Agora Talk: Empowering the XR Ecosystem

The discussion “Empowering the XR Ecosystem” took place on Wednesday, March 11, at the Music Center of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, as part of the Agora Talks of the 28th TiDF.

Powered by Onassis ONX, the session brought together creators, institutions, and policy professionals to examine how XR can develop into a more sustainable and meaningful field. Moderated by Lazaros Boudakidis, Head of Immersive: All Around Cinema – Thessaloniki Film Festival, the discussion moved from artistic practice and production to infrastructure, funding, legal frameworks, and long-term sustainability.

Opening the discussion, Boudakidis framed XR as a medium that must now be discussed beyond its technological novelty, shifting the focus toward the conditions that can allow it to survive and grow. He described the development of immersive work as an “extreme sport,” underlining the complexity of moving from concept to public presentation.

Tatiana Collet Apraxine, XR Artist and Director at Onism Studio, emphasized that immersive work is most effective when technology becomes almost invisible and remains in service of the story, describing XR as a medium capable of creating heightened emotional and sensory experiences. As she noted, “immersive work is at its most powerful when the technology is invisible.” Avinash Changa, Founder of WeMakeVR and founder of IMPRES – The Institute of Immersive Preservation, focused on production, technical development, and preservation, arguing that creators should begin with the impact they want to create rather than with a specific format, while warning that many XR works become inaccessible after only a short circulation period: “We don’t get funding to update our works.”

Anastasia Mavrogianni, Innovation Officer – Onassis Foundation / Onassis ONX, reflected on the role of incubation, mentorship, and field-building, explaining that Onassis ONX has increasingly prioritized longer development processes and stronger artistic foundations before technical execution, summarizing this approach as the challenge of creating “tech with soul.” Achilleas Tsoutsis, Senior Legal and Business Counsel – Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre S.A. (H.F.A.C.), addressed the institutional and regulatory dimension, outlining efforts to build a clearer support framework for XR in Greece through new funding tools and what he described as an “audiovisual fusion” strategy.

Across the discussion, the speakers returned to the need for stronger production conditions, more accessible infrastructure, wider distribution possibilities, and better connections between artists, programmers, institutions, and policymakers. Questions from the audience expanded the discussion toward education, adaptable formats, cross-sector collaboration, and Europe’s dependence on large technology platforms. The panel concluded by stressing that for XR to grow, it must become not only more technically viable, but also more visible, more durable, and more fully integrated into the wider cultural landscape.