News

2021. 10. 18 

 

The virtual reality (VR) film Red Eyes, produced by the Art & Technology Lab (AT Lab) at the Korea National University of Arts (K-ARTS, President Kim Dae-jin), has won the People’s Choice Award in the VIFF Immersed (Immersive Media) category at the 40th Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), which concluded on October 11.

■ "The Most Ambitious VR SF Action Ever"

Directed by Professor Seung-moo Lee (School of Visual Arts, Dept. of Film) and starring top-tier actors Kim Kang-woo and Lee Elijah, the film received high praise from VIFF programmer Caitlin Burns, who called it "the most ambitious live-action VR SF action film to date." The project was co-produced by ZINEMA, with investment and distribution support from LG U+.

■ Pushing the Boundaries of 360-Degree Cinema

Set in the near future, Red Eyes follows a special operations unit on a high-stakes mission and the secrets they uncover. Breaking away from the static nature of typical VR content, the film is a Full 3D 360-degree cinema experience that utilizes aggressive camerawork and sophisticated CG to deliver a level of urgency and emotional resonance impossible in traditional 2D filmmaking.

■ K-ARTS and the Legacy of VIFF

Now in its 40th year, the Vancouver International Film Festival is one of Canada's premier film events alongside the Montreal World Film Festival. It has a long-standing relationship with Korean cinema, having previously awarded the Dragons and Tigers Award (for emerging East Asian directors) to masters such as Hong Sang-soo (The Day a Pig Fell into the Well) and Lee Chang-dong (Green Fish).

■ AT Lab: A Global Trendsetter in Immersive Media

The K-ARTS AT Lab is a leading creative research institute dedicated to merging science, art, industry, and education. Through collaborations with global tech firms and research centers, the Lab continues to innovate in immersive media, medical tech, and AI content.

In addition to Red Eyes, the Lab’s diverse portfolio—including Scarecrow, Nine VR, and the volumetric VR poem Rain Fruits—has been officially selected for the world's most prestigious festivals, such as Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, Cannes XR, VRHAM! (Hamburg), and the Kaohsiung Film Festival. The Lab has also solidified its global footprint by signing an international distribution deal with Iconic Engine.