Category: My Africa

Posted on

EarthXR Hosts Playlist of Environmentally-Focused 360 Content Through Samsung XR

Climate change and environmental conservation are important subjects being broached not only scientifically but also artistically, as a means of building awareness and understanding about the effects taking place. EarthxFilm – which is part of the annual EarthX event – and its interactive arm EarthXR has teamed up with Samsung XR to bring you a collection of films dedicated to these causes. 

EarthXR collection

Starting now, EarthXR will be hosting environmentally-focused 360-degree videos by a variety of filmmakers on Samsung XR-supported platforms. Starting with 12 projects which are freely available to watch, over the course of 2020 further pieces will be added as EarthXR works with production companies on topics which will shed light on environmental and social justice issues.

For the initial launch these films will include:

  1. “Guardians of the Kingdom” – Underwater Earth, Vulcan Productions
  2. “Ghost Fleet” – Catovia, Seahorse Productions, Vulcan Productions
  3. “My Africa“; “Valen’s Reef”; “Under the Canopy” – Conservation International
  4. “Nakuru Kuru” – Jiva VR
  5. “Tree Huggers”; “The Fire in Our Backyard”; “as it is” – 360Labs
  6. “The Hydrous Presents: Immerse” – The Hydrous, featuring NatGeo Explorer Erika Woolsey
  7. “Guardians of the Forest” – Co.Reality, UNVR
  8. “The First Virtual Reserve” – Wild Immersion

“This channel gives home audiences the opportunity to join conservationists at whale rescues, African elephant sanctuaries and surfing trips in the most stunning and remote places on earth,” says Tiffany Kieran, EarthXR Director of XR Programming + Partnerships in a statement. “We get to show audiences not only the beauty of nature but inspire support for pressing current issues, like firefighters taking on wildfires and Indigenous communities in the Amazon protecting their land from deforestation.”

EarthX Film still“Samsung has been with us from the start of our festival and have been incredible supporters as we bring these important, topical projects to viewers everywhere. We are grateful for their ongoing commitment to using technology for good,” notes EarthxFilm President Michael Cain.

To view these films you can either watch them on desktop or via tablet/mobile on the Samsung XR website. For the full immersive experience download the Samsung VR Videos app for Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Oculus Go, Samsung Gear VR, Windows Mixed Reality and Daydream headsets. The EarthX festival will be held in Dallas from 17th – 26th April 2020. For further EarthXR updates, keep reading VRFocus.

Posted on

Conservation International Reveals New VR Project ‘My Africa’

A new virtual reality (VR) film called My Africa produced by Conservation International aims to create an immersive portrait of Kenya and the efforts to allow humans and wildlife to leave peacefully side-by-side.

The VR film opens on vivid 360-degree footage of wildebeest as the migrate across the Mara River and a lioness who lies in wait to capture prey. This is taken in a community-led sanctuary in northern Kenya.

My Africa

My Africa is narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, who helps guide the viewer through the life of a Samburu woman named Naltwasha Leripe as she and her community tend to livestock, dig ‘singing’ wells deep into dry river banks and rescue a baby elephant who has been left orphaned by ivory poachers.

The footage for My Africa was captured at the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy in Samburu County of northern Kenya at the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, where its supporting conservation organisation Northern Rangelands Trust, offers a different model of conservation which is grounded in local leadership and community.

“My Africa is about a path forward for saving the miracle that is Africa — the last place on Earth where significant numbers of the world’s largest land animals still roam,” said project Executive Producer and Conservation International CEO Dr. M. Sanjayan. “If we are going to save nature in a crowded world we need to entirely rethink how we go about it. This film shows a new way, one that unites, rather than divides, people from wildlife. Today, conservation is not about building fences but rather breaking down barriers, so that local communities benefit when nature thrives.”

“Tiffany is proud to continue our support of Conservation International and further our wildlife conservation efforts with the release of My Africa,” said Anisa Kamadoli Costa, Chairman and President of The Tiffany & Co. Foundation. “We believe people need to experience what is at risk of being lost in order to understand what needs to be protected. By transporting viewers to the majestic wildlife and natural landscapes of Kenya, we hope to inspire audiences to become more passionate advocates for conservation.”

My Africa

Further information on My Africa can be found on the Conservation International website. The VR film can be found on the WITHIN app, and the trailer is available to view below. VRFocus will continue to report on new and upcoming VR content.