International Immersive Works Competition
KATÁBASIS (VR)
Swiss Premiere
Ugo Arsac
France
2026, 40'
Genre
Recommended Age
12 years
VO. English
ST. English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Arabic, Hindi, Russian, Chinese
With
Terry Williams
Beneath New York, another world unfolds. Through the voices of those who live or work underground, Katábasis explores the depths of the city and the divisions within the United States.
This work is also being presented at GIFF as an installation, in its World premiere.
This work is also being presented at GIFF as an installation, in its World premiere.
Beneath New York’s skyscrapers lies another, invisible city—a network of tunnels, shelters, and forgotten infrastructure. Inspired by the myth of the catabasis, or descent into the underworld, Ugo Arsac takes us into these depths to meet the people who live, work, or hide there. Their voices emerge from the bowels of the metropolis, painting an underground portrait of a fractured America. Blurring the lines between documentary and urban poetry, Katábasis—winner of the Best Immersive Work Award at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival—transforms our perspective on the city and its fringes.
Mathieu Gayet
Mathieu Gayet
Creation
Ugo Arsac
Sound
Antoine Boucherikha
Production
Adventice, Zorba Production
With
Terry Williams
Ugo Arsac
1992, France
Previous works
2024, Energēia (XR, Creator)2024, Girlfriend Experience (XR, Creator)
2020, In Urbe (XR, Creator)
2019, En contrebas (Documentary, Director)
2015, Neuf cordes (Short, Director, Writer, Producer)
Booking for the program
PARCOURS IMMERSIF
PARCOURS IMMERSIF
This work is part of a program composed of several works.
From 30 Oct. to 8 November
Maison communale de Plainpalais - Espace Immersif
