Last March, Ultra Music Festival concluded its sold-out 23rd edition at the iconic Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. Headlined by dance music icons such as Swedish House Mafia, Marshmello, Carl Cox, Martin Garrix, Eric Prydz Presents HOLO, Zedd, Subtronics, Oliver Heldens, and many more, Ultra Music Festival welcomed thousands of attendees from over 100 countries and showcased world-class production with a diverse variety of electronic music acts.
Now, fans can relive the magic of Ultra Music Festival with the official 2023 aftermovie – ‘ULTRA: VICE CITY.’ Inspired by immersive, third-person role playing experiences, ‘ULTRA: VICE CITY’ follows the adventures of an intrepid protagonist as he navigates Miami and the festival – thus weaving an action-packed visual story with heart-pumping montages of artists and attendees alike.
The film begins with a sequence of gorgeous Downtown Miami shots closing in on the festival grounds, revealing a bevy of exulting revelers running to start their weekend. Among these festival-goers is the film’s protagonist (named Nick), who is centered in front of the camera from a third-person perspective and flanked by a circular map, money counter, and GA ticket graphic in the corners of the screen.
After picking up a phone call, the film transitions into a cinematic cut-scene where the aftermovie’s central narrative is revealed: before Nick can enjoy his time at the festival, he must complete a series of missions to assist Ultra Music Festival2023 performers.
His first mission is to retrieve Dutch house DJ Fedde Le Grand’s USB from his studio, and deliver it before his Main Stage performance. We then see Nick ride a scooter through Downtown Miami and Wynwood before reaching a digitally created, glowed up marker that represents the studio’s destination. After Nick steals a car and zig-zags through Wynwood, he drops off the USB with Fedde, at which point “Mission Passed” flashes bright in the center of the screen.
The film then smoothly transitions into the festival grounds, jumping from stunning skies and rapturous crowds to a montage of performers, cutting between acts like Fedde Le Grand, Claude VonStroke, Nicky Romero, Dom Dollab2bVintage Culture, Timmy Trumpet, Deorro, Becky Hill, Franky Wah, Kasablanca, Sub Zero Project, and Anfisa Letyago.
Next mission: Heldeep label boss Oliver Heldens is landing by plane in Biscayne Bay, and Nick must pick him up for his Main Stage b2b set with Tchami. A seaplane carrying Oliver Heldens lands in the ocean; Nick leaps into the water and commandeers a jetski to usher Heldens into the festival – Mission Passed.
We then see Heldens and Tchami begin their set before the film cuts to shots of Armin Van Buuren, Charlotte de Witte, the ULTRA Angels dance team, and HI-LO(Oliver Heldens) b2b Testpilot(deadmau5).
Next, ‘ULTRA: VICE CITY’ reveals its newest wrinkle: a wheel that pops onto the screen brandishing the names of each festival stage. We then watch the wheel rotate between the various stage names, transporting the viewer to each respective stage as it turns. When the wheel lands on the UMF Radio Stage, we are bombarded with heavy hardstyle blast beats against shots of renowned Dutch hardstyle duo Sub Zero Project.
The wheel then brings us to the Worldwide Stage, where we see a montage of rail-riding Ultranauts rocking out to bass acts such as ISOxo, Moore Kismet, and YOOKiE.
Following Nick’s quick fit change into classic Ocean Drive attire, the video brings us into the early evening. With an idyllic sunset embracing the Downtown Miami skyline, we see clips of Stephan Bodzin, Afrojack, and Tiësto commanding various stages soundtracked by Tiësto’s “Lay Low.”
The film then returns to Nick, who we see activating a cheat code that summons an Oldsmobile 442 – a muscle car that belongs to none other than British techno legend Carl Cox. Tasked with bringing the veteran Ultra flagbearer his car, Nick cruises over the causeway to Miami Beach’s M2 nightclub, where Cox was headlining one of the first nights of the debut RESISTANCE Miami US Club Residency.
Following a montage showcasing the four sold-out nights at M2 during Miami Music Week (including clips of Cox, HI-LO b2b Layton Giordani, Adam Beyer, and Charlotte De Witte), we return back to the main festival grounds to see the kaleidoscopic, nighttime Ultra Music Festival lights. Majestic shots of the RESISTANCE Megastructure and The Cove stages are spliced with clips of Dubfireb2b Kölsch, Joris Voorn, Nicole Moudaber b2b Chris Liebing, and Eric Pryd’s jaw-dropping HOLO show.
Our protagonist is now free to enjoy his evening, and we watch him frolic to the sounds of Kx5, Marshmello, Malaa, Grimes,Swedish House Mafia, David Guetta, REZZ, M.I.A., Hardwell, Gryffin, Black Tiger Sex Machine, and Martin Garrix.
Produced by Amsterdam-based creative production company Final Kid Films,‘ULTRA: VICE CITY’ is a visual masterpiece that redefines conceptual aftermovie storytelling and recaps the festival in an entirely new way. With its enveloping narrative complementing mesmeric visuals, ‘ULTRA: VICE CITY’ shines a spotlight on the various glories of Ultra Music Festival 2023 while simultaneously paying homage to the city that birthed this historic event.
With the release of ‘ULTRA: VICE CITY’ comes the opening of the Waitlist for Ultra Music Festival 2024. Join the Waitlist now and secure your #ULTRA2024 tickets at the best price available (while supplies last).
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