Canadian doc to debut at Venice Film Festival

A Canadian-made virtual reality film exploring how two transgender individuals are challenging gender norms will make its international debut at the Venice Film Festival, which kicked off Wednesday. “Made This Way: Redefining Masculinity” combines an immersive documentary and an installation of photography, co-created by Torontobased photographer Irem Harnak and filmmaker Elli Raynai. The experience puts users in virtual environments inspired by the memories and stories of Elijah Miley, a transgender man, and Devyn Farries, who is nonbinary, as they speak of their identities and transitions. The 18-minute piece will screen as part of the festival’s VR program and will also take part in the second edition of the Venice Virtual Reality Competition.