Espacio Fundación Telefónica presents Flesh and Sand, the award-winning virtual reality installation by Mexican filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Through an individual immersive experience, the work places visitors at the center of a fragment of the journey taken by Mexican and Central American migrants and refugees, inviting them to undergo an experience that transcends observation to become presence.
C/ Fuencarral, 3, Madrid
10:00 - 20:00
Sat, Sun and Hollidays:
11:00 - 20:00
Espacio Fundación Telefónica presents Flesh and Sand, the award-winning virtual reality installation by Mexican filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Through an individual immersive experience, the work places visitors at the center of a fragment of the journey taken by Mexican and Central American migrants and refugees, inviting them to undergo an experience that transcends observation to become presence.
Based on real testimonials and created with cutting-edge immersive technology, the installation blurs the boundaries between spectator and protagonist, offering a profound reflection on empathy, identity, and the human condition. Awarded a special Academy Award®, Flesh and Sand transformed the understanding of narrative in virtual reality and has been exhibited in some of the world’s leading cultural venues.
“My intention was to experiment with virtual reality technology to explore the human condition and reclaim the space to allow the visitor a direct experience, walking in the shoes of the immigrant,” explains Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Furthermore, the filmmaker notes that “no two experiences in Flesh and Sand will be the same,” as each person moves through the work from their own perspective and sensitivity.
The experience, which lasts around 20 minutes, will feature several virtual reality stations and will run from November 17, 2026, to February 14, 2027. Ticket reservations for this experience will be announced soon on this website.
About Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Alejandro G. Iñárritu is a Mexican director, screenwriter, and producer. Internationally acclaimed for films such as Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel, Biutiful, Birdman, and The Revenant, he has won five Academy Awards®. In 2017, he presented Flesh and Sand at the Cannes Film Festival, making it the first virtual reality project included in the festival’s official selection. The work earned him a special Academy Award® for its pioneering contribution to narrative language and the immersive experience.
