PROJECTS

                                                             

KARTS AT Lab's VR Documentary Fly To You Officially Selected for the 32nd SXSW XR Experience Spotlight

The VR documentary Fly To You—directed by Song Young-yoon and produced by the Art & Technology Lab (AT Lab) at the Center for Convergent Arts, Korea National University of Arts (KARTS)—has been officially invited to the XR Experience Spotlight section at the 32nd South by Southwest (SXSW) festival.

Held annually in Austin, Texas, SXSW is a world-renowned festival and conference celebrating music, film, and interactive media. Its XR section showcases the world's most innovative and groundbreaking immersive content. Notably, Fly To You stands as the sole Korean selection in the XR section this year.

About the Work

Fly To You depicts the poignant journey of Kang Song-jeol, a grandmother who suffered the pain of family separation during the Korean War. Based on letters written by Song-jeol—who lived for 70 years without knowing whether her family in North Korea was alive—to her elder sister Sae-byeol, from whom she was separated at a young age, the piece leads audiences on an emotional journey across time and borders.

 - Advanced Technological Reconstruction: Utilizing Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF) technology, the project digitally reconstructs the highly restricted Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and 

   physically  inaccessible North Korean landscapes in vivid 3D.

 - 3D Volumetric Capture: Through volumetric capture, the piece brings faint memories of home and missed loved ones into dimensional life.

Global Recognition & Success

Directed by Song Young-yoon (a graduate of the KARTS School of Film, TV & Multimedia Master's program) and produced by KARTS AT Lab, Fly To You continues its streak of international acclaim:

1. Nominated for Best Narrative at the 2024 Raindance Film Festival

2. Selected for the 2024 Ars Electronica Festival

3. Featured at the Kaohsiung International Film Festival

4. Officially invited to SXSW XR Experience Spotlight

Building on these continuous honors at major international media festivals, KARTS AT Lab continues to establish its leadership in immersive storytelling on the global stage.