The activities and discussions at the FilmGate Interactive Media Festival evolve rapidly, with trends shifting swiftly from one hot topic to another. Diliana Alexander, the executive director of FilmGate Miami, reflects on the festival’s beginnings and its evolution over the past decade. This year, the festival is poised to explore the realm of artificial intelligence (A.I.), signifying a significant shift in focus compared to previous editions.
The 10th edition of the festival adopts the theme “Regenerate X,” showcasing a diverse range of talks, workshops, and 35 immersive installations for public exploration. In collaboration with the University of Miami, the festival will be held at multiple venues, including the Lakeside Village Expo Center, the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, Downtown Media Center, Perez Art Museum, Bayside Marina, and various outdoor locations in downtown Miami.
Among the immersive experiences featured at the festival is “Body of Mine,” a virtual reality project that provides users with a distinctive perspective on transgender identity. Another captivating installation is “Voice Memos for the Future,” an interactive audio experience by South Florida artist Fereshteh Toosi, aiming to foster a connection between individuals and nature while addressing concerns related to climate change.
Additionally, FilmGate showcases dome experiences like “Folding Harmonies” and “Limbotopia” from Taiwan, as well as “Biliminal” from Canada, each offering unique explorations of the concept of time. The festival also includes workshops on AI technologies such as Snapchat’s Lens Studio and presents a short film titled “Yellow Dove Aftermath: The World of Hour Blue” by Rony Abovitz’s new venture, Sun and Thunder.
Abovitz’s vision for AI characters aligns with the concept of empowering smaller teams to create impactful projects, emphasizing the collaboration between humans and AI entities. The festival acts as a platform for delving into the potential of AI in storytelling and filmmaking, showcasing the opportunities for innovation and creativity in the digital era.
For those interested in attending the FilmGate Interactive Media Festival, the event is scheduled from Wednesday, Nov. 29, to Sunday, Dec. 3, at various venues in Miami. The festival offers a variety of ticket options catering to different experiences, including VIP access, dome experiences, immersive installations, and tech talks.
