FSLC Announces Convergence at NYFF54 This October

The Film Society of Lincoln Center announces the complete details for the Convergence section of the 54th New York Film Festival, which will take place October 1-4. The fifth edition of the highly anticipated annual program delves into the world of immersive storytelling via nine interactive experiences, featuring virtual reality, augmented reality, installations, and more-including two World Premieres and one U.S. Premiere.

"The art of immersive storytelling is continually evolving," said NYFF Convergence programmer Matt Bolish. "Our mission has been consistent from our first year to this, our fifth: bringing the best survey of interactive work to the NYFF audience. The core of the program remains an exciting slate of participatory pieces augmented by talks on a wide range of topics related to immersive and interactive art."

Over the course of the weekend, audiences can explore a multitude of non-traditional film experiences, including immersive storytelling experiences Sound Hunters, where users record the sounds of their world via an app, mixing and remixing their own electronic music compositions; thrilling audience-directed heist film Late Shift in its U.S. premiere; and, back by popular demand for a second year, the hyper-collaborative SHERLOCK Holmes & The Internet of Things, in which participants assume the role of the famed detective to solve mysterious crimes across Lincoln Center.

Virtual reality highlights are the World Premiere of acclaimed Indian work Priya's Mirror, which fuses comic books and augmented reality to shatter taboos around the subject of violence against women; Giant, which transports the viewer into a family's bomb shelter in an active war zone; Ricerca VR, which incorporates 2D and stop-motion artistry to create a visually stunning world; and Cardboard City, where participants become artists by adding buildings, memories, and stories to an ever-evolving cityscape. Also featured are two interactive video installations: EKO, a trio of interactive shorts that masterfully balance technical achievement and quality storytelling, and the World Premiere of large-scale Lives in Transit, which chronicles 24 hours in the lives of 10 transportation workers across the globe, and which will run from October 1-16.

Complementing these nine experiential works are various talks and panels. Presentations include ILMxLAB visionaries Hilmar Koch and Nick Rasmussen on collaborative innovations in immersive entertainment; Positive Psychology expert Lindsay Doran on the psychology of storytelling; The State of the (Interactive) Art, a panel for StoryCode's fifth anniversary, with cofounder Mike Knowlton and special guests; and a special preview event for the much-anticipated project Traveling While Black, highlighted by a sneak peek at its first VR piece and a panel discussion with Academy Award-winning director Roger Ross Williams.

The complete schedule will be announced at a later date. Convergence experiences and installations are free and open to the public. Special Talks are $15; $10 for Film Society Members and Students. See more and save with a 3+ ticket discount package. Learn more at filmlinc.org/NYFF.

NYFF filmmaker conversations and panels, including a series of "Meet the Makers" conversations with featured Convergence storytellers, will be announced in the coming weeks, as well as more festival sections: Special Events, Spotlight on Documentary, Retrospective, and Projections. As previously announced, the festival Main Slate boasts three World Premieres in the gala slots: Ava DuVernay's The 13th (Opening Night), Mike Mills's 20th Century Women (Centerpiece), and James Gray's The Lost City of Z (Closing Night). The complete lineup can be found here.

The 17-day New York Film Festival highlights the best in world cinema, featuring works from celebrated filmmakers as well as fresh new talent. The selection committee, chaired by Jones, also includes Dennis Lim, FSLC Director of Programming; Florence Almozini, FSLC Associate Director of Programming; Amy Taubin, Contributing Editor, Artforum and Film Comment; and Gavin Smith, who serves as a consultant.

Tickets for the 54th New York Film Festival will go on sale September 11. BECOMING a Film Society Member at the Film Buff Level or above provides early ticket access to festival screenings and events ahead of the general public, along with the exclusive member ticket discount. Learn more at filmlinc.org/membership.

For even more access, VIP passes and subscription packages offer the earliest opportunities to purchase tickets and secure seats at some of the festival's biggest events including Opening and Closing Nights, and Centerpiece. VIP passes also provide access to many exciting events, including the invitation-only Opening Night party, "An Evening With..." dinners, Filmmaker Brunch, and VIP Lounge. Benefits vary based on the pass or package type purchased. VIP passes and subscription packages are on sale now. Learn more at filmlinc.org/NYFF.