TIFF 2026 Review: Innovation Hub

Mekwâc: “Now Is Good”

Returning after a decade absence at the Toronto International Film Festival is an exhibition that brings together eight immersive experiences that make use of virtual reality, mixed reality, artificial intelligence and interactive media.  The Innovation Hub is situated on Level 200 of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and features:

Body Proxy

Reflections of Little Red Dot

Body Proxy by Tender Claws which has users become a physical body that AI hires to perform certain tasks that it cannot do, Lesbian Simulator by Iris van der Meule which enables users to build their own lesbian persona, Mekwâc: “Now Is Good”by Quantum Wampum and James Monkman Studio that utilizes imagery, spatial sound and interactive environments to illustrate through the Cree perspective the relationship between people to the land, water, animals and one another, Tartupaluk by Laakkuluk Williamson is a political satire about a fictional Arctic republic which is based on the idea that cultural relationships can go beyond  colonial boundaries, a iconic photograph is turned into interactive experience with The Big Picture – “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper” by Chloé Rochereuil, a grieving lawyer moves through a mountain guided by the unfinished novel authored by his deceased wife in The Clouds Are Two Thousand Meters Up adapted by Singing Chen from the short story by Wu Ming-Yi, Singapore’s rapidly changing urban landscape is the subject of Reflections of Little Red Dot by Chloé Lee, and users get transported to the Solomon Islands which are being submerged by rising water levels in Solwata by NowHere Media, Human Rights Watch, and Agog: The Immersive Media Institute.

Lesbian Simulator

Three of the eight were personally experienced and were vastly different from what was experienced back in 2016 though the headsets still feel rather military grade.  Mobility is essential and even pinching imagery to trigger desired narrative and visual effects. There is a time lapse as each of the headset experiences had to be recalibrated for viewing.

The Clouds Are Two Thousand Meters

The Clouds Are Two Thousand Meters Up is best described as a ethereal lament that takes place mainly in the forest driven by the narrative of Guan who is seeking to reconnect with his deceased spouse by entering the world of her imagination.  The image and voice of Guan guide the user through the story with the forest being rendered in way that one feels like ducking under branches.  It is not so much about interactivity but witnessing the emotional and spiritual journey of the protagonist.

The Big Picture – “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper”

Part interactive puzzle and documentary is The Big Picture – “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper” which has the action take place within a dark room.  The photographic elements are literally dissected and reassembled by the user by pinching elements hanging by clothespins and putting in a designated place.  It is educational about context of the iconic photograph taken in 1932 of 11 ironworkers having lunch together on steel beam high above New York City.  The shape-matching component is central in bringing everything together into a 3D recreation of the photograph which allows for interactivity and requires the user to think not just watch.

Solwata

Guided by the narration of Mark Ruffalo and the personal stories of three inhabitants of Solomon Islands the user gets to witness their lives in 360 environments consisting of documentary footage for Solwata. There are interludes that include a 3D map of the island and an actual aquarium filled with water containing physical elements which highlight each chapter.   A dramatic visual cue is the gradually rising digital waterline which reaches just under the neck of the user.

Tartupaluk

The 51st Toronto International Film Festival runs September 10-20, 2026, and for more information visit tiff.net.   

Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada; he can be found at LinkedIn.