Surround Vision Delivers VR For LIFF

Surround Vision has been selected by the Leeds International Film Festival (LIFF) to deliver a fully immersive virtual reality film – Welcome to Leeds, A City in Bloom – as part of the festival's 30th anniversary.

The film, which celebrates the host city through spoken-word poetry, and will look at Leeds' diversity and culture that captures the old and new in the city, and pairs these images with spoken-word poetry written and performed by Khadijah Ibrahim.

Festival attendees will be able to experience the film courtesy of a dedicated pod hosting Samsung Gear VR headsets. Viewers wearing the headsets will be immersed in the film and experience 360-degree views of the city and unlimited points of view.

The film was shot using a mix of modified and traditional GoPro cameras and 360º rigs to ensure shooting versatility and VR image quality. The production ran across 10 days, with the shoot taking place throughout the city on 25 October.

Chris Fell, Director, LIFF, said: "Surround Vision seamlessly mashed up our brief with arresting creative themes that amplified Leeds' unique atmosphere and mood. Their extensive experience in filming similar projects brought a strong narrative and filmic style to the piece. We're immensely proud that Surround Vision has helped secure a place for Leeds in the burgeoning realm of VR filmmaking."

Lewis Ball, Director, Surround Vision, added: "VR is now gaining traction as a medium for immersive storytelling and filmmaking. By placing viewers into the environment, the format offers a feeling of discovery untapped by any other artistic medium. We used VR to give the viewer a feeling of the city's vibrancy and space. The end result is an experience through the city for both LIFF regulars and VR newcomers."

www.leedsfilm.com

www.surroundvision.co.uk

(JP/LM)