LYNETTE WALLWORTH’S “COLLISIONS”, RANDAL KLEISER’S “DEFROST”, AND JAMES KAELEN’S “THE VISITOR” FILL OUT IMPRESSIVE VR DEBUT FOR MISSISSIPPI-BASED FEST Oxford, MS

(February 2, 2016) – The 2016 Oxford Film Festival (February 17- 21) announced today that three virtual reality (VR) projects will join the previously announced SEARCHING FOR HELL to complete an impressive debut of VR experiences for Mississippi film goers at the fest, with Opening Night a little more than two weeks away.

Two of the projects joining the previously announced feature length documentary, SEARCHING FOR HELL, are Lynnette Walllworth’s COLLISIONS and Randal Kleiser’s first foray into the VR world, DEFROST, which both enjoyed popular and critical acclaim at the just concluded Sundance Film Festival. The third addition is James Kaelan’s exercise in philosophical horror, THE VISITOR.

The 4 VR films will be available the length of the festival starting Wednesday, February 17 at 6:00pm until Sunday, February 21. Oxford Film Festival film goers can experience the VR projects at the Powerhouse Community Arts Center (413 South 14th St.) Thursday - Sunday from 12:00pm – 6:00pm.

A panel discussing the artistry and technology behind VR has also been added on Friday at 11:00 a.m. as part of the art reception at the Powerhouse with the filmmakers in attendance participating.

Oxford Film Festival Executive Director Melanie Addington said, “I could not be more thrilled that we have been able to add to our VR offering this year to make it a full section of the film festival. A primary objective of our Sundance trip was to scout and secure virtual reality projects to bring back to Mississippi, so the fact that we were able to nab two of our favorites was a huge win for the Oxford Film Festival. This is a diverse group of projects that will virtually place audience members in foreign lands, scary situations, and fascinating worlds in a way that is visceral, dynamic and exciting, and frankly – is the next technological step in connecting them with the story.”

Tickets and passes are available for purchase to attend the 2016 Oxford Film Festival. For more information go to http://www.oxfordfilmfest.com.

DESCRIPTIONS OF VR PROJECTS

COLLISIONS (2016)

Lead Artist: Lynette Wallworth

Country: Australia

Live action/animated documentary about Nyarri Morgan, the indigenous leader of the Martu tribe in Western Australia. Morgan recounts his profound first contact with Western culture and the dramatic collision between his traditional world view and the cutting edge of modern technology.

DEFROST (2016)

Lead Artist: Randal Kleiser

In this futuristic, sci-fi, live-action VR adventure, viewers are put in the seat of a woman who wakes up after being frozen for nearly 30 years, to reunite with her family. The reunion is bittersweet, as the passage of time has caused her loved ones to become strangers.

SEARCHING FOR HELL (2015)

Directors: Pawel Nazaruk, Tomasz Adamski, Darek Barecki, Yuki Nakamura, Gloria Kurnik, James Kenney

Country: USA

Hell exists. It’s just not what you think it is. The world’s first full-length documentary film in virtual reality cinema.

THE VISITOR (2016)

Director: James Kaelan

Country: USA

In this work of philosophical horror, at an austere compound in the desert, a woman waits for her greatest fear to materialize.