Supporting SONA

SONA 2026 Support Inquiry

Sona
Immersive Storytelling Festival

2- 4 April 2026

The best immersive storytelling places the person at its center. Through Virtual or Augmented Reality, art, installation, sound and music, it invites you to connect with an experience that is new, exhilarating, emotional, and deeply engaging.

At SONA, we aim to share these transformative experiences with as many people as possible, celebrating the creators, artists, and innovators shaping the future of storytelling. Your support can help us make SONA an unforgettable festival. We are offering three sponsorship opportunities, along with smaller giving options, each providing meaningful ways to engage with the festival and gain visibility in the film and immersive media community.

Our audience includes artists, academics, students, designers, gamers, and patrons of the arts, innovators at the intersection of art, design, and technology. With submissions from over 30 countries, SONA represents a global community pushing the boundaries of this new form. Your partnership will help establish SONA as a leading festival for immersive storytelling and ensure its impact grows year after year.

We’re heralding a new maturity in immersive storytelling, we’re at a time when creators and artists are starting to push through to the mainstream, and use these technologies to create new, exciting and innovative experiences for audiences across the world.

Why support Sona Festival?

  • Support a new community of artists, technologists, and creatives in immersive media, at the intersection of art and emerging technology.

  • Support the Arts: Contribute to a platform that supports diverse voices and emerging talent in immersive storytelling.

  • Engage With Community: Be part of an event that includes some of the brightest minds in VR, AR, and mixed reality, building valuable connections and fostering innovation.

For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact:
Stephan Caspar The Kenner Room, Room 1024 Tepper Building, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 scaspar@andrew.cmu.edu

If you are ready to make a contribution, please email: Adam Causgrove - Dietrich College Advancement - causgrove@cmu.edu 

Join us in making the Sona Festival of Immersive Storytelling an experience that inspires and drives the future of immersive media.

1. Aurora SUPPORTER - $10,000

Highlighting supporters who illuminate the festival, bringing a bright vision to life. Your contribution will directly support artist travel, completion funding, and the inclusion of special guests at the festival.

Benefits include:

  • Name featured prominently on festival promotional materials and the festival website.

  • Name in Festival Trailer prior to film showings, talks and presentations.

  • Acknowledgment as a primary supporter at the Opening Gala and Keynote.

  • Exclusive opportunity to introduce our featured immersive speaker.

  • Director’s guest and access for up to 8 representatives, including seats at the gala and reserved spots at panels.

2. Beacon SUPPORTER - $5,000

Your support acts as a guiding light for the festival, ensuring its reach and impact, you are a beacon shining across the landscape of immersive media.

Benefits include:

  • Name featured prominently on festival promotional materials and the festival website.

  • Thank you and Name in Festival Trailer prior to film showings, talks and presentations.

  • Special mention during panel discussions and Artist Talks.

  • Festival Pass and guided access for 4 representatives, including seats at the gala and priority access to events.

3. Keystone SUPPORTER - $1,000+

As a foundational supporter, you are crucial to holding everything together, we are grateful for your strength and support.

Benefits include:

  • Name featured on festival promotional materials and the festival website.

  • Acknowledgment during the Community Collaboration Day.

  • Festival Pass and guided access for 2 representatives to the Opening Gala.

Smaller Sponsorship Packages

1. RADIANCE SUPPORTER - $500

Radiance Supporters contribute to the overall success of the festival, helping ensure immersive works are experienced by a wider audience.

Benefits include:

  • Name on the festival website.

  • Acknowledgment in the festival program (digital).

  • Festival Pass for two people.

2. Friend of SONA - $100

Friends of Sona are passionate supporters who want to be part of the journey to bring immersive storytelling to life.

Benefits include:

  • Name listed on the festival website.

  • Acknowledgment in the festival program (digital).

  • Festival Pass for one person.