The Dome Under Fulldome Festival 2021 has just finished. Here are the fulldome festival winners as well as the special mentions along with the jury's review for each show.

Best Narrative: "Living Worlds"

Visually stunning, Living Worlds seeks to apply knowledge gained through the study of human existence in seeking out life beyond what we know on Earth. The jury was fascinated by the interrogation of the origins of life and what that means for the possibility of life in other parts of the galaxy. The visual feast of a journey is also accompanied by the dulcet tones of Hamilton’s Daveed Diggs.

Best Astronomy Education: "Star Dreaming"

Star stories from 60,0000+ years of Australian Indigenous astronomy are beautifully interwoven with some of the latest findings from the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the largest telescope ever built giving us insights into the big questions of our universe. The jury was impressed with the respectful and generous sharing of ancient wisdom and living culture from the Yamaji people, the Traditional Custodians of the land where the SKA sits and the stunning visuals explaining astronomy content from astrophysicists working on this land. Star Dreaming invites the audience to reflect on how much Indigenous science and culture and western astronomy have in common and demonstrates that far from being opposing views, they are deeply complimentary.

Best Experimental: "Labyrinth"

The monochrome universe of Labyrinth is both haunting and exhilarating. Cityscapes curve into claustrophobic laneways before meandering through hyperreal worlds. Labyrinth enchanted the judges for its minimalist but vivid elastic structures navigating through time and space. The sound is atmospherically expansive allowing the architecture to become scaffolding for this strange but familiar universe.

Best Short: "A Toothless Grin"

A Toothless Grin is an alluring short film playing with emotional equilibrium. It used the fullness of the dome to deftly portray the emptiness in many aspects of society. The abstractions from the computer-generated images are evocative and explorations of the ‘digital’ in everyday life become surreal and interwoven with intimate observations. A Toothless Grin was bold and entertaining.

Special Mentions

"In the Land of the Flabby Schnook"

An utterly delightful short! Captivating and likeable characters draw the audience into a whimsical and intriguing world, playfully capturing a child’s fear of the dark. Wonderful use of the immersive nature of the dome.

"Polydomous"

A rhythmic soundtrack perfectly punctuates the stunning visuals. This bright and dynamic exploration of space expands the entire canvas of the dome. The judges loved the streetscapes and bustling cities with people moving about their familiar lives. A delightful short.

"Narcissus"

An inspiring mini-documentary on the life cycle of the daffodil, reminding watchers of the heart-breaking ebb and flow of life and death. A powerful short film.

"New World"

New World is a poignant glimpse into the duality of nature and our suburban existence. The soundscape is intimate and lucid, carrying us through the voyage between these two spirited worlds.