Electric Dreams showcases the future of creative storytelling

Technology is transforming society and business like never before. As creativity precedes innovation, it’s the artists and creative technologists who are leading the conversation in designing tomorrow’s world.

This three-day conference brings together leaders from the creative community who are at the forefront in creating changes that will shape our society: how we socialise and play, how we group and campaign, how we interact with each other and the environment, how we influence people and transform society.

The Electric Dreams program will feature insights from some of the most influential leaders in creative tech, who are working to transform the future of arts and entertainment. Monkeystack and Yellaka are the creative team behind created the Adelaide Fringe’s Yabarra – Dreaming in Light, an immersive work that uses projections, light and sound to allow you to walk into an Aboriginal Dreamtime story.

Best known for its innovative work on the Star Wars blockbusters, Industrial Light and Magic will show how it is using immersive technologies to let audiences’ step inside George Lucas’ galaxy far, far away. Founded by actor-director Andy Serkis, whose Lord of the Rings performance proved a watershed moment for the art of motion capture performance, production company The Imaginarium is continuing to pioneer the use of digital characters in big ticket franchises such as Planet of the Apes and The Avengers.

But it’s not just Hollywood embracing these emerging technologies; the Royal Shakespeare Company is using techniques from film and game production to create live performances of animated characters. On the other side of the coin, these technologies can be used to create DeepFakes with grave consequences for democracy, and Electric Dreams will feature MIT’s work on how to spot them.

Also appearing at Electric Dreams are Ubisoft, who are turning games such as Assassin’s Creed intolarge-scale live events; Weta Gameshop, the world’s first specialist mixed reality development studio that seamlessly blends real and digital worlds to create the future of experiential games; and Marshmallow Laser Feast, one of the world’s leading immersive art collectives, using immersive tech to illuminate the hidden natural forces that surround us.

For artists, technologists, filmmakers, performers, programmers or creators, Electric Dreams offers abundant inspiration and opportunities to stay on top of the creative and commercial opportunities of emerging technologies. It’s for people who want to shape society, encourage debate and connect with audiences in new ways.

Electric Dreams offers a chance to gaze into other people’s crystal balls, to connect with the broader creative community and to start to formulate your own visions for the future.

19-21 February

Electric Dreams: Conference