How does the world look through the eyes of non-human life—or even through the lens of inanimate matter? That question will guide the third edition of ART*VR, Prague’s festival dedicated to virtual reality cinema, set to take place from Oct. 21 to Nov. 23, 2025, at the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art.
The event, the largest of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe, will this year focus on the theme “Non-Human Perspectives.” Over five weeks, audiences will be invited to experience VR works that step outside anthropocentric viewpoints, offering encounters with stories told from the vantage point of animals, plants, or imagined worlds beyond human perception.
Founded in 2023, ART*VR has quickly established itself as a platform for immersive storytelling, pairing international VR productions with lectures, discussions, and educational programs. The festival is led by Czech filmmaker and VR creator Ondřej Moravec, in collaboration with DOX, which co-produces the event.
A festival shifting the lens beyond humanity
Each year, ART*VR highlights a central theme that frames its programming. Its debut edition in 2023 explored “Dimensions of Empathy,” asking how virtual reality can generate deep emotional response. In 2024, the festival turned its attention to “Beyond the Glass Ceiling,” a showcase of female creators and projects addressing gender equality and women’s perspectives in VR.
The 2025 theme expands that scope further. “For 2025 we chose the theme of non-human perspectives,” said festival director Moravec. “The section will examine how VR can bridge human and non-human worlds and offer art that departs from an anthropocentric view of reality.” Between 10 and 12 VR projects will be presented in the thematic section.
As in previous years, DOX’s gallery space will be transformed to host not only VR screenings but also physical installations that complement the digital works. Accompanying events will include regular talks with creators, expert lectures, and school programs that allow students to engage directly with the projects and reflect on their themes.
Last year’s edition drew 2,500 visitors and welcomed over 100 international guests. It featured nearly 30 projects across three sections, with works recognized at major festivals such as Tribeca, IDFA, and Venice alongside premieres staged in Prague. The 2024 top prize went to Tajemná zákoutí by director and choreographer Rebecca Evans, a project that immersed viewers in the survival strategies of extremophiles, organisms thriving in the most inhospitable environments.
The vision of Ondřej Moravec
At the center of ART*VR is director Ondřej Moravec, who has played a key role in shaping the Czech Republic’s VR landscape. A graduate of Charles University’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Prague’s Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU), Moravec previously worked as a cultural journalist for Czech Television before serving as dramaturg and later program director at the One World festival.
His career as a VR creator has brought international recognition. His debut Darkening (Tmání) was the first Czech VR film to receive support from the Czech Audiovisual Fund and premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in 2022. He later co-directed the documentary project Fresh Memories: The Look, which examined the war in Ukraine, and Fragile Home (Křehký domov), which screened at festivals including Annecy, Tribeca, and IDFA.
By combining his curatorial background with his own creative practice, Moravec has positioned ART*VR as both a showcase for new VR works and a space for reflection on the medium’s artistic and theoretical possibilities. For him, the festival’s annual themes are a way to spark broader conversations. “We aim to present VR in its artistic diversity while introducing audiences to concepts that challenge established viewpoints,” he said.
With its focus this year on perspectives beyond humanity, ART*VR 2025 will continue to test how immersive technology can reframe the way people see the world—and the worlds that exist beyond them.
Lead photo: ART*VR at DOX. Photo: Tomáš Cindr
