Description
Russian premiere
Luca, a perpetually unemployed man-boy, is depressed and enraged with the world. He despises his flesh body and believes he is part of a revolution that will bring all of humanity into a pure virtual existence. When Luca is forced to see Michael, a caseworker from an unemployment centre, he slowly opens up. Over the course of their conversations, we come to understand that behind his nihilism and hopelessness is a desire for human connection. Embracing an Internet ugly core aesthetic, The Future is Virtual uses AI filmmaking tools to not simply represent Luca’s subjective view, but also to critique the technology itself and those who control it.
About the director:
Michael Mackenzie
Australian filmmaker, multi-disciplinary artist, and scholar based in China. His work explores how the internet shapes identity, belonging, and our perceptions of reality, spanning film, painting, and video art. He has exhibited across Australia, Europe, and Asia. He currently teaches at the Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University’s Academy of Film and Creative Technology.