About Dome Fest West

About Dome Fest West

What is Dome Fest West?

As Dome Fest West, we're a nonprofit in Los Angeles dedicated to our annual film festival celebrating Fulldome films and immersive media. Our goal is to push the boundaries of immersive experiences worldwide. We focus on showcasing exceptional content, pioneering technology, and innovative solutions in immersive media. Our festival is a platform for creativity and progress, inspiring and uniting artists, technologists, and industry leaders in shaping the future of immersive experiences. We're passionate about elevating this art form and sharing it with the world.

Our Vision

Our vision is to expand the passionate community of immersive media enthusiasts while driving the evolution of fulldome content, venues and technologies. We aim to engage and inspire new generations of content creators and audiences with the unique transformative power of immersive experiences.

Our Mission

The mission of Dome Fest West is to advance and elevate immersive experiences globally by showcasing excellent content, innovative technology, and new industry solutions for creating and delivering immersive media. We work to support and educate immersive artists, storytellers, worldbuilders and technologists; build bridges with entrepreneurs, investors and allied organizations; and promote immersive media to attract new generations of audiences, enthusiasts and makers.

Our Goals

Dome Fest West looks to help introduce Immersive Cinematic Content (ICC) further into the greater media landscape, popularizing the medium while championing content creators and technologies from around the Immersive Dome and Fulldome world.

Meet the DFW Board

Board Member

Ryan Moore

Ryan Moore is the founder of Dome Fest West and CEO of Experience 360°, a Burbank-based Virtual Experience Design Studio established in 2015. He pioneered in the VR industry with Speed Kills VR, an immersive feature film starring John Travolta. In 2019, Ryan collaborated with Maranatha Hay, a 5-time Emmy winner, to produce another groundbreaking project, the fulldome documentary feature Indirect Actions. His extensive film production experience spans experimental branded content for major brands like Disney and Toyota, TV commercials for Pepsi and Tropicana, music festival coverage for Fuse Media, and Reality TV shows like Bachelor/Bachelorette.

Board Member

Kate McCallum

Kate McCallum is an award-winning multimedia producer, writer, and strategist specializing in IP development and new media technology. With 20 years of experience at Universal and Paramount Studios, she's a TV Academy and Producers Guild of America member. Kate founded Bridge Arts Media, LLC, and has worked on projects like VR experiences for the Fetzer Institute and James Hood's Mesmerica. She holds an MA in Consciousness Studies and is a global speaker on media trends.

Board Member

Ed Lantz

Ed Lantz, an entrepreneur and immersive experience designer, transitioned from aerospace engineering in 1990 to revolutionize planetariums into immersive visualization environments. He designed notable dome theaters globally, including in Egypt, Mexico City, and the UK. His company, Vortex Immersion Media, creates immersive experiences for major brands and audiences worldwide and is developing a network of immersive venues. His show, "James Hood’s Mesmerica," has been featured in over 30 digital domes in North America. Holding a Master's in Electrical Engineering and a background in comparative religions, Lantz is an ordained Interfaith Minister and co-founded IMERSA, an association for immersive media.

Board Member

Mikhaila Stettler

Mikhaila Stettler is a multidisciplinary artist, world-builder, and storyteller known for her immersive art and entertainment work. With a focus on expanding consciousness, she explores extended reality technologies and metaverse platforms. As a creative visionary, Mikhaila brings unique perspectives and strategic thinking to her projects, inspiring teams to think outside the box and push boundaries.

Board Member

Eric Hanson

Eric Hanson is a faculty member at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts and the CEO of Blueplanet VR. He specializes in design, architecture, photography, and feature film visual effects. Eric is renowned for his work in creating volumetric VR content focused on landscapes, natural history, and cultural heritage. His visual effects contributions are notable in films such as "The Day After Tomorrow," "Cast Away," "Fantasia 2000," and "The Fifth Element."

Board Member

Tracy Balsz

Tracy Balsz began her career at Warner Bros. Studios as a marketing executive, spending a decade promoting their production and post-production services. She specializes in launching new business verticals and has worked extensively in the intersection of entertainment, technology, and themed entertainment. Tracy is the President of the Western North America Division of the Themed Entertainment Association's Board of Directors and will join the DomeFestWest Board of Directors for 2024-2026, contributing her knowledge of themed experiences to the fulldome and half dome creative community.

Board Member

Marc Rosenthal

Marc Rosenthal is an accomplished producer and designer known for his work in theatrical productions, live events, and theme park attractions. With expertise in lighting design, digital projection, and multi-screen productions, Marc has a track record of success in both local and international projects. Notable achievements include producing the first Western-designed, Chinese-built theatrical show and creating innovative light-up band uniforms for Super Bowl XLI. His proven expertise in large-scale projection and creative problem-solving make him an invaluable addition to the Dome Fest West board.

Board Member

Lilly Vargas

Lilly Vargas is a seasoned professional in the media dome industry with over 11 years of experience. She has an extensive portfolio, having worked on major projects for leading companies such as Vortex Immersion Media, 360 Dome Pro, Absolute Hollywood, and Wisdome LA. Her expertise includes producing over 500 dome events and playing a pivotal role in the construction and installation of more than 200 domes globally.