VIVE Mars Hosts the World’s First Horror-Themed Virtual Production Film Contest: Best Shot! HORROR Film Competition

At HTC VIVE, we’re passionate about how technology can unleash imagination.  

VIVE Mars has been pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in video production, providing the tools to make it simple and accessible to creators around the globe. 

Recently, the VIVE Mars team created a worldwide search for filmmaking talent with the Best Horror Shot! Film Competition. This event marked an exciting moment for filmmakers around the globe, offering both industry professionals and students the opportunity to showcase their skills in virtual horror filmmaking using VIVE Mars technology like VIVE Mars CamTrack.  

VIVE Mars CamTrack is our groundbreaking camera tracking solution for virtual production, known for its ease of use, flexibility, and affordability. Compatible with Unreal Engine, it combines intuitive operation with advanced professional capabilities, making it an ideal tool for filmmakers seeking precision in camera tracking for virtual production. With a compact design and quick lens calibration, VIVE Mars CamTrack empowers creators to achieve stunningly accurate shots—whether in a small studio, an educational setting or on a larger film set.   

The Best Horror Shot! Competition  

For the Best Horror Shot! competition, participants worldwide were challenged to create short horror films using VIVE Mars CamTrack, with judgement focusing on four different categories: Best Scare, Best Cinematography, Best Story, and Best Performance. Entries spanned two competition tracks:  

• Industry Track: Open to established filmmakers and professional studios.   
• Student Track: Designed for film students aiming to make their mark in virtual production.  

One of the requirements was to provide behind-the-scenes content showing how the films were made. This competition was unique because the BTS content was also evaluated and included in the judging process.  It was amazing to see participants from all corners of the world embrace the power of VIVE Mars to tell terrifying and compelling stories. MSI sponsored a special prize for best use of Articial Intelligence encouraging many participants to use Articial Intelligence for storyboarding, creating music composition, creating Articial Intelligence graphics using prompts, and more. One entry even included music lyrics created by ChatGPT. From cinematic thrillers to experimental horror shorts, the competition demonstrated the breadth of talent and creativity that VIVE Mars is helping to unleash. All of the film entries and behind-the-scenes content is available to watch on VIVE Mars’ YouTube channel.

A Celebration of Global Talent  

Out of an impressive pool of entries, finalists were selected for their exceptional use of VIVE Mars technology and storytelling prowess. The judging panel, comprised of industry experts including Brandon Baum (Studio B),Matt Workman (Cinematography Database),Upie Guava (DossGuavaXR Studio), Anders Øvergaard & Morten Rustad (Andyax), and Andy Chen & Joshua Lykkeberg (CinePacks), evaluated entries based on criteria such as creativity, technical execution, and scare factor.  

We were delighted to see such a diverse and inspiring range of submissions - from large studios to students filming in their classrooms, the competition highlighted how VIVE Mars is helping democratize virtual production, making advanced filmmaking techniques accessible worldwide.  

Winners and Highlights  

We are proud to announce the winners of the Best Horror Shot! competition:  

1st Place (Industry Track)

• StudioLab xR (Canada) 
• Film Title: The Medic  
• Director: Jonathan Phú Son Lê  

1st Place (Student Track)  

• Shanghai University (China)  
• Film Title: 健康果 (The Health Fruit)  
• Directors: 周少卿, 杨钧翔  

Awards and Prizes  

Winners received exclusive prizes, including a VIVE Mars CamTrack, VIVE Mars FIZTrack accessory, access to virtual workshops with top industry experts, software licenses, and more.  

Experience the Entries  

Watch the full playlist of entries and discover the innovative horror shorts created by our talented finalists: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgyuuFPWR9JISWHMAfjE9hqPXv_HN1JOn

Thank you to all participants, our expert judges, and the virtual production community for making the Best Horror Shot! Film Competition a success.   

We couldn’t have done it without the help of our incredible sponsors MSI, SmallRig, DZOFILM and Aximmetry Technologies.  

Stay tuned for more from VIVE Mars as we continue pushing the boundaries of virtual production!  

Learn more about VIVE Mars: 

https://mars.vive.com