United Kingdom 2021, 91 min, English, Hebrew subtitles
The pandemic forced them into lockdown, but in cyberspace, they could still meet, dance, get to know new people, and even find romance. In this vérité documentary, filmed entirely in VRchat, the characters—Dust Bunny, DragonHeart, IsYourBoi, Toaster, and others—exist as avatars in a simulated universe. One has a tail, another shapeshifts parts of his body, a third teaches belly dancing, and yet another teaches sign language. They talk, dance, play pool, hang out at the pub, and even fall in love and get married. Director Joe Hunting enters their pixelated world and joins conversations about identity, otherness, the body and soul, long-distance love, mental health, and the physical world. In VR, anything is possible, and even if it seems like a fantasy, the people behind it—and their feelings—are very real.
Previous Festivals: Sundance, True/False, CPH:DOX, Docs Against Gravity
Depth of Field Competition Gender Hybrid International Films Last Chance to Watch Technology The Cinematic Edge