๐—ฆ๐—ข๐—ก๐—”: ๐—œ๐—บ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜†๐˜๐—ฒ๐—น๐—น๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—™๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฒ โ€“ Submissions Now Closed *

*Update 14 January 2026
Dear Creators - Thank you for all your incredible submissions, we have received huge number, a significant increase on last year, which is wonderful, but means we need just a little more time to agree our selection before we start sending out invitation. We plan to send emails around 23rd January. Stay tuned!

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After the success of its first edition, SONA Immersive Storytelling Festival returns April 2-4, 2026, at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, celebrating bold, immersive storytelling across XR, 360ยฐ video, AR, mixed reality, and interactive formats.

This year we are proud to introduce a new Heritage & History category, dedicated to immersive works that explore memory, tradition, place, and cultural legacy.

We especially welcome submissions from independent artists, designers, and developers, as well as creators from marginalized, minority, and underrepresented groups.

Selected creators will have the opportunity to showcase their work to regional and national audiences and connect with fellow artists working in immersive media.

Each creator may submit up to two works completed since March 2025. Selected works will be shown at the festival through virtual reality headsets, digital screenings, and interactive exhibits.

๐—ช๐—ต๐˜† ๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐—ฏ๐—บ๐—ถ๐˜ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฆ๐—ข๐—ก๐—” ๐—œ๐—บ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜†๐˜๐—ฒ๐—น๐—น๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—™๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฎ๐—น ?
If selected:

โ€ข Share your immersive work with wider audiences
โ€ข Join discussions with creators and practitioners
โ€ข Be part of a community pushing storytelling forward

The festival values every submission. While we endeavor to respond to all, depending on the volume of entries, we may not be able to provide individual feedback to everyone.

๐—ฆ๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€
All submissions will be reviewed by a selection panel with experience in immersive media, including filmmakers, technologists, and academics. Creators of selected works will be notified in January 2026. The festival is committed to a fair and unbiased selection process.

๐—˜๐˜ƒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜‚๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—–๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฎ
Submissions will be evaluated based on:

โ€ข Originality: Fresh concept and unique story
โ€ข Storytelling: Ability to engage audiences and convey a compelling
โ€ข Technical Execution: Strong production and use of immersive tools
โ€ข Immersive Experience: Depth and quality of the overall experience

Awards & Prizes

SONA celebrates immersive works that are bold, thoughtful, and deeply engaging. This yearโ€™s awards recognize innovation, impact, and imagination across formats and voices.

๐—”๐˜‚๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—–๐—ต๐—ผ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—”๐˜„๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฑ
Chosen by festival attendees, honoring the work that resonates most strongly with the public.

๐—˜๐˜…๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐—น๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜†๐˜๐—ฒ๐—น๐—น๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด
Recognizing projects that demonstrate powerful narrative, emotional depth, or inventive approaches to immersive storytelling.

๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ฏ๐—ถ๐—น๐—ถ๐˜๐˜† ๐—”๐˜„๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฑ
The Social Impact Award is now the Sustainability Award, recognizing our partnership with CMUโ€™s Sustainability Initiative. For work that addresses urgent social, cultural, or environmental issues in ways that inspire reflection and dialogue.

๐—˜๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ด๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—–๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜€ ๐—”๐˜„๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฑ
Celebrating outstanding immersive work by students and early-career creators, recognizing originality, innovation, and the fresh perspectives of those shaping the future of immersive storytelling.

๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฒ & ๐—›๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜† ๐—”๐˜„๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฑ
For immersive works that explore cultural memory, tradition, place, and lived experience.

๐—จ๐—ป๐—ฏ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—”๐˜„๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฑ
Presented in collaboration with IDeATe, the Integrative Design, Arts and Technology Network at Carnegie Mellon University. This jury prize honors compelling, unconventional, and genre-defying storytelling that pushes boundaries.

Rules & Terms

๐—ฆ๐—จ๐—•๐— ๐—œ๐—ฆ๐—ฆ๐—œ๐—ข๐—ก ๐—ฅ๐—จ๐—Ÿ๐—˜๐—ฆ

1. Agreement to Rules: By making a submission, the creator agrees to these rules.

2. Eligibility: Creators must be at least age 18.

3. Submission Period: TBA. Late submissions will not be considered.

4. Submission Procedure: Creators desiring to submit work for possible selection should, before the end of the submission period, submit their work via filmfreeway.com/sonafestival

5. Restrictions: Only two submissions per creator are allowed. Work submitted must have been completed by the creator since March 2025. The festival reserves the right to reject any submission in its sole discretion. Submissions are void where prohibited by law.

6. Originality: The work must be the creatorโ€™s own original work and/or that the creator has the right to use and permit Carnegie Mellon University (including the festival) to use the work as described in these Submission Rules. The creator confirms that the creatorโ€™s design does not infringe upon or violate the rights of any third party and applicable law.

7. Permission to Use by Carnegie Mellon University (including SONA Immersive Storytelling Festival): The creator grants to Carnegie Mellon University (including the SONA Immersive Storytelling Festival) a world-wide, perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive, irrevocable right and license to publish, display, reproduce, distribute, sublicense, prepare derivative works of, telecast and otherwise use the work submitted, in whole or in part, and the creatorโ€™s name, image and likeness and biographical information in connection with its use of the work, in any manner or media format in furtherance of Carnegie Mellon Universityโ€™s tax exempt purposes or activities as Carnegie Mellon University (including the festival) sees fit, including for purposes of general publicity or promotional advancement of Carnegie Mellon University or the festival. Consistent with the foregoing, the creator authorizes Carnegie Mellon University and the festival to show the work submitted by the creator during the festival and for its duration. Except as indicated in these Submission Rules, all rights to the work submitted are retained by the creator.

8. Defense and Indemnity: The artist agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Carnegie Mellon University (including SONA Immersive Storytelling Festival), and its trustees, officers, employees, contractors, representatives, agents, successors and assigns, from and against any and all claims, suits, actions, demands, liabilities, injuries, losses, costs, damages or arising from or connected with the creatorโ€™s breach of these Submission Rules.

9. Release of Liability: Carnegie Mellon University (including SONA Immersive Storytelling Festival) is not responsible for any claims or liabilities arising from the creatorโ€™s submission of any work and/or participation in the festival.

10. Governing Law/Venue: These Submission Rules and the creatorโ€™s submission of any work and/or participation in the festival are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without regard to conflict of law provisions in that or any jurisdiction. Any disputes will be resolved in Allegheny County, PA courts.

3 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • BR8 Cultural None

    It was a great pleasure to be a part of Sona! A very respectful, welcoming, and efficient production, and a great environment to connect with other creatives and discover amazing productions!

    April 2026
    Helpful
  • Judi Alston

    The very first edition of the Sona Immersive Storytelling Festival in Pittsburgh was nothing short of inspiring. From the moment we arrived, there was a sense of genuine warmth and hospitality that set the tone for the entire experience. As an inaugural event, the organisers created an atmosphere that was both welcoming and deeply professional, a balance that is rare to find at a first-time festival.

    The programming itself was exciting, showcasing bold, innovative, and thought-provoking works that pushed the boundaries of immersive storytelling. Each piece felt carefully chosen to spark dialogue, curiosity, and imagination. It was clear that the festival is already carving out a unique space for itself in the cultural landscape of Pittsburgh, and beyond.

    A personal highlight was being honoured with the Social Impact Award. To be recognised in this way, especially in the festivalโ€™s very first year, was deeply meaningful. It reinforced the power of immersive storytelling not just to entertain, but to drive empathy, awareness, and real change.

    What made the Sona Immersive Stoytelling Festival so special was not only the work on display, but the spirit of community it fostered. Artists, audiences, and organisers came together in an environment of openness and collaboration. For a debut edition, the festival felt both intimate and visionary, a strong foundation for what promises to be a bright and influential future.

    We left Pittsburgh filled with gratitude and excitement, and canโ€™t wait to see how Sona continues to grow in the years ahead.

    September 2025
    Helpful
  • Konrad Mihat

    We are glad and greatful for the opportunity to take part in the innagural edition of SONA. The talks were on point and being part of an academic structure dedicated to immersive content, it is a rare and much needed festival, for new media and XR. We thank Stephan Caspar and all the team involved for the wonderful experience.

    April 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Kondrad for your wonderful feedback, we were so thrilled to invite you, and to be able to share your amazing work with our audiences. So pleased that you are a part of our SONA community, and we very much look forward to welcoming you to Pittsburgh next year!