VP Gathering 2025

"Shaping the Future of Digital Storytelling"

EDUCATIONAL DAY - APRIL 9, 2025

The Educational Day at the VP Gathering is set to take place on the 9th of April, 2025, at Breda University of Applied Sciences (NL). This event is designed for professionals and academics from the fields of media, arts, games, entertainment, and programming who are deeply engaged with VP at educational institutions.

The day will include a live demonstration on our state-of-the-art VP stage, showcasing the latest in VP technology and application. This hands-on session will provide practical insights into the integration and benefits of VP in an academic setting.

Throughout the day, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in panel discussions focusing on best practices and the challenges of setting up and operating a VP stage within higher education contexts. These discussions will be led by seasoned experts and are designed to foster a deep dive into both the operational and creative aspects of Virtual Production.

In addition to expert panels, the Educational Day will feature discovery sessions where former media students will present their Virtual Production projects. This segment highlights the innovative work being done by the next generation of creators and offers a unique perspective on how Virtual Production is “Shaping the future of digital storytelling”.

Representatives from leading companies in the VP industry will be on hand to present their latest hardware and services. This will be complemented by knowledge-sharing presentations aimed at enhancing understanding and skills in VP. The day will conclude with a mixer event, providing a valuable networking opportunity for attendees to connect with peers and industry leaders alike, fostering collaborations that extend beyond the classroom.

MORNING PROGRAM - 9:15-12:00

Audiovisual Education and Training Network for European Vocational Excellence - AVENUE

Dr. Carlos Pereira Santos | Professor of AI | BUas

The AVENUE project is a pan-European initiative aimed at addressing skill gaps in the creative visual industries, including Animation, Games, Virtual Production (VP)/VFX, XR, and Visual Storytelling. It involves five ecosystems collaborating to enhance vocational training, foster innovation, and support sustainable practices through industry-relevant research and tailored educational programs.

Unreal Engine in Classrooms Way Beyond Games

Joan Da Silva | UE Post-Secondary Director | Epic Games

Learn how the Unreal Engine Education Team programs help to rethink the creative industry boundaries and upskill students for the future needs of their career path.

Building a state-of-the-art multifunctional VFX studio for advanced educational and training purposes

Stefan Albertz | Professor of 3D Animation and Visual Effects | Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences

The VFX Lab at Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences (Germany) is nearing completion, making it the ideal moment to discuss key considerations for planning and building a virtual production stage for educational use with a multi-application-usage scenario in mind. This session will cover AV installation planning with restricted possibilities, scaling along budget constraints and avoiding the single-purpose pitfall, while also exploring best practices for creating a flexible, multi-functional space that supports diverse learning needs. 

Creating a VP Supervision Training: Pedagogy, Recognition of the Profession, and Professional Integration

Justine Coulmy | Director of Photography | École Méliès

In the rapidly evolving field of virtual production, supervision has become a crucial yet often overlooked role. This presentation explores the development of a training program designed to prepare future supervisors in virtual production. We will discuss the pedagogical approach, the industry’s recognition of this emerging profession, and strategies for ensuring the professional integration of candidates into the workforce. 

NETWORKING LUNCH & VP DEMO - 12:00-13:30

Live Virtual Production Demo at the VP stage - CHAOS Arena

Chaos Arena is an advanced real-time ray-tracing solution designed for in-camera visual effects (ICVFX) on virtual production stages. It enables filmmakers and content creators to seamlessly integrate virtual environments with physical sets, allowing for immediate creative adjustments on set and reducing the need for extensive post-production work. By utilizing the same assets from pre-production to post, Chaos Arena streamlines workflows and ensures consistent, high-quality results throughout the production process.

Virtual Production Marketplace

Discover the latest innovations in Virtual Production at the VP Marketplace, where leading companies and service providers showcase cutting-edge products, services, and solutions. This is your chance to explore new technologies, gain industry insights, and connect with experts who can guide you with best practices and valuable knowledge.

Networking lunch

Join us for a vegetarian Networking Lunch at the Virtual Productions Gathering, where industry professionals, educators, and creatives can connect, exchange ideas, and spark new collaborations over a relaxed and engaging sandwich meal.

AFTERNOON PROGRAM - 13:30-18:00

Virtual Production Student Showcase

The Perception of Virtual Production

Rhys Murphy | VP Specialist | Freelancer

This session delves into what both audiences and industry professionals believe virtual production to be, highlighting key differences in perception and exploring how these views have taken shape. By examining the origins of these misconceptions, it aims to clarify the true nature of virtual production and its transformative potential in modern content creation. 

Considerations in writing short films for Virtual Production

Mata Haggis-Burridge | Professor of Creative & Entertainment Games | Breda University of Applied Sciences

How can writing for a small LED volume differ from typical screenwriting? In this talk, Mata explains strategies they use to create micro-scripts  (1-2 pages) containing conflict and suspense that give production teams the freedom to learn and experiment with VP technologies.

Filming in the "Metaverse": new tools for distributed virtual production

Dr. Ian Biscoe | Professor | Transdisciplinary Design Networks at Design Academy Eindhoven (DAE)

More info soon…

Virtual Production and XR at Animationsinstitut of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg

Volker Helzle | Head of R&D | Animationsinstitut of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg

Simon Spielmann | Principal R&D engineer | Animationsinstitut of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg

This session delves into what both audiences and industry professionals believe virtual production to be, highlighting key differences in perception and exploring how these views have taken shape. By examining the origins of these misconceptions, it aims to clarify the true nature of virtual production and its transformative potential in modern content creation. 

VP Gathering Workshop: Bridging Creative Industry and Education

Dr. Jodi Nelson-Tabor | Head of Academy | Final Pixel Academy

Objective of the workshop is to create meaningful connections between creative industry professionals and educational institutions, focusing on bridging skills gaps and providing value to all stakeholders.

PASSES & PRICES

 

Educational day: Wednesday, 9th of April, 2025, 9:00-18:00 CET

Ticket price: 45 EUR

Bundle for both days (from 3rd of February, 2025): 95 EUR

Pass Includes:

  • Speaker Talks
  • Access to the demo space
  • Meeting rooms for private discussion
  • Coffee
  • Lunch
  • Mixer event for networking
 

Please note: right after the Educational Day, the Industry Day on the 10th of April, 2025 will be focusing on the Virtual Production industry. You can also buy a ticket for the Industry Day as well.

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

Gold sponsor

Sponsor of the Mixer Event

Industry Partners

Educational Partners

LOCATION

Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas)

Monseigneur Hopmansstraat 1, 4817 JT, Breda, The Netherlands