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NEWS Sunday 13 May 2018
DAY 6

THE BUZZ
OF THE DAY FEMALE FUNDING

FESTIVAL GOERS INITIATIVE

FINDS FEET ON
ARE LIVING THE DREAM CROISETTE

AT THE NEXT VR SPACE THE MORE female film-makers that you
talk to, the more apparent it becomes
that funding is one, if not, the key issue
in getting films by women made and
New content and technology in Cannes shows that film-makers seen. The newly launched EOS World
are taking VR seriously. Fund seeks to fill the gap through its
focus on funding both films and other
creative arts made by women.
With an initial budget of $10m-$100m,
EOS is dedicated to, “financing
innovative and pioneering women as
expressed in the creative arts, focusing
on powerful projects with a strong
social justice message,” said Founder
and CEO Gwen Wynne.
For the first five years, the focus will be
on the cinematic arts, after which EOS
will expand into other female-driven
forms of media. “Ideally, we want to
provide the majority of the financing
for our directors’ films. Realistically,
we’re providing development costs
and means to get our directors’ movies
made,” she added. As Wynne sees it:
“It isn’t enough to put woman at the
helm of films or in charge of studios.
© DR Shooting Ballavita in VR The basic building blocks of film-
making need to be examined and
IRTUAL Reality gets over the maximum time for a VR feature,” applications — radiologists would be viewed through a new lens. “The first
1,500 sq m of exhibition director of photography Sebastian much freer to move around a screen using two recipients of the fund are the
space in the NEXT Endler said. “Some say 20 minutes, their limbs rather than a mouse.” film-makers Nina Menkes and Julie
innovation exhibition space but we believe 30 minutes works.” And the once-futuristic concept of Dash. “Nina and Julie are visionaries
V in the basement of the Amilux’s move into VR began with ‘smellovision’ — moving images that and are both directors that are
Palais des Festivals this year. the 96-minute film Carousel, a 360º you can smell as well as see and hear — genuinely respected for taking cinema
With 25 VR market screenings, three drama about relationships. The 360º is no joke and it’s not dead yet. in new directions,” said Wynne.
libraries of VR content with over effect was achieved by projecting the film IBM is investing in VR — “from content “They are trail-blazers and inspirations
150 films, and a number of high-profile onto the inside of a cube, which housed creation to distribution” — by partnering to film-makers around the world.”
companies exhibiting in the space, the film’s audience. The cube was taken with different companies involved at The female half of the cinematic world
the signs are that the film industry around Germany and could accomodate different points in the supply chain. has been silenced for too long, she
is starting to take VR seriously. up to 90 people. For example it is co-producing Le Musk, said. “Right now we need not just
“The number of VR experiences has a 45-minute VR feature directed by bold film-makers, we need provocative
doubled from last year at NEXT and MONITISATION A. R. Rahman, the multi-award winning women of colour and all women
big players are exhibiting — such as HP, VR was the natural progression from the composer whose film scores include with alternative points of view
Intel Corporation, With.in, Baobab cube for Amilux. Now the company is Slumdog Millionaire. challenging the systems that have
Studios, Positron, Fable Studio, MK2VR, considering the question of how to get its Le Musk is an evocative film that revolves oppressed and dismissed our points
Orange, Nozon and Penrose Studios, content seen. “That’s the biggest issue around perfume and the sense of smell. of view and our stories,” she added. ✦
among others,” Julie Bergeron, Head of facing VR at the moment — And if you’re sitting in the right seat, Liza Foreman
Industry Programs at the Marché said. monetisation,” Endler said. “We’re the film not only gives you
“It looks like VR is now part of the film looking at distribution on the web, or extraordinarily vivid VR visuals, you can
industry with US studios including VR possibly through an app.” smell it too. IBM is also partner with
tie-ins in their marketing strategies.” Another NEXT exhibitor, Swiss company Positron, the California-based company
Austria’s Amilux Film is showing Limbic Life, is in Cannes to meet with that has created a VR chair that moves
excerpts of its first VR feature, Ballavita, content creators. The company’s Limbic with the action of the film and gives out
a 30-minute romantic fantasy about chair combines neuroscience-based smells that are relevant to the narrative.
a young tango dancer, Maria, who falls research and ergonomic design to enable At Sundance, Tribeca and other festivals,
through a trap-door and into a fantasy users to steer the VR experience using rooms with up to 20 Positron chairs
world where she meets an old man their legs. “At the moment with most VR were established so that guests could
who tries to steal her dreams. experiences, the user has no authorship,” enjoy Le Musk as a group experience.
The film features some beautiful dance Limbic Life founder and CEO Patrick At NEXT Le Musk can be seen in
sequences and through their headsets, Künzler said. “With the Limbic chair you the comfort of the Positron chairs, along
viewers can immerse themselves in can fly a helicopter using your legs — with Dunkirk, a five-minute VR demo
the choreography and follow their it’s a hands-free experience and reduces put together by Christopher Nolan
chosen dancer through the action. the nausea that can come with using a after he had completed the feature of © ART STREIBER
“It’s a 30-minute film because that’s joystick. It also has scientific and medical the same name. ✦ Julian Newby EOS’ Gwen Wynne

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