VR Theater

Building a desirable future through computer graphics and interactive techniques starts with you and your contributions to and participation in SIGGRAPH 2024. We are excited that you are submitting your work for consideration.

Log into the submission portal, select the “Make a New Submission” tab, and select ”VR Theater.” To see the information you need to submit, view the VR Theater sample submission form.

VR Theater Submission Requirements:

• All descriptions, captions, and notes to the jury must be in English.
• Submit by 21 February 2024, 22:00 UTC/GMT.
• Content links need to be accessible from the time of submission through the end of SIGGRAPH 2024.
• Ensure one unique email address is used for the primary submission contact person as well as the ACM Rights Management Form
• In order to complete a successful submission, all applicants must complete the ACM Rights Management Form, which will be sent to you upon submitting.

Length
A maximum length of 25 minutes may be submitted; however, the VR Theater reserves the right to show only excerpts of selected works at the jury’s discretion. Strong preference will lean toward selections that are 5-12 minutes in length. Should your piece exceed 25 minutes in length, please contact the program chair. The VR Theater gives preference to experiences that start and end automatically without user interaction.

Important: Please indicate if you have the resources to create a shorter edit or do minor changes such as quitting at the end of the experience and other possible minor changes.

Hardware
Please ensure your submission works on a VR-ready PC or Meta Quest.

Headset
The content should run in one of the following headset:

• PC VR (Quest with link)
• Meta Quest apks (Mixed reality submissions will also be accepted) with or without link
• Apple Vision Pro*

*The VR Theater committee will make every effort to showcase Apple Vision Pro experiences, but cannot assure their inclusion in the theater.

3D Asset of the Experience:
3D “Hero Asset”:
If selected as a finalist for the VR Theater, you must submit one (1) optimized 3D asset from your experience, which will be utilized in the SIGGRAPH Mixed Reality lobby experience. It is intended to serve as a symbolic asset from your experience, populating the Mixed Reality environment after your movie has been viewed.

Make sure the asset is:

• Under 30k Vertices
• Make sure to not use any 3rd party plugins
• Models need to be FBX files
• Please use 2k textures maximum

Please indicate that you can submit such an asset.

If you need more clarification on this requirement please contact the program chair.

180/360 Submissions:
Please test your submission on a Quest 2 device before submitting.
Recommended export:

3840×3840 30fps H264 or H265 mp4
Maximum file size 5 GB
Supported Layouts: Over Under, Side by Side, 180
Recommended 4096×2048 up to 60fps H265
48Hz Stereo AAC Audio at 320kbp;
Minimum bitrate 6 Mbps

Please indicate if you can provide an offline version of your experience. (Preferred)

Oculus TV or any content from Applab is considered to be an online submission.

VR Theater Jury
All submitted entries are evaluated by a selected jury of individuals from the technical, creative, and production communities within the immersive industry. Jurors are established experts in the immersive fields, and they take care in reviewing and ranking all entries based on criteria set by the program and conference chairs.

Contributors will be informed by email of the status of their submissions after the final jury verdict. All contributors will be notified of their submission status by mid-April. The jury also will select a recipient of the Best in Show Award for VR Theater.

1. You will be notified of acceptance or rejection of your presentation by mid-April 2024.
2. After Acceptance: The period of time between jury deliberation and the start of the SIGGRAPH 2023 conference is very short. If your work is selected, you will be expected to reply promptly to any request for information or clarification from the VR Theater subcommittee. Please plan to be available via email in case a need arises.
3. Complete Stage 2: Program Materials by mid-April, which includes: Review your submission through the submission portal to confirm or update the list of contributors(s), affiliation(s), and 50-word summary statement suitable for conference publicity.
4. Presenter Recognition
   Contributor attendance is not required.

VR Theater
Contributor Registration Benefit: One contributor per accepted piece receives 50% off any registration category and a complimentary in-person VR Theater ticket. The VR Theater contributor must be registered at any registration category and a separate in-person ticket is required to attend.

VR Theater Kiosks
Contributor Registration Benefit: One contributor per accepted piece receives 50% off any registration category. The VR Theater Kiosk contributor must be registered at the Experience registration and above level to attend.

21 February 2024, 22:00 UTC/GMT
Submission deadline.

Mid-April 2024
Acceptance or rejection notices are sent to all submitters.

28 July–1 August 2024
SIGGRAPH 2024
Colorado Convention Center
Denver, Colorado

I have submitted my work to the most recent SIGGRAPH Asia. Is it OK if I submit the same work to SIGGRAPH 2024?
Yes. You can submit the same work to SIGGRAPH 2024 as long as it was released after 1 April 2023. We are independent festivals with separate juries and acceptance procedures.

What if I have someone else submitting work on my behalf?
Whether it is your agent, your company’s PR team, or your film distributor, we often have submissions that are handled by non-authors. While those submitters are encouraged to support their creators, it is important to ensure that they do not enter their information as a Creator or the Corresponding Author. As the submitter, they will be notified of the determination of the jury without listing themselves as a creator.

How many works can I submit to the VR Theater?
There is no limit. You may submit as many as you like, but ensure you complete a separate submission form for each work.

Is there a submission fee for submitting to the VR Theater?
No. You only need to complete the online submission process.

Where do I send my submission materials?
All works must be submitted via the SIGGRAPH 2024 online submission system. The online submission process allows submitters easy access to the submission system and provides an efficient procedure for reviewing submitted work.

Can I enter my work through Film Freeway?
The VR Theater does not accept submissions through Film Freeway. All works must be submitted via the SIGGRAPH 2024 online submission system.

When is the submission deadline for the VR Theater?
Online submission forms and accompanying uploads must be completed no later than 21 February 2024 for the VR Theater. All deadlines are 22:00 UTC/GMT (convert to your time zone). Submissions received after the deadline will not be reviewed.

I will not have my work finished by the submission deadline. Is it possible for me to submit “work in progress” for review?
The SIGGRAPH 2024 VR Theater will only show finished projects. If the file/project you would like to submit is scheduled for completion after 6 March 2024, we will not accept your submission. If the project will be completed on or before 6 March 2024 but after 21 February 2024, we are open to considering the work. Please email vrtheater-s2024@siggraph.org to explain your circumstance.

We are an art school, and we are planning to submit several student works as one submission. Is this OK?
No. Each piece must be uploaded separately to the online submission system along with its own completed and signed submission form. Each piece is judged on its own merit.

What file formats are acceptable for submission?
See the How to Submit guidelines for file format details.

What criteria will the jury use to select works?
Jurors are expected to select the highest quality works from those submitted. Each juror takes into consideration the technical aspects of the piece, the visual interest, and, where applicable, the storytelling; however, the jury’s primary criterion is to select the pieces it feels will form the strongest show.

My work makes use of commercially recorded music. Is that OK?
You are responsible for securing the necessary permissions and licenses for audio material that is contained in your work. If your music was not created originally for your content, or if you are using another person’s music, you must obtain the necessary permissions or required licenses. We will not purchase these rights for you.

If my work is selected for the VR Theater, will SIGGRAPH 2024 pay for my expenses?
No. Contributor attendance is not required.

What hardware platforms are supported or preferred?
The VR Theater prefers content that can be enjoyed on Meta Quest with link/Meta Rift hardware due to the logistics of the theater format.

Should I submit to the Immersive Pavilion, VR Theater, or Emerging Technologies?
If your submission is primarily a technology demo, we recommend submitting to the Emerging Technologies program, which closes on 21 February 2024.

If your submission is more about demonstrating an interactive experience, please submit it to the Immersive Pavilion program, which closes on 21 February 2024. In general, the Immersive Pavilion program is focused on interactive VR installations. This is where you will find new uses of VR, MR, and AR, ranging from games, simulations, or professional applications to complex art installations.

The VR Theater is focused on VR storytelling and is looking for submissions that help develop the language of storytelling in virtual reality through 21 February 2024. The type of content ranges from 360-degree video to experiences that fully utilize Meta Rift/Quest and their controllers. If your submission could go either way, we recommend that you carefully evaluate each program. If it is more suitable for a program other than the one you select, we will endeavor to transfer it.