Goethe Institute

The Goethe-Institut is the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany with a global reach. We promote knowledge of the German language abroad and foster international cultural cooperation. We convey a comprehensive image of Germany by providing information about cultural, social and political life in our nation. Our cultural and educational programmes encourage intercultural dialogue and enable cultural involvement. They strengthen the development of structures in civil society and foster worldwide mobility.

VR:RV, A GERMAN-CANADIAN EXCHANGE IN VIRTUAL REALITY

With VR:RV the Goethe-Institut Montréal initiated a year-long program which promotes networking, the exchange of knowledge and co-productions between Germany and Canada in the fields of virtual reality and journalistic work. Together with local partners, and with the financial support of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, the project VR:RV aims to bring German and Canadian experts together to set the stage for future collaborations.

Between April and November 2018 professional virtual reality creators, artists, thinkers and journalists from Canada and Germany have been invited to a series of meetings comprising of public panels and internal workshops to work on new concepts for collaborative VR-experiences. The first of these meetings takes place in connection with MUTEK_IMG (April 11 - 13), followed three weeks later in Berlin by panels at re:publica (May 2 – 4). Virtually all Canadian and German participants will reconvene for this event. Lastly, in November at Doc Circuit Montréal, RIDM’s industry event, participants will gather for a final meeting to present their co-production prototypes and continue the discussion on the challenges and opportunities of working with new, immersive technologies.

 

VR:RV SESSIONS DURING RE:PUBLICA

 

Wednesday, May 2 (Pop-Up Room)

17.30 – 19.30: VR (Anti-) Manifesto Part III

 

Thursday, May 3  (Stage 9)

10:00 – 11:00: VR:RV | Project Presentations: VR:RV & Performersion

16.15 – 17.15: VR:RV | Stories We Tell

17.30 – 18.30: VR:RV | Visualising the Invisible: VR Encounters in Non-Fiction

 

Wednesday – Friday, May 2 – 4:

From 12.00: Goethe-Institut x Phi Centre: VR:RV Exhibition and VRwandlung

Selected VR-works from Canada and Germany are co-presented by the Goethe-Institut Montréal and the Phi Centre. Dedicated to art in all its forms, Phi is a multidisciplinary arts and culture organization based in Montreal that cultivates all aspects of creation, development, production and dissemination.

+ Special presentation of “VRwandlung”: The VR adaptation of Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” allows people to discover the world of Gregor Samsa and to experience the transformation into a giant insect. A collaboration of Goethe-Institut Prague and film director Mika Johnson, faculty member at the Prague Film School, and producer Shahid Gulamali.

 

PARTNERS

VR:RV is a project by the Goethe-Institut, realized with the support of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany. Partners include: MUTEK_IMG, re:publica, the National Film Board of Canada, the Canadian Film Centre, ARTE Germany, Eye Steel Film, Mozilla Foundation, Doc Circuit Montréal (RIDM's industry event), SODEC, Phi Centre and Retune.

For more information on the project: goethe.de/canada/vrrv/en