Media Students Celebrate Being Finalists in Prestigious International Virtual Production Competition

Barnsley College students have achieved global recognition, reaching the finals in the prestigious VIVE Mars Virtual Production Competition, an international contest that celebrates innovation in virtual filmmaking.

The competition, held by HTC’s VIVE Mars division, focuses on pioneering uses of virtual production technology. HTC is known for its cutting-edge products, including the HTC VIVE VR headset and the VIVE Mars camera tracking system, both of which have recently been implemented within the College’s green screen virtual production studio.

This year’s competition brief, themed around creating the best horror shot, challenged competitors to push the boundaries of virtual production. Participants included industry-leading professionals as well as students from renowned institutions worldwide, making the competition both prestigious and highly competitive.

Universities like Shanghai University, a global leader in educational resources, and Berkeley College, ranked among the top film schools globally, claimed the top spots. Although there is no official third place, Barnsley College’s entry earned finalist recognition, marking a significant accomplishment for our students and staff.

Thomas Martel, Media Lecturer, said: “Being recognised as a finalist in the VIVE Mars Virtual Production Competition is a monumental achievement for Barnsley College and a testament to the dedication and talent of our students.

“Competing on an international stage alongside prestigious institutions like Shanghai University and Berkeley College underscores the exceptional skills of our students. This accolade not only showcases our commitment to industry-standard education but also provides our students with valuable, real-world experience and a unique film credit at the Further Education level. We’re thrilled to receive worldwide recognition, and we look forward to further establishing Barnsley College as a leader in virtual production education.”

The project was a collaborative effort, with contributions from our talented Hair and Beauty students, who assisted with specialised styling, bringing a unique level of realism to the production.

This venture into international competition was initially intended as an educational exercise, providing our students a hands-on experience of industry-standard practices in our newly equipped virtual studio, but the students’ success on such a global platform exemplifies the outstanding potential of Barnsley College’s rising talent.

Congratulations to all our student finalists! Their film, Silicon Dreams will be showcased on the VIVE Mars website and YouTube channel, along with a follow-up interview with Thomas Martel.