Acclaimed WA virtual reality experience to debut in America’s best film festival
WA virtual reality experience THALU: DREAMTIME IS NOW will have its US premiere...
WA virtual reality experience THALU: DREAMTIME IS NOW will have its US premiere at the 2019 Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival.
The immersive experience was written by award winning Indigenous writer Tyson Mowarin, who drew upon the dreamtime stories of the ancient Ngarluma people of North Western Australia.
Voted the “Best Film Festival” by USA Today, Cinequest will host THALU: DREAMTIME IS NOW through its VR Lounge, screening alongside well known VR experiences such as CROW: THE LEGEND VR voiced by John Legend, as well as ECLIPSE, Cinequest’s first hyperreality installation.
Located in the Silicon Valley, Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival is a long-time leader in showcasing technological innovation with filmed media, and has become the place to experience the immersive world of virtual and augmented reality.
As the only Australian VR experience featured at this year’s festival, the selection is a great achievement for Frame VR and Weerianna Street Media, the two companies behind the experience.
“I’ve always brought technology and culture together,” Mowarin comments.
“…Our virtual reality project always goes back, for me, to our Aboriginal culture and heritage, protecting and preserving it. I’m always trying to preserve it.”
THALU: DREAMTIME IS NOW is no stranger to the spotlight, having had a successful world premiere at the 2018 Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), selling out all sessions within two weeks.
It has since been accepted into numerous festivals around the world, including:
- CinefestOZ (WA)
- Byron Bay International Film Festival (NSW)
- ImagineNATIVE (Canada)
- FIVARS (Canada)
“Being accepted into Cinequest is a great honour for a boutique production company like Frame VR,” director Justin McArdle stated.
“We want people to experience THALU and walk away in awe of its message and the immersive way they are experiencing the story.”
THALU: DREAMTIME IS NOW is a unique story that holds significant weight. It has made its mark through its representation of Indigenous dreamtime lore, the importance of preserving their land and culture, and also the immersive power of virtual reality as a storytelling medium.
“THALU has had a great run since its premiere at MIFF,” said Screenwest CEO Willie Rowe. “We’re thrilled to see the impact it’s now having internationally in regard to both the technology used and the magnificent subject explored on screen.”
Follow Frame VR on Facebook to stay up to date with THALU: DREAMTIME IS NOW.