With the film and gaming industries already seeing huge benefits from VR and 360, what is the potential for this technology to be implemented in other ways? This panel looks to the future, discussing how VR can be developed for positive solutions across medical care, rehabilitation and education as well as destructive purposes, such as military use or surveillance.

VR allows us to experience new worlds with growing realism. As we delve headlong into fictional worlds – becoming whoever or whatever we desire – what questions should we be asking about the decisions we make inside constructed environments? Experts explore the consequences of life in VR, its effect on morality, trauma as well as the illusion of choice in generated experiences.

It’s now possible for anyone to create immersive films – exploring a multitude of genres and exciting story arcs. But when you’re inviting viewers to step into a brand new world, how does it change the filmmaking process? This discussion covers the process of 360° filmmaking, looking at how to find an engaging story and introduce it to the virtual realm. Discover what you need to know.

Sound is crucial to the filmmaking process. It is key to adding realism, through a delicate mix of sound design, foley and music. With the rise of VR, what are the new challenges in creating something that feels real from all sides? How does audio compliment an immersive experience? Sound designers and VR content makers list the intricacies and complexities of sound in virtual worlds.

Journalism can often face a barrier between subject matter and audience. Filmmakers can struggle to present content in a way that provokes empathy. 360° film is revolutionising the world of factual content, delivering information whilst immersing an audience and challenging their viewpoints. Join a panel of pioneering documentarians as they look at VR for good.

Storytelling has changed. Audiences can now experience narratives as though they are really there – whether as an observer or as an active participant. What does this mean for the future of storytelling? How can we adapt to a non-linear structure, dictated by a viewer’s actions or decisions? What are the creative obstacles that need to be overcome?