The Hallway picked to showcase its new film ‘Touching Heaven’ in San Jose, California

Digital cinema leader Barco is partnering with independent creative agency The Hallway to showcase the new immersive Barco Escape cinema format as part of the Cinequest Film Festival’s “Future of Film – storytelling reimagined” program.

The result is Touching Heaven – a five and a half minute film written and directed by The Hallway’s ECD and partner Simon Lee and featuring Matt Doran (The Matrix, Star Wars – Attack of the Clones). The film will screen on March 5, 6 and 12 in San Jose, California.

Described as “the ultimate immersive panoramic cinema experience”, Barco Escape sees the audience surrounded on 3 sides by screens. The format premiered with 20th Century FOX’s hit film, The Maze Runner.

Touching Heaven is the first Australian Barco Escape film. Shot in and around Sydney and with a wingsuit cinematography team in the skies above Torquay, Victoria, the film is “a contemporary Icarus story” exploring themes of entrapment, escape and loss. The film contrasts sequences that literally “trap” the audience between scenes of a gridlocked cityscape with spectacular panoramic aerial sequences that occupy all three screens.

Says Lee: “The intersection of technology and storytelling is rich in creative potential. It’s fantastic to have the opportunity to work with this innovative format, and I’m looking forward to applying the learnings from this and other immersive storytelling projects we are working on to campaigns we’re creating with our clients.”

The Hallway has a strong track record in producing long form and branded entertainment. Lee’s debut feature film “Dream Racer” released in 2013, was awarded at film festivals around the world and sold internationally to networks including Discovery World and Fox. The Hallway’s content series’ for brands including Qantas and Mizone (Frucor Beverages) have also been recognised at both domestic and international award shows.

In 2015, Lee and business partner Jules Hall created The Hallway’s sister production company Franklyn Street Films, with ex-Verve Films executive producer Carolyn Starkey at the helm. In its short life, the company has already produced a raft of content and commercials for The Hallway’s clients including Google and Fuji Xerox. Touching Heaven is the first of a series of Franklyn Street Film projects exploring the storytelling possibilities of emerging technologies.

Says Starkey: “Franklyn Street Films exists to create emotionally engaging content across all screen platforms. Touching Heaven’s script is immensely compelling. Combine that with spectacular imagery, viewed in the immersive Barco format, and the audience is set for one extraordinary ride.”

Writer/Director: Simon Lee

Wingsuit cinematography and stunts: Experience Series