THE APEX TIMES
Venice Film Festival’s Immersive Sidebar Marks 10th Anniversary With 68-Project Lineup Featuring Margot Robbie, Andy Serkis, Omar Sy
Venice Immersive’s 10th edition will screen 68 immersive projects from 26 countries, with 30 selected for competition and 35 in an out-of-competition program, organizers announced.
The Venice Film Festival will expand its immersive programming this year with Venice Immersive, a dedicated sidebar celebrating its 10th anniversary and set to showcase 68 immersive projects from 26 countries, according to an announcement published Thursday by Deadline.
The lineup is structured across two strands, with 30 projects in competition and 35 presented out of competition. The format is designed to spotlight immersive storytelling and new viewing experiences within the festival framework, giving audiences a range of works from filmmakers and studios across multiple countries.
Organizers said the Venice Immersive selection includes projects featuring contributions from high-profile creative figures, including Margot Robbie and Omar Sy. The announcement also lists work connected to Andy Serkis as part of the immersive slate.
The preview also points to a David Bowie-related project within the immersive lineup, referencing the festival’s broader approach to pairing major cultural names with immersive-format production.
Deadline’s report frames the sidebar as a long-running platform for immersive work at a major international festival, with this year’s edition described as its 10th. The announcement does not provide additional details about the individual titles, competition categories, or creative teams beyond the participation by several headline names.
As the immersive sidebar runs alongside the main Venice Film Festival programming, the works selected for competition and those in the out-of-competition slate will be presented within the festival’s broader schedule. The festival’s immersive track is positioned to give attendees a more interactive and experiential option beyond conventional screenings.
Additional announcements from organizers are expected to clarify the specific titles, participating creative teams, and the structure of the competition within Venice Immersive’s 10th edition.
Until the festival publishes further particulars, the confirmed details remain focused on the total project count, the number of participating countries, and the split between competition and out-of-competition screenings, alongside the involvement of several prominent public figures in the immersive lineup.
Why It Matters
- The 10th anniversary edition expands the festival’s immersive slate, increasing the number of international projects shown on a major global platform.
- A competition segment of 30 projects indicates a formal track for immersive work within a mainstream film-festival environment.
- By featuring widely recognized talent connected to immersive projects, the festival may bring broader audience attention to nontraditional film formats.
- The emphasis on out-of-competition programming suggests Venice is pairing awards-focused curation with broader industry showcasing for creators and distributors.
Key Facts
- Venice Immersive is the Venice Film Festival sidebar dedicated to immersive projects.
- The 2026 edition marks the sidebar’s 10th anniversary.
- Organizers will present 68 immersive projects from 26 countries.
- Of the 68 projects, 30 are in competition and 35 are out of competition.
- Deadline’s report says the lineup includes projects featuring contributions associated with Margot Robbie, Andy Serkis, and Omar Sy.
- Deadline also lists a David Bowie-related project among the immersive selections.