QUEERING OUR METAVERSE: VIRTUAL REALITY
We are entering a new era in digital identity politics. Explore queer identities through the digital lens of virtual reality. Enquire at the box office about our VR Lounge!

- Please note that there is limited availability to each slot (3 headsets), so do be on time to your screening otherwise we will have give your slot to someone waiting. One ticket will get you access to 2 of the experiences listed below. You select which 2 that you would like.

GIMME ONE
GIMME ONE is a 360 virtual reality experience showcasing five Bristol ballroom artists as they explore ideas around cultural appropriation, empowerment and safe space. Their self-expression is seen through dance using digital volumetric and motion capture techniques, visualising the unique voices of this vibrant subculture."

ABOVE THE FIRMAMENT
The firmament is a religious space mapped out as that section of the universe which isn’t quite of earth, but not quite inside the realm of God. It has been reported as a dome or sphere within which water is held on the earth, a space from which land was formed, a shield from the infinity of deep space and even a vault of heaven. Mystics and prophets such as Enoch have travelled there, guided in dreams by shining ‘light beings’. Hundreds of years of debate has been speculated about this space in religious texts throughout ancient history, and in recent times ‘extra religious’ leaders have experienced it too. Extra religious is a term to describe those who believe in God and in alien life on other planets. They too have visions of this firmament zone. They describe it as magical and fantastical; a place of transformation and great wonder.
The firmament is therefore a space which is yet to be truly deciphered.

KATYA - BE YOUR OWN DENTIST
Join Katya on a journey of relaxation and oral surgery through beautiful and horrifying worlds that will leave you traumatized and transcended. With drag superstar, Katya, you should always expect the unexpected! This companion visual piece was created for her twisted spoken word piece in honour of National Dentist’s Day… Katya explains, “the brilliant Jonathan Sims and his team have helped me create an immersive three dimensional dental dreamscape that will transport the viewer to a beautiful and frightening world where you will never want to go to the dentist again.

STUDIO VISIT 360
In Studio Visit 360 (2018), Theo Triantafyllidis re-imagines the gallery space as his own virtual studio. In the creation process, he embodied an Ork avatar, who used digital tools to create 3D forms, a process which was recorded through DIY motion capture. The recordings of this performance are now presented as a 360 studio visit, where the viewer can watch the Ork create the sculptural work. In creating the Ork character, Triantafyllidis pairs prevalent video game tropes with the performative persona of The Artist. Ork Aesthetics are inspired by gender-fluidity, medieval contraptions, engineering tools, brutalism and gaming culture. The artist’s performance considers the concept of virtual labor and production in today's hybrid-reality work environments, as the Ork experiences the frustrations and complications of artistic labor in the virtual studio.

THROUGH DARCELLES EYES
Step into the life of Walter W. Cole, one of Portland, Oregon's most influential, iconic, and celebrated figures, but better known as “Darcelle XV,” who at 87 years old is the world's oldest working and performing drag queen and shows no signs of stopping.

Please note that due to Covid 19, do make sure that your headset is wiped down by the volunteers and provided sanitation station before putting on your head.
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TICKETS
All tickets to our VR screenings are available through Headfirst via our website, or at the Bricks Bristol Box Office during the film festival. Tickets for most events are on a sliding scale of £2, £4, £6 or £8. Choose what to pay based on your circumstances. We ask that you be honest with yourself about your financial situation. This allows us to provide financial flexibility to those who need it most and makes PIFF affordable to more people alongside sustaining the festival and supporting queer filmmakers. If you have any questions about what you should pay, please get in touch via [email protected] or ask one of our volunteers on the day. Free tickets are available too, just email / message us and there will be no questions asked.

£2
• I frequently stress about meeting basic* needs and don’t always achieve them.
• I have debt and it sometimes prohibits me from meeting my basic needs.
• I rent lower-end properties or have unstable housing.
• I sometimes can’t afford transport or petrol for my car.
• I am unemployed or underemployed.
• I qualify for government and/or voluntary assistance including: food banks and benefits.
• I have no access to savings.
• I have no or very limited expendable** income.
• I rarely buy new items because I am unable to afford them.
• I cannot afford a holiday or have the ability to take time off without financial burden.

£4 / £6
• I may stress about meeting my basic needs but still regularly achieve them.
• I may have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs.
• I can afford public transport and I can afford petrol.
• I am employed.
• I have access to health care.
• I have some expendable income.
• I am able to buy some new items and I buy others second hand.
• I can take a holiday annually or every few years without financial burden.

£8
• I am comfortably able to meet all of my basic needs.
• I may have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs.
• I own my home or property or I rent a higherend property.
• I can afford public and private transport. If I have a car/access to a car I can afford petrol.
• I have regular access to healthcare.
• I have access to financial savings.
• I have an expendable** income.
• I can always buy new items.
• I can afford an annual holiday or take time off.

*BASIC NEEDS include food, housing, clothing and transportation.
**EXPENDABLE INCOME might mean you are able to buy coffee or tea at a shop, go to the cinema or a concert, buy new clothes, books and similar items each month, etc.
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THE PALACE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The Palace International Film Festival, Bristol’s annual LGBTQIA+ cinematic event, happening 8th – 12th September at Bricks in St Anne’s, will be showcasing 100+ queer shorts, feature films, performances, workshops, virtual reality and a film archive exhibition!

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VENUE
All events and screenings will take place at our new home, Bricks Bristol, located at St Anne's House.

Getting to Bricks:
- No. 36 Bus runs from Bristol City Centre to our front door every 30 minutes. First Bus 36 Timetable
- 20-minute walk from Lawrence Hill train station (via Feeder Road)
- 8-minute cycle ride from Bristol Temple Meads station (via Feeder Road). Get to BTM by Ferry, Bus or Train.
- Car park access, though active travel is encouraged where possible.

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Accessibility

- The film festival will be fully accessible.
- There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor.
- To discuss any access requirements/ check set up or opening time questions email [email protected] or phone 07709 264 201.

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THE CUBE PLAYER
If you have purchased an online ticket, we will also be screening our short programme & Q&A's across The Cube Player portal. The details will be sent via an online ticket link.

Find out more about The Palace International Film Festival from our website: www.palacefilmfest.org

Entry requirements: — Read more — Read less