On November 29th and 30th, the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (NIFFF) and the Cineglobe Film Festival at CERN collaborated with the Pro Helvetia Swiss Arts Council on a workshop that aimed at strengthening the concepts and development phases of 9 interactive projects from Switzerland (video game, augmented/mixed/virtual reality) in terms of storytelling, technology and scientific accuracy.

After two intense days of conferences and discussions between participants and experts, the project BAT VISION from Eliane Zihlmann & Raffaele Grosjean (pictured), industrial design students at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste (Toni Areal, Zürich) was granted a CHF 3,000 supporting prize. A more accomplished version of the project will premiere at the NIFFF’s 20th edition, between 3-11 July, 2020.

Elliot Vaucher & Karian Før were also rewarded for their project UNMEM PLASMA by partner STORYTEK (Estonian accelerator and pole for innovation). They will be able to benefit from proper mentoring in the year to come. Karian Før was already supported in 2012-13 in the second call for projects launched by Pro Helvetia, NIFFF & FONDATION SUISA with his game UNMEM while Elliot Vaucher was awarded by FONDATION SUISA for best original sound composition for the same game.

It was the third edition of FUTURE STORYWORLDS, designed in close collaboration with the Pro Helvetia Swiss Arts Council, CineGlobe Film Festival at CERN, and STORYTEK, Estonian accelerator and innovation centre. The event aims for futuristic science-related narratives at the earliest stage of development that must be designed for media such as video games, virtual reality, augmented reality or mixed reality.

Check the FUTURE STORYWORLDS website here.