DFW2026 Official Selections List
Rapunzel´s Dome Dream
A young princess, trapped in a solitary tower in outer space, embarks on a whimsical journey on roller skates through a small town, blending classical illustrations with the wonders of artificial intelligence as she discovers new worlds and the poetry of motion.
Rovers, Rockets, and Rock N' Roll
Experience an immersive journey where music and science converge, as a lifelong artist shares captivating stories and groundbreaking sounds from space, transforming complex concepts into an engaging exploration for audiences of all ages.
She Whom the Moon Ruled
In the shadows of her renowned brother, a pioneering female astronomer battles for recognition while uncovering the wonders of the cosmos.
The Impossible Journey
An exhilarating short film that invites viewers on a groundbreaking journey to explore the icy moon of Europa in search of extraterrestrial life.
The Pleasure Machine
Experience an interactive journey where your collective energy dictates the fate of a whimsical slot-machine character, navigating the thrilling and perilous landscape of algorithm-driven media that influences attention and behavior.
The Silk Road
Explore the rich tapestry of history, culture, and commerce along an ancient trade route that shaped civilizations and continues to influence our world today.
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.