News / UWE Bristol
Tech and creativity meet for Bristol’s i-Docs symposium
Documentary meets creative technology this week as the fifth edition of the i-Docs symposium launches at the Watershed.
The bi-annual event, hosted by UWE Bristol, takes place from March 21-23, and will showcase cutting-edge and prize-winning work in the ever-expanding and evolving field of interactive documentaries.
From shining a light on social issues, such as water privatisation and gender violence, to the use of virtual reality (VR) in the arts, the symposium provides a platform for open debate and exploring the next creative opportunities.
The symposium will showcase cutting-edge technologies and prize-winning work
Mandy Rose, director of UWE’s Digital Culture’s Research Centre, said, “We’re delighted to host this event which brings together leading artists, producers and scholars to think critically about the role of emerging technology in reflecting and critiquing our shared world.
“Things are moving so fast in this field. The symposium provides a precious occasion for the community deeply interested in this work to meet, catch our breath, and share ideas.”
Interactive documentaries give viewers have the unique opportunity to take an active role in the storyline, through VR experiences, docu-games, where the player engages in a real life scenario, and more.
Neurospeculative Afrofeminism is a project presented by Carmen Aguilar y Wedge:
Keynote speakers at the event include Carmen Aguilar Y Wedge, a structural engineer and artist who marries art and technology to develop immersive experiences, and the Arnolfini’s Claire Doherty on a progressive approach to place.
Director of the Arnolfini, Claire Doherty,. Photo by Paul Blakemore
Film director Catalina Alarcón will share her experience of creating a documentary film and VR workshop where inmates of prisons in Chile can travel back to their homes with the help of technology, and artist Memo Atken will explore the use of VR and artificial intelligence in the arts.
Other speakers include Alexandre Brachet, CEO of award-winning French web documentary production company Upian, who will outline how he has been applying interactive elements to stories since 1998.
Liz Miller, a professor at Concordia University uses collaboration and interactivity to connect personal stories to timely social issues, such as water privatisation, climate migration, refugee rights and gender violence.
She will run a workshop on the process of involving partners, negotiating power relations and instigating different modes of engagement when producing interactive documentaries.
More than 30 academics, alumni and current students from UWE Bristol will take part in i-Docs 2018, sharing their research and practice, and helping to facilitate and film the event.
For all the latest news and information about i-Docs 2018, follow @i_docs on Twitter.
Main image: Memo Atken
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