It is a new way of storytelling in cinema, and three films from the Chinese mainland are set to compete for awards at the Venice festival. Xing Yi reports.

Twenty-two virtual reality films, including three from the Chinese mainland, will vie for awards at the Venice Film Festival, on the island of Lido, in Venice, Italy, on Aug 30.

This is the first time a major international film festival is holding a competition for VR films.

"It is a new way of storytelling," says Lou Yanxin, 32, at his studio in Beijing.

"There are no set rules such as shots, cuts, transitions and montages in traditional films," he adds.

Lou is the founder of Sandman Studios, which will show Free Whale, a seven-minute VR film, in Venice.

Using VR, the film tells a sci-fi story in which viewers travel with the protagonist to a remote planet.

The mission is to retrieve a chip embedded in a robot whale there. The film ends when the explorers discover the robot has developed consciousness after swimming alone.

The film's participation in the Venice Film Festival is exciting for the young team.

"Everyone is new in this field," says Lou. "No one knows much about VR films in China, or in any other country, and that gives us a level playing field."

Lou says he decided to set up a studio focused on immersive storytelling after his experience of VR on Google Cardboard in 2015.

"It's a revolutionary technology and offers many opportunities," says Lou.

"Such a big development comes once in a blue moon. So, I did not want to miss it."

Lou founded the studio in September 2016, just after the VR craze hit China.