6 VR experiences you can watch now from Tribeca Film Festival’s Cinema360
The Tribeca Film Festival is running 12 short VR films through May 4th, all featuring a 360-degree experience in its Cinema360 showcase. These are not the interactive films that are part of the festival's Virtual Arcade — you can't pick up a burning log, for example, and toss it into a fire. But in these 360-degree films, the story changes depending on where you choose to look, with visuals trailing in front, behind and on both sides. While tickets are still available for all of these screenings through Saturday, May 4th (and they're worth seeing), you can get a look at the trailers for some — and full screenings of others —right now on your computer. Have a VR headset? Your experience is going to be even better.
12 Seconds of Gunfire: The True Story of a School Shooting
The Washington Post
"12 Seconds of Gunfire: The True Story of a School Shooting," tells the true story of a school shooting in Townville, S.C.
We saw The Washington Post's "12 Seconds of Gunfire: The True Story of a School Shooting," during the 30-minute program, "Cinema360: Change is Gonna Come." The story is powerfully rendered, and tells the story of a first-grader, killed during a school shooting in Townville, S.C., through the experience of his best friend, a young girl who is left to grapple with her loss. You can watch the entire piece on YouTube as a 360-degree film on your computer, or through a Samsung Gear VR, Google Daydream, HTC Vive or Oculus Rift/Go device.
Ashe ’68
Ashe '68
"Ashe '68" uses sand animation as part of the film's virtual reality imagery
In the 8-minute "Ashe '68" you are Arthur Ashe, walking the long corridor of the U.S. Open as he goes for his famous win in 1968. The story also gives historic context to why Ashe's victory was so powerful. Sports Illustrated is hosting the entire film, also part of "Cinema360:Change is Gonna Come" program, an evocative hybrid of live-action and animation, with the filmmakers using sand to create portraits and images throughout the piece.
Girl Icon
Girl Icon
"Girl Icon" follows a young girl in India who is inspired by Malala Yousafzai
"Girl Icon," part of the "Cinema360: Her Truth, Her Power" program, tells the story of young girl, living in India, who is inspired by Malala Yousafzai. The documentary was produced as part of the Oculus VR For Good Creators Lab, and you can view a one-minute trailer of the film on YouTube.
Accused No. 2: Walter Sisulu
Accused No. 2: Walter Sisulu
"Accused No. 2: Walter Sisulu," uses virtual reality to seat you in the middle of Sisulu's trial
"Accused No. 2: Walter Sisulu," also part of the "Cinema360: Change is Gonna Come" program, actually seats you center in the middle of his trial, one of seven co-defendants along with Nelson Mandela as they fought against apartheid in South Africa. You can view a two-minute trailer of the film, in 360-degrees, on Vimeo.
Mr. Buddha
Mr. Buddha
HTC Vive is one of key collaborators in making "Mr. Buddha," a part action, part comedy film
This 19-minute film, is part action flick, part comedy, and is part of the "Cinema360: Go Team!" program. You can catch a short trailer on Vive's blog of "Mr. Buddha" — HTC Vive is one of the main collaborators on the movie.
Mercy
Mercy
A young girl from Cameroon travels to one of the Mercy Ships for surgery in "Mercy."
A short trailer on Vimeo is all you can catch of this film, which is showing as part of "Cinema360: Her Truth, Her Power" program. The 10-minute documentary, "Mercy" follows a young girl from Cameroon, Edith, who is brought aboard one of the Mercy Ships, a global charity that operates hospitals on the sea, for surgery to remove a tumor in her jaw.
