This year's theme explores the paradox of our time: the growing desire to disconnect, the impossibility of ever truly logging off, and the inherent privilege of stepping offline. With 'Off the Internet,' DocLab turns to interactive and immersive art in search of new forms of presence and connection.

Reminder - we are looking for an intern to join the team:

The final round of Immersive Arts funding is now open! UK-based artists can apply for £5k, £20k or £50k to develop work with immersive tech. Open until Mon 29 Sep 2025. This is the last open call—apply now. immersivearts.uk/news/the-final-round-of-immersive-arts-funding-is-now-open

📌 Become part of our team! As an intern in the New Media department, you learn about the ins and outs of creating a festival program, from the selection of interactive and immersive documentary projects to their exhibit during the festival.  jobs.idfa.nl/internship-n... ⏰ Deadline: July 27 (EOD)

Artist Alaa Minawi's work bridges installation & performance, engaging the audience in an immersive way. I talked to him about The Liminal, which recieved an award at IDFA's @doclab.bsky.social in its wip form, and his #arabfuturism series, for @documentary.org www.documentary.org/online-featu...

Attention artists! IDFA DocLab 2025 is open for entries! We're seeking interactive & immersive new media projects, XR, performances, web docs, digital art, games, audio works, installations & more, that engage with or expand our understanding of reality. Details: idfa.nl/doclab

Starting next week at Het Documentaire Paviljoen: Shaping Bonds 🌀 The five-day program delves into the connections between humans, nature, and other living beings through films, installations, and the multisensory VR installation 'Symbiosis' (photo). FULL PROGRAM: www.idfa.nl/en/strands/s...

TODAY at @sxsw.com: The DocLab Showcase with Tamara Shogaolu (Ado Ato Pictures), Martijn de Waal (director of Centre of Expertise Creative Innovation), and @doclab.bsky.social founder/curator Caspar Sonnen. 11:30 - 12:30 | Fairmont | Manchester B | INFO: schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/... #SXSW

ICYMI: The 85-page report I wrote up for the @doclab.bsky.social R&D Summit is NOW LIVE! Includes a ton of photos and highlights from folks in the XR industry talking about the art and practice of immersive stories, debates about AI, LBE distribution insights, research into awe + XR. #longread

Every year, the IDFA DocLab R&D Summit reflects on the state of the new media sector and where it’s headed. XR journalist @kentbye.com was present to cover the industry event in its entirety. 🧠 Download and read the full report—85 pages in total: professionals.idfa.nl/stories/repo...

This Sunday at IDFA's Het Documentaire Paviljoen in Amsterdam: The multidisciplinary project 'Battlefield of Dreams,' as presented at last year's IDFA DocLab Forum. Sunday's program starts with a screening of 'OUR BODY,' and ends with an aftertalk. All info + tickets: www.idfa.nl/en/compositi...

While we’re gearing up toward IDFA DocLab 2025, photos like these keep reminding us of the wonderful times at last year’s edition. Take a look at the photo galleries at idfa.nl/doclab to revisit and relive the DocLab Exhibition and two of the DocLab Playrooms. #IDFA #IDFADocLab #virtualreality #XR

The "absurd and delicious world" of Humaneaty TV is featured at the 16th A.I.R Biennial (Jan 11-Feb 9). "Food, tech, and play collide to reimagine our digital souls." The project is derived from 'EAT TECH KITCHEN' (IDFA DocLab 2018: www.idfa.nl/en/film/612a...), which brought the artists together.

DocLab at the Planetarium: Homes Unbound presented full-dome adaptations of works by Gregor Petrikovič and Queer.Space, and a full-dome project by Emese Pálovics. We want to thank ARTIS-Planetarium and @wemakevr.bsky.social for making this evening possible. 🪐 RECAP: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFwz...

Editorial⎜A look back at @doclab.bsky.social R&D Summit 2024, by @cirilism.bsky.social xrmust.com/xrmagazine/i...

"Distribution is a difficult discussion for any art form, but as technologies are rapidly changing—both in the software used to create and produce, and the hardware to watch an exhibit—the issue at hand for XR is even more challenging." ✍️ @cirilism.bsky.social xrmust.com/xrmagazine/i...

"With 2 planetarium nights, we’ve been doing R&D into the potential of full dome to create collective experiences and versions of different works in the exhibition. And the new DocLab Playrooms honor and fuel the inherent playfulness and curiosity of the immersive field." xrmust.com/xrmagazine/c...

IDFA DocLab 2024 was really amazing this year with lots of mixed formats, AI, & XR. I saw all 28 immersive experiences, and recorded 23 interviews with artists, producers, & a XR scholar. 17.5 hours of Voices of VR coverage coming soon. Curator overview of selection: voicesofvr.com/1492-idfa-do...

Tomorrow! Hosted by MIT's @opendoclab.bsky.social. Those who attended Anagram's Playroom at IDFA DocLab this year, know how playful and tactile their testing and creative process gets 👀 Photos coming soon... #DocLab #digitalstorytelling #immersivenonfiction #XR #mixedreality #VR #documentary