DFW2026 Official Selections List
La méthode des moments
Transcending the boundaries of traditional statistics, this immersive film transforms numerical data into a poignant exploration of life's cycles, the passage of time, and the universal resonance of nostalgia.
Life: The Greatest Story
Journey through the fascinating origins of life on Earth, from microscopic bacteria to the majestic evolution of flora and fauna, as we ponder the profound question of whether life exists beyond our planet.
Qualia
Embark on an immersive journey that transcends the ordinary, awakening your senses and inviting you to co-create your unique experience through the transformative powers of sound and ancient wisdom.
REMIXED: The Unexpected Side of Science
Explore the vibrant intersection of science and everyday life through the voices of storytellers who reveal how their passions and cultures inform their unique connections to STEM.
Space: The New Frontier
As humanity stands on the brink of a second golden age of space exploration, groundbreaking innovations promise to redefine our existence both on Earth and beyond, ushering in a transformative era of possibilities.
The Frontiers of Infinity
Exploring the infinite cosmos through the lens of neuroscience, this immersive film reveals how our most powerful tool—the human brain—drives humanity's relentless quest for knowledge.
The Last Symphony of Light
Exploring a hopeful future where humanity confronts cosmic challenges through technological and scientific progress, this visually stunning experience invites audiences to envision a multi-generational relationship with science and the incredible possibilities that lie ahead.
The Rift
In a breathtaking fusion of contemporary dance and immersive sound, this fulldome experience invites viewers to explore the delicate interplay between humanity, culture, and nature against the stunning backdrop of Zimbabwe's landscapes, all while igniting a powerful call to action on climate change and ecological balance.
UP
In a surreal world, a lone climber confronts the precarious balance between ambition and the risk of losing oneself while scaling endless concrete stairs.
Unseen Earth
Through the lens of advanced satellite technology, discover how our understanding of Earth has transformed from a static blue marble to a vibrant, dynamic ecosystem, revealing the urgent need to respond to environmental changes and natural disasters.
Weaving Plasma
In a realm where dreams and reality intertwine, ancient hybrids wield the cosmic power to shape the universe through the vibrant resonance of their song.
Angel
A lone figure embarks on a transformative vertical ascent through an abstract dome, where each controlled leap toward stillness uncovers an unexpected connection amidst the immersive journey.
Belief
Embark on a mesmerizing journey through human-made landscapes and celestial wonders, exploring how both science and faith demand a true willingness to believe.
Gans'n Dhama Wedhen (In the Company of the Mother Tree)
Dive into an immersive 360-degree journey through the enchanting depths of a Cornish temperate rainforest, where nature's poetry unfolds in breathtaking visuals.
LUMINESCENCE
An immersive Mixed Reality experience merges live concert and interactive storytelling to explore the intricate relationship between climate change and ocean currents, inviting audiences to engage with the beauty and fragility of our planet.
Minam River Wildlife Area
Embark on an immersive 360° journey through Oregon's expanded wildlife sanctuary, where conservation efforts have safeguarded 17,000 acres of vital habitat for elk, deer, and native fish, while promoting public access through collaborative stewardship.
Meet the 2026 Jury
Tasked with the monumental job of reviewing more than 47 hours of content, our jury consists of esteemed professionals from various corners of the world. With their unparalleled expertise and diverse viewpoints, they are dedicated to ensuring a rigorous and equitable evaluation process. We extend our deepest gratitude to each juror for their commitment and contribution, making this festival a remarkable journey of discovery and excellence.
Film Jury
Cora Braun
Currently pursuing her doctorate at Europa-Universität Flensburg, Cora Braun bridges theory and practice, bringing a system-level perspective to planetarium and domed environments.
Her research explores how architectural and technological frameworks generate distinct modes of perception in domed environments, and how institutional structures and immersive content interact with these perceptual configurations. Drawing from both media theory and applied research, she has conducted an empirical study of planetariums within the Society of German-Speaking Planetariums (GDP) and the Great Lakes Planetarium Association (GLPA).
She also teaches at the University of Applied Sciences Kiel, offering courses in immersive media technologies and real-time fulldome production. With a background in multimedia production and media conception focused on immersive formats, she contributes an interdisciplinary and comparative view on the diverse practices within the fulldome field, aiming to foster dialogue between research and creative production.
Dirk Wallace
Dirk Wallace is a lifelong media maker with roots in radio, television, and network broadcasting at MTV. After MTV, he toured and directed concerts for major rock bands. His journey into immersive began at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, where he helped build the first dome and immersive installations he’d ever encountered. That moment lit a creative fire that’s fueled a decade of directing award-winning unscripted, live, and documentary VR/360/180° productions.
Dirk currently serves as Director of Live Events at Light Sail VR and is the director behind Meta’s Red Rocks Live in VR series—nominated for two Emmys. Formerly Head of VR at RYOT, he’s spent years stitching parallax lines and navigating ever-evolving workflows. From GoPro rigs to 12K stereoscopic concert captures, Dirk now comes full circle—returning to his first love of dome experiences, where the journey began.
Ian Downie
Ian Downie is an immersive media pioneer with over 25 years of experience designing transformational environments for fulldome cinema, live performance, sonic and spatial storytelling. His work spans hundreds of immersive dome theaters and live performance venues worldwide, where he has led technical direction, spatial audio design, post-production, and dome system design and calibration for cutting-edge immersive experiences. Known for blending technical precision with emotional depth,
Ian builds environments that awaken the senses and deepen human connection. From massive dome installations to intimate sound journeys, his productions help audiences feel more present, alive, and attuned to the moment. As a judge for Dome Fest West, Ian brings an eye for beauty, precision, and potential—championing innovation, clarity of execution, and experiences that resonate beyond the speaker and screen.
JT Towne
JT Towne was a dome content and soundtrack producer for the first half of her career – getting her start at the Museum of Science’s Charles Hayden Planetarium, then joining the team at the Franklin Institute’s Fels Planetarium. Years later she transitioned to Spitz, Inc. (now a Cosm co.) to guide customers and dome projects from their sales department. Working alongside the engineering and marketing teams, she became expert with customizing dome theaters for fulldome display, learning and entertainment.
She holds a BS degree in Education from St. Joseph’s University, and was drawn to informal education, multi-media and science communication early on. JT is currently an independent consultant for planetarium and dome theater planning and project management, working as Omnidirectional Consulting co from eastern PA. She attends industry conferences regularly to discover the latest trends in content and display tech, and strives to understand audience expectations and needs.
Kat Hunt
Katherine Hunt has been a professional planetarian for a decade. In addition to her time directing a public planetarium and working in planetarium technology with Digitalis Education Solutions, she has also received accolades for her work in planetarium centered science communication. In 2019, Katherine was selected as a Research + Practice Fellow for the Inclusive SciComm Symposium. Through this fellowship, she has advanced her exploration of dome media as a platform for immersive learning that is more holistic and accesible to diverse audiences.
In 2021 she was a team lead for one of the winning projects in the SIGMA XI SciComm Make competition. Katherine developed Coasting Along, a full dome concept film that explores the economic impact of coastal erosion in the Carolinas. Adding the “A” to STEAM is not just lip service for Kat, she actively blends art and science every single day in her work under a dome.
Robin Sip
Robin Sip is a Dutch filmmaker, creative technologist, and a recognized pioneer in immersive cinema and large-format capture for IMAX and planetarium fulldome productions. He is the founder and CEO of Mirage3D, the Hague-based studio he established in 1999 at the forefront of the emerging digital dome movement.
Over more than two decades, Robin has helped shape the evolution of fulldome storytelling, producing and commissioning immersive films that blend science, education, and cinematic craft. His work has screened in planetariums and giant-screen theaters around the world, contributing significantly to the growth of independent fulldome filmmaking.
Originally trained in technology and computer engineering, Robin transitioned into 3D visualization and filmmaking, bringing a strong technical foundation to his creative work. In recent years, he has focused extensively on advancing live-action capture techniques for immersive formats, developing custom camera rigs and workflows that expand the possibilities of dome and large-screen cinematography.
A frequent speaker within the immersive and planetarium community, Robin is known for pushing both the technical and creative boundaries of large-format media while maintaining a deep commitment to accessible, engaging science storytelling.
Sean Caruso
Sean Caruso is a Canadian immersive media specialist, digital artist, and technologist known for his work in fulldome projection mapping, software development, and immersive audiovisual experiences. He is the founder of NEST Immersion, a company dedicated to supporting the fulldome community with intuitive tools, creative content, and technical solutions for planetariums and immersive venues.
Sean’s practice spans sound design, 3D motion graphics, lighting, and real-time video mapping—focused on crafting engaging, immersive experiences. His expertise in both artistic production and technical innovation has made him a respected figure in the fulldome world.
Under Sean’s leadership, NEST Immersion created NestMap, an automatic dome-mapping software that simplifies projector calibration and real-time blending for fulldome installations, making advanced dome mapping accessible and efficient for venues of all sizes.
In addition to his software work, Sean’s creative projects have been featured at international festivals and immersive events, and he continues to contribute tools and techniques that expand the possibilities of immersive cinema and live dome performance.