Félix Lajeunesse Explained

Félix Lajeunesse
Birth Place:	Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
Yearsactive:	2004–present

Félix Lajeunesse is a Canadian film director, writer, and producer, and virtual reality director.^{[1] [2]} He is the co-founder and chief creative officer at Felix & Paul Studios.^[3]

Early life and education

Lajeunesse was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. He graduated with a film production degree from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema at Concordia University.^[4]

Career

In 2013, Lajeunesse co-founded Felix & Paul Studios with Paul Raphaël and Stéphane Rituit. The studio's first VR film, "Strangers with Patrick Watson," was released that same year, marking an early entry into cinematic VR storytelling.^{[5] [6]}

Since then, Lajeunesse has co-directed over 30 immersive experiences, including collaborations with notable figures and institutions.^[7]

Notable works

Some of Lajeunesse's notable works include:

• "The People's House," a collaboration with former President Barack Obama^[8]
• "Traveling While Black," created with filmmaker Roger Ross Williams^[9]
• "Space Explorers: The ISS Experience," a documentary series filmed aboard the International Space Station^[10]

Immersive installation

Lajeunesse acted as creative director for "Space Explorers: The Infinite," a location-based VR experience co-created by Felix & Paul Studios and PHI Studio that launched in Montreal in 2021.^{[11] [12]} This free-roaming exhibit invites visitors to experience life aboard the International Space Station.

Since its launch, "Space Explorers: The Infinite" has toured various locations, including:

• Canada^[13]
• U.S. cities such as Houston,^[14] Denver,^[15] and Charlotte^[16]
• Singapore^[17]

Awards and recognitions

Lajeunesse has received various accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards for The People's House: Inside the White House with Barack and Michelle Obama and for Space Explorers: The ISS Experience.^{[18] [19]}

Lajeunesse has also gained significant industry recognition for his work.

1. In 2015, he was named in the Creativity 50 list by AdAge.^[20]
2. In 2016, he was included in Fast Company's list of 100 most creative people in business,^[21] and was also named one of the 30 Execs to Watch by Variety.^[22]
3. In 2024, he was inducted into the XR Hall of Fame by AWE.^[23]

Filmography

Year	Film	Director	Writer	Note
2023	Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: The Seven Ravens			Interactive AR experience
2021-2023	Space Explorers: The Infinite			Large-scale interactive touring exhibit - 60 minutes
2020-2022	Space Explorers: The ISS Experience			4 episodes
2019	Traveling While Black			Immersive 360 3D VR documentary film
2019	Marshall From Detroit			Immersive 360 3D VR documentary film
2018	Space Explorers: The Journey Begins			Immersive 360 3D VR documentary series
2018	Jurassic World: Blue			Immersive 360 3D VR fiction film
2017	Cirque du Soleil: Dreams of 'O' VR			Immersive 360 3D VR fiction film
2017	The People's House: Inside the White House with Barack and Michelle Obama			Immersive 360 3D VR documentary film
2017	Miyubi			Immersive 360 3D VR fiction film
2017	Cirque du Soleil: Through the Masks of Luzia			Immersive 360 3D VR fiction film
2017	The Confessional			Immersive 360 3D VR documentary series
2016	Nomads			Immersive 360 3D VR documentary series
2016	Cirque du Soleil: KÀ The Battle Within			Immersive 360 3D VR fiction film
2016	Through the Ages: President Obama Celebrates America's National Parks			Immersive 360 3D VR documentary film
2015	Inside the Box of Kurios			Immersive 360 3D VR fiction film
2015	Jurassic World: Apatosaurus			Immersive 360 3D VR fiction film
2015	Wild: The Experience			Immersive 360 3D VR film
2015	Inside Impact: East Africa with President Clinton			Immersive 360 3D VR documentary film
2015	Lebron James: Striving for Greatness			5 episodes
2014	Introduction to Virtual Reality			Immersive 360 3D VR documentary film
2014	Strangers with Patrick Watson			Immersive 360 3D VR documentary film
2013	The Sparkling River			3D fiction film
2009	Tusarnituuq! Nagano in the Land of the Inuit			2D documentary film
2009	Tungijuq			2D documentary film

As editor

• Before Tomorrow (2008)
• The Journals of Knud Rasmussen (2006)

As cinematographer

• Uvanga (2013)
• Before Tomorrow (2008)

Awards and nominations

Year	Result	Award	Category	Work	Ref.
2023	Won	VR Awards	VR Film of the Year	Spacewalkers Extended	^[24]
	Won	Webby Awards	Metaverse, Immersive & Virtual Technical Achievement	Spacewalkers Extended	^[25]
2022	Nominated	South by Southwest	Innovation Award	The Infinite	^[26]
	Won	Canadian Screen Awards	Best Immersive Experience, Nonfiction		^[27]
2021	Won	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Interactive Program
	Won	Webby Awards	Science & Education and Best VR Video		^[28]
2020	Won	Canadian Screen Awards	Best Immersive Experience, Fiction	Gymnasia	^[29]
	Won		Best Immersive Experience, Nonfiction	Traveling While Black
	Won	FIPADOC	SMART Award		^[30]
	Won	Webby Awards	best Documentary (Immersive And Mixed Reality)		^[31]
2019	Won	B3 Biennial of the Moving Image	Best VR/AR/MR	Gymnasia
	Won	Manchester Animation Festival	Best VR Short Film		^[32]
	Won	Ottawa International Animation Festival	Best VR Animation
	Won	Webby Awards	Best Video - Best Branded CInematic or Pre-Rendered	Isle of Dogs: Behind the Scenes in VR	^[33]
	Won		People's Voice
2018	Won	Canadian Screen Awards	Best Immersive Experience	Miyubi	^[34]
2017	Won	Peabody Awards	Virtual Reality/360		^[35]
	Won	South by Southwest	Special Jury Recognition	Dreams of 'O	^[36]
	Won	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Interactive Program	The People's House
	Won	Canadian Screen Awards	Best Immersive Experience	Nomads	^[37]
2016	Won	Daytime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Interactive Media - Original Daytime Program or Series	Inside the Box of Kurios	^[38]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Félix Lajeunesse: What it’s like to film VR on the ISS. siliconrepublic.com. 2023-07-20.
2. Web site: The virtual reality creator. concordia.ca. 2023-07-20.
3. Web site: Montreal VR studio teams up with NASA, Russia to send you into space. montrealgazette.com. 2023-07-20.
4. Web site: Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema grads win top international awards. concordia.ca. 2023-07-20.
5. Web site: Strangers with Patrick Watson. MIT Open Documentary Lab. 2024-10-10.
6. Web site: Felix & Paul Studios is virtual reality's savior. The Verge. 2016-01-26. 2024-10-10.
7. Web site: Felix Lajeunesse - XP Land. xp.land. 2024-10-10.
8. Web site: President Obama Narrates "The People's House" Virtual Reality Tour of the White House. Obama White House Archives. 2017-01-13. 2024-10-10.
9. Web site: Traveling While Black: An Immersive VR Experience by Award-Winning Director Roger Ross Williams Now Touring the U.S.. Los Angeles Sentinel. 2024-10-10.
10. Web site: Space film VR project set to beam Sony cameras outside the ISS. The Register. 2019-07-09. 2024-10-10.
11. Web site: The Infinite Is The Closest You'll Get To Space. VR Scout. 2021-07-08. 2024-10-10.
12. Web site: Virtual reality show brings Montrealers aboard the International Space Station. CTV News. 2021-07-30. 2024-10-10.
13. Web site: Interactive exhibit The Infinite takes Vancouver audiences to outer space this fall. Vancouver Sun. 2024-10-10.
14. Web site: The Infinite immerses Houstonians in a virtual space odyssey. Houston Chronicle. 2024-10-10.
15. Web site: Space Explorers: The Infinite' at Denver Center lets visitors experience space in virtual reality. CBS News Colorado. 2024-10-10.
16. Web site: Charlotte's first virtual reality experience opens this week. Axios Charlotte. 2024-10-02. 2024-10-10.
17. Web site: I became an astronaut on the ISS thanks to Science Centre Singapore's Space Explorers: The Infinite experience. SG Magazine. 2024-10-10.
18. Web site: The People's House - Inside The White House With Barack And Michelle Obama. emmys.com. 2023-07-20.
19. Web site: Outstanding Interactive Program - 2021. emmys.com. 2023-07-20.
20. Web site: Creativity 50 2015: Félix Lajeuneusse & Paul Raphaël. adage.com. 2024-10-10.
21. Web site: Most Creative People in Business 2016. fastcompany.com. 2024-10-10.
22. Web site: Digital Entertainment Execs to Watch. variety.com. 2024-10-10.
23. Web site: AWE XR Hall of Fame. awexr.com. 2024-10-10.
24. Web site: 7th Edition Winners & Finalists. vrawards.aixr.org/winners-and-finalists-. 2024-03-15.
25. Web site: Space Explorers: Spacewalkers Extended. winners.webbyawards.com. 2023-07-20.
26. Web site: Announcing the 2022 SXSW Innovation Awards Finalists. sxsw.com. 2023-07-20.
27. Web site: Canadian Screen Awards: Winners Announced In Sports Programming, Digital & Immersive Categories. https://web.archive.org/web/20220406012358/https://etcanada.com/news/883069/canadian-screen-awards-winners-announced-in-sports-programming-digital-immersive-categories/. dead. April 6, 2022. etcanada.com. 2023-07-20.
28. Web site: Science Education, Virtual & Remote 2021. winners.webbyawards.com. 2023-07-20.
29. Web site: Canadian Screen Awards 2020: Non-Fiction Winners Revealed. https://web.archive.org/web/20200605124256/https://etcanada.com/news/648359/canadian-screen-awards-2020-first-round-of-winners-revealed/. dead. June 5, 2020. etcanada.com. May 25, 2020 . 2023-07-20.
30. Web site: Two prizes for digital creation at Fipadoc 2020. institutfrancais.com. 2023-07-20.
31. Web site: Here are all the winners of the 2020 Webby Awards. theverge.com. May 20, 2020 . 2023-07-20.
32. Web site: PAST WINNERS. manchesteranimationfestival.co.uk. 2023-07-20.
33. Web site: Isle of Dogs Behind the Scenes (in Virtual Reality). winners.webbyawards.com. 2023-07-20.
34. Web site: Miyubi wins best interactive experience at Canadian Screen Awards. cbc.ca. 2023-07-20.
35. Web site: Miyubi. peabodyawards.com. 2023-07-20.
36. Web site: SXSW Film Festival Announces 2017 Audience and Virtual Cinema Jury Award Winners. sxsw.com. 2023-07-20.
37. Web site: CBC web series score wins as Canadian Screen Awards celebrate all things digital. cbc.ca. 2023-07-20.
38. Web site: 'Sesame Street' & Others Honored At Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards: See The Complete Winners List. indiewire.com. April 30, 2016 . 2023-07-20.