’s New Images Festival.

Fusion of Technology and Artistic Experimentation

This year’s shortlisted works demonstrate notable technical integration:

• AI-Generated Content: The French production Memories of a Machine employs neural radiance fields (NeRF) to reconstruct vanished urban landscapes.
• Multi-Sensory Interaction: The Japanese team’s Taste of the Seasons incorporates biosensors and taste simulation devices.
• Blockchain Narratives: The U.S. entry Decentralized Dreams allows viewers to influence the storyline through NFTs.

Over 60% of the works utilize real-time game engine rendering, reflecting a broader industry trend toward深度融合 (deep integration) of immersive creation and real-time technology.

Why Venice Matters: Setting the Industry Standard

Michel Reilhac, Curator of Venice Immersive, noted, “These works are redefining the grammar of cinema. When audiences become participants rather than spectators, we need entirely new frameworks for evaluation.”

The significance of the award extends globally through:

• Technical Benchmarking: Winning works often set XR standards for the next 2-3 years.
• Investment Trends: 78% of past awarded projects have successfully secured follow-up funding.
• Cultural Validation: The 2024 winner, Echoes of the Unseen, was acquired for permanent collection by the British Museum.

The Globalization of China’s XR Ecosystem

According to data from the Advanced Innovation Center for Future Visual Entertainment at Beijing Film Academy, the number of Chinese works selected for Venice Immersive has grown for three consecutive years, with a 40% increase from 2022 to 2025. This growth reflects structural upgrades in China’s XR industry:

Hardware: Companies like Huawei and PICO account for 35% of global VR headset shipments.

Content: Total XR content production时长 (duration) in China increased by 200% year-on-year in 2024.

Talent Development: 47 universities in China have established dedicated programs in immersive media.

As jury member and Oscar-winning producer Don Katz observed, “Eastern creators are deconstructing narrative with a mindset entirely different from linear cinema—this innovation may reshape the entire entertainment industry.”