Montréal-based Moment Factory blends technology, art and storytelling to create immersive experiences that transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary spectacles. From lighting up forests with breathtaking night walks to projecting stunning visuals onto historical landmarks, the multimedia entertainment studio’s innovative work has captured global audiences.

Concert-going fans of Madonna, Bon Jovi and Arcade Fire would know. Moment Factory masterminded some of their biggest world tours. Madonna’s 2012 MDNA tour and the 3D effects of “Vogue” and “Express Yourself,” and Bon Jovi’s “Because We Can” tour in 2013, saw mind-bending projections. In 2018, Moment Factory delivered a complete 360-degree creative approach splashing the stage in other-worldly vibes for Arcade Fire’s “Infinite Content” tour. Fans are still talking.

Sakchin Bessette, co-founder and Executive Creative Director, who is one of the magic makers behind these cutting-edge installations, has spearheaded over 400 multimedia projects worldwide since the company’s inception in 2001. “It’s all about creating the immersive experience the public craves,” Bessette explains from his Montréal studio.

DS: What’s in your toolkit now?
SB: We combine theatrical tech in new ways. Lights and pixels are key. Our illuminated night walks—like Astra Lumina, which launched in Whistler, or projects in Japan, Los Angeles and Quebec—merge tech with nature. We also use projection mapping to reimagine landmarks like Notre-Dame Basilica in Montréal, notably through our Aura project and Paris’s Les Invalides. Magic is the goal—connecting people through scale, illusion and orchestration.

DS: What were some of your major highlights last year?
SB: Collaborating with Billie Eilish and Phish at the Vegas Sphere stands out. Every Phish show was mixed live—true to our VJ (video jockey) roots. Another highlight? There’s Singapore’s Changi Airport, with its indoor waterfall, and an animated ceiling with LED visuals synchronized to the environment, reacting to weather.

DS: What’s currently going on in Canada?
SB: Village Québécois d’Antan was a big project. It’s a historical village we brought to life with video projections, soundscapes, and lighting effects to evoke time travel.

DS: Share some leisure travel plans.
SB: I’m heading to London with my kids for some theatre. I also love Mexico and frequent Asia—Hong Kong, Singapore, Bali and Japan are favourites.

DS: What first sparked your interest?
SB: Photography. My dad’s passion for 35 mm film drew me in. Later, the VJ scene taught me how to craft immersive atmospheres, something we’re just beginning to explore. The future holds even more—new tech for connection and even healing.

DS: How is it managing 450 employees?
SB: We started as friends working for no pay. Now, with a team across Montréal, Tokyo, Singapore, Paris, New York and Australia, it’s more organized. The challenges are complex, but we grow with every project.

DS: What’s your mission statement?
SB: Bringing people together—storytelling around a modern campfire. That’s the essence of what we do.