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28 Jan – 7 Feb 2027

Lightroom

IFFR’s industry platform for immersive and non-linear storytelling.

Nox by Rio Nakada, Lightroom 2026, Venice Immersive Competition 2026

What is Lightroom?

Through its project market, work-in-progress pathway and dedicated programme for scalable and repeatable presentation, Lightroom supports artists and producers working across XR, VR, installation, performance and other immersive and interactive forms.

Lightroom Market brings selected XR projects into contact with international industry partners at two key moments: early development and late production. Project in Development supports makers looking for creative and financial partners. Project in Production supports near-complete works looking for completion support and a route to their first audiences.

Lightroom Expanded is a separate development programme for projects where reaching larger or shared audiences, presenting the work repeatedly, or touring across different venues is central to the artistic or distribution ambition.

Lightroom Expanded is a partnership between IFFR, UPscaleXR and DASHXR, with support from Cultuurloket DigitALL. It offers tailored support around storytelling and audience design, technical and production choices for repeatable presentation, and audience reach, touring and distribution.

Submissions for Lightroom 2027

Submit your project here for the two Lightroom Market pathways: Projects in Development and Projects in Production. Please read the Terms & Conditions and FAQ (below) carefully before applying.

Lightroom Market & Expanded submission fees and deadlines

Submission fees are non-refundable, including when a project is found to be ineligible.

Lightroom Expanded has a separate submission form and process. See the Expanded page for more information.

Lightroom Market regulations and selection criteria

  • General conditions and project requirements

    • The project must be an artistic immersive or interactive work. Eligible forms include fiction, documentary, animation, experimental, performance-based and hybrid projects. Projects that primarily promote a product or service are not eligible.
    • The call is open to creators and producers worldwide.
    • Eligible formats include VR, AR, MR, 360° and 180° video, location-based experiences, WebXR, and other immersive or spatial-media formats.
    • The lead artist or director must have previous artistic, directing, or immersive experience and must provide examples of previous work.
    • A producer, production company or equivalent producing partner must be attached.
    • Projects new to the international market will be prioritised. Applicants must disclose all previous and planned presentations at markets, labs, festivals and other professional platforms.
    • The same project may only be resubmitted in a later year when it has developed substantially since its previous application. IFFR may request further information to assess this.
    • Applicants may only submit the same project to more than one Lightroom pathway when explicitly invited by the Lightroom team.
    • All application materials must be submitted in English. Audiovisual material in another language must include English subtitles.
    • Applications that are incomplete, inaccurate or do not meet the eligibility requirements may be excluded.
    • Decisions made by the selection committee are final and cannot be appealed.

  • Selection process

    The selection process for Lightroom Market consists of two phases.

    Phase 1

    • Applicants must complete the online application form by 15 September at 23.59 CEST. The form will allow applicants to include detailed project information. 
    • Applicants should read the applicable Terms & Conditions, selection criteria and FAQ before submitting.

    Phase 2

    • Shortlisted applicants may be invited to provide additional or updated materials in a full dossier by email as a PDF. Depending on the project, this may include:
      • A treatment or design document
      • Creator and producer statements
      • Budget and financing plan
      • A production timetable
      • Technical documentation
      • An audience-engagement or distribution plan
      • Prototype material or links to previous work 

    Shortlisted applicants may also be invited to an online meeting with the selection team. All applicants will be informed of the final outcome by early December 2026.

  • Specific conditions

    • Selected project teams must be available to participate in the relevant Lightroom activities during IFFR 2027.
    • IFFR will provide one hotel room per selected project.
    • Travel, additional accommodation and other participation costs are at the discretion of the participating team.
    • The project team must provide all requested catalogue, communication, financial and technical information by the specified deadlines.
    • Selected projects must credit their participation in Lightroom in future presentations and communications.
    • The preferred credit is: “[Project title] was presented as part of Lightroom at International Film Festival Rotterdam”.
    • The applicable Lightroom logo must be displayed where technically and editorially appropriate.

Submit your project

Introduction to Lightroom: hear from the programme curators

Ahead of IFFR 2026 and the launch of Lightroom, curators Eva Langerak and Ellen Kuo shared their vision for the programme and its role in supporting immersive and interactive storytelling.

Lightroom x Reality Check

The Lightroom x Reality Check symposium at IFFR 2026, brought together artists, XR producers, technologists, researchers, funders, curators, policymakers and distributors to discuss the future of immersive storytelling.

Download the full Reality Check 2026 report for its findings and recommendations.

Contact

For any questions about Lightroom contact Eva Langerak, Curator and Coordinator Art Directions & Lightroom.