Put on a VR headset and step into the life of a lesbian in Iris Van der Meule’s Lesbian Simulator. Create your own avatar and experience coming out, queer dating, prejudice, discrimination and verbal abuse, but also love, humor, celebration and community. The playful game challenges assumptions and celebrates love in all its forms.
Lesbian Simulator is a Virtual Reality installation. Order a ticket for the desired show (40 min.) between 14:00 and 22:00 on one of the festival dates (on 11.10 starting from 17:00). Upon arrival, you will be given a headset. 2 places are available per show.
Put on a pair of VR goggles and step into the life of a lesbian. That’s what Iris Van der Meule promises with Lesbian Simulator. This VR experience is structured like a game. You create your own lesbian avatar and then navigate through various challenging situations. Experience what it means to come out or to go on a date as a queer person. You’ll also encounter the less pleasant aspects: what prejudice, discrimination or verbal abuse feel like. Lesbian Simulator makes it clear that social acceptance is still far from a given. Fortunately, there’s also plenty of room for love, humour, celebration and the warm embrace of the queer community. With her colourful, playful approach, Iris Van der Meule transforms a serious social issue into an interactive game that doesn’t just let you watch, but lets you experience it for yourself. Lesbian Simulator is an invitation to both examine your own prejudices and celebrate love in all its forms.
Year: 2026
Language: Dutch, English or French
Length: 40 min.
Director: Iris Van der Meule
Script:Iris Van der Meule
Music (original): Loïc Dubois, Walter Fiorini
With:Sofie Hellemons, Hanna van Vliet
Producer: Corine Meijers
Co-producer: An Oost, Emmy Oost, Jeanne-Marie Poulain
Production company: Studio Biarritz, Timescapes, Art et Essai
Production countries: Belgium, The Netherlands, Canada