MONTREAL.- Coproduced by PHI Studio, Riverbed Theatre, and Onassis Culture, Blur, an immersive mixed-reality experience, has been officially selected in competition for the prestigious Venice Immersive section of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. Following its successful debut in Asia earlier this year, including its world premiere at the Taiwan National Theatre, Blur continues its international tour, with Venice as its next major stop.
The experience
Set in a near future in which cloning and de-extinction have become reality, Blur immerses the audience in a world that obscures the boundaries between real and virtual, fear and desire, fact and fiction. Blur invites the audience to confront profound concerns about grief, identity, and science as they navigate the surreal landscape. At its core, Blur asks the fundamental ethical question: “what would you do if you could defeat death?”
“With Blur, we wanted to collapse the boundary between performer and audience, dream and reality. Venice Immersive is the ideal platform for this piece, a place where new forms of theatrical expression can truly be experienced.” — Craig Quintero, Artistic Director, Riverbed Theatre & Co-director of Blur
Through innovative motion capture and augmented reality, actors' raw emotions seamlessly weave into the experience, offering a haunting exploration of love, loss, and the perilous implications of “playing God.” Iconic figures like Dolly, a human-animal hybrid, embody the triumphs and ambiguities of science and genetic engineering.
“Blur is a deeply emotional work that reflects PHI Studio’s mission to amplify bold, immersive storytelling. We are incredibly proud to see it recognized by the Venice International Film Festival, a space where artistic risk and innovation are celebrated.” — Phoebe Greenberg, Founder and Chief Creative Officer, PHI & Co-director of Blur
Blur is more than a performance—it is an unforgettable journey that pushes the boundaries of storytelling and theatrical experience. It asks the ultimate question: Can science heal a broken heart, or will it unravel what makes us truly human?
The profound and innovative production provides a new paradigm for digitally mediated theater experiences.
Venice Gap-Financing Market
In addition to Blur's official selection, the PHI Studio team is proud to announce that one of its co-productions in development, Carved in Time, created in collaboration with Atlas V and Iconem, has been selected for the Venice Production Bridge, alongside 66 other international projects including 14 immersive projects.
The Venice Gap-Financing Market is a platform for selected projects that aims to support European and international producers to secure financing for their projects (Fiction Films, Documentaries and Immersive Projects) through one-to-one meetings with potential and pertinent international professionals (producers, sales agents, distributors, financiers, broadcasters and funds).
