BBFF Extended Reality (XR) Dome
Extended Reality (XR) is the intersection between immersive technologies including Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), enabling digital technologies such as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT), Blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI) and Web 3.0.
As part of BBFF2022, the festival activated Byron Bay’s newest public space, the Railway Corridor, by installing a 10-metre projection dome.
Over three days, the BBFF XR Dome showcased cutting-edge immersive 360° films and content produced by artists and experts from throughout the world.
Among those contributors were members of the newly formed Byron Bay XR Collective, which boasts some of Australia's most talented practitioners in the immersive technologies space.
Like the technology we were exploring, this was an evolving and fast-moving program which featured a number of free panels and masterclasses exploring present and potential applications for the Metaverse, NFTs and more, with each screening containing approximately 40 minutes of immersive films.
BBFF2022 XR Dome Talks and Experiences Included:
What’s A Metaverse Panel
Since Mark Zuckerberg introduced his own metaverse, it and the rapidly changing digital landscape have been the topic of ongoing conversation.
What is the metaverse and why is everyone talking about it? Do we even want a digital life? How is it employed across both business and personal platforms and why is Facebook so interested in it?
Everyone’s burning metaverse questions were answered when the newly formed Byron Bay XR Collective presented a panel entitled 'What's A Metaverse' in the BBFF XR Dome.
Byron Bay is home to some of Australia's leading XR experts, making metaverses and creating digital stories for business, art and you. The group's mission is to develop a fertile community of forward thinkers that can leverage their collective resources, expertise and ambition for the benefit of the XR Industry.
NFT Panel
NFTs have been one of the hottest topics in the creative world over the past couple of years.
Some people ask WTF are NFTs? Others are ready to dive deep into unknown waters. This panel was designed for those who were curious or ready to go - but not sure where to go.
Attendees discovered the opportunity NFTs can provide to artists and creatives across different creative verticals with this free panel, where creators and distributors explained everything to know about this digital phenomenon.
Presenters included:
Mia Forrest | Award-winning NFT artist who has exhibited worldwide
Nick Hollins | NFT artist, musician and podcast host
Michelle Wang | Strategy and Operations Manager at Sugar Glider Digital, Australia's leading NFT platform
Priscilla Koukoui | NFT, Web3, Metaverse & new ways of working consultant
Shivam Rath Performance
XR Dome attendees were treated to a performance by local musician Shivam Rath, against a psychedelic backdrop of projected images.
Shivam has performed nationally and internationally alongside many great Indian maestros, granting him recognition into the highly difficult and adept genre of Indian classical music and proving himself to be one of Australia's leading slide guitarists.
With a natural affinity for Indian raga, rhythms and interactive kirtan and mantra chanting, Shivam has a rare and unique ability to combine these fields together to create some highly dynamic forms of group mantra singing - all within the spontaneous nature and ancient structure of Indian classical music.
Creating Cultural Journeys
This session comprised a screening of ‘Carriberrie’ and the World Premiere of ‘Marga’, followed by a talk with director Dominic Allen and illustrator Alex Mankiewicz about working with remote communities and different cultures.
BBFF2022 XR Dome Gallery
Photo Credits - Beverley Callow and Hielrick Georges Dajon
