For the first time ever, this year’s Cleveland International Film Festival, which continues through Sunday at Tower City Cinemas, features a “perspectives exhibition” that will take over an empty storefront at Tower City Center. It will feature 10 virtual reality films and six other interactive media programs. It’s free and open to the public.

“If you haven’t experienced what virtual reality is now, this is the next generation of it,” says CIFF director Bill Guentzler. “The projects we have are films that immerse you into the film. You’re watching a film take place and you’re inside of it, which is pretty amazing. There are lots of film festivals around the world that are now featuring this and we wanted to get in on the ground floor. It’s a new way of telling stories.”

Located on Tower City Center Level M2 (near the top of the Grand Staircase), the exhibit is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Saturday. It’s also open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. 

This article appears in Apr 6-12, 2016.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.