World premiere on the Lido
The virtual reality experience MYRIAD. Where we connect. is represented in the “Venice VR Expanded” competition of the Venice Biennale
Berlin, July 29, 2021. The virtual reality experience on global animal migration MYRIAD. Where we connect. will celebrate its world premiere in competition in the “Venice VR Expanded” section of the 78th Venice International Film Festival (September 1-11, 2021). MYRIAD is thus in the running for one of the festival’s coveted Lions. MYRIAD will be presented to professional visitors at the Palazzo del Casino on the Lido. At the same time, the immersive projects of the “Venice VR Expanded” section can be experienced online for an extended period from September 1-19 on the virtual reality platform VRChat. In addition, the festival offers interested viewers worldwide the unique opportunity to experience the VR installations locally in 14 venues in ten countries, among them Berlin.
The VR experience MYRIAD is a project from the non-profit organization Interactive Media Foundation and Filmtank in co-creation with Miiqo Studios and Artificial Rome. With scientific support of Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (Natural History Museum Berlin) / Mediasphere for Nature, Waldrappteam / LIFE Northern Bald Ibis, Deutsches Meeresmuseum Stralsund (German Oceanographic Museum), University of Exeter, Ascension Island Government, Zoo in der Wingst, Norwegian Polar Institute, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research and RiffReporter. Supported by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.
Producer Michael Grotenhoff (Interactive Media Foundation): “We are thrilled and honored to present our virtual reality experience MYRIAD to the world public for the first time and to be able to bring such an important topic – global animal migration – to a large audience.”
Writer and creative director Lena Thiele (Miiqo Studios): “In MYRIAD, we tell powerful stories of migrating animals in an emotionally moving way. During their global migrations, these animals are increasingly confronted with the consequences of human activities. Viewers follow three animals, an arctic fox, a northern bald ibis and a green sea turtle, through increasing challenges on their extraordinary migrations. MYRIAD approaches the subject in an artistic and poetic way, creating striking visual narratives which draw viewers in. Animal stories like these show how interconnected our world is, but they also point to the need to take global responsibility in our shared world by realigning our relationship to the natural environment. In a nutshell, this is our motivation and the basic idea behind our project MYRIAD.”
At the intersection of art, science and storytelling, MYRIAD explores the fascination and challenges of the animals’ global migrations in an ever-changing, globally-connected world increasingly under massive human influence. In a science-driven yet artistically sophisticated way, MYRIAD visualizes the impact of the Anthropocene, the age of humans, on our planet. Migrating animals depend on interactions with a wide variety of ecosystems during their global journeys. This is the only way they can cover great distances on their migrations and ensure their survival. Science is only just beginning to decipher these complex, interdependent systems. MYRIAD takes the audience on a global journey through our interconnected world.
In close collaboration with institutions from around the world, including the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, MYRIAD combines cutting-edge scientific data with innovative forms of immersive storytelling and sophisticated aesthetics. This takes place in the virtual reality experience, which will be presented at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, and also in the form of a 360° 3-D documentary, a primetime TV documentary, an immersive installation, labs and citizen science projects, as well as other media formats that are currently still in production.
Project partners of all formats of the overall project MYRIAD. Where we connect. The cross-media production MYRIAD is a project of the Interactive Media Foundation and Filmtank in co-creation with Miiqo Studios, Context Film and Artificial Rome. With the scientific support of Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (Natural History Museum Berlin) / Mediasphere for Nature, Waldrappteam, LIFE Northern Bald Ibis, Deutsches Meeresmuseum Stralsund (German Oceanographic Museum Stralsund), University of Exeter, Ascension Island Government, Zoo in der Wingst, Norwegian Polar Institute, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, zoosuisse, Schönbrunn Zoo. In alliance with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and in cooperation with ARD / SWR, RiffReporter and Occupied VR. The project is supported by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, MFG Baden-Württemberg, Canada Media Fund and Bell Fund.
More about MYRIAD. Where we connect. at www.myriad.earth
You can also access the press kit here for more information.
About Interactive Media Foundation gGmbH:
The creative studio is a non – profit organization based in Berlin. IMF combines comprehensive expertise in the fields of concept, storytelling, film, digital media and production, and experiments with contemporary formats and forms of expression to bring socially relevant issues in art, technology, health and ecology to the public.
About Filmtank:
The multiple award-winning production company based in Berlin, Hamburg and Stuttgart, originally comes from the documentary film field and now produces entire thematic universes. While the Hamburg and Stuttgart offices primarily produce feature films, the Berlin office focuses on the production of cross-media content. All Filmtank productions have one thing in common: they want to overcome boundaries, creatively implement significant topics and broaden horizons. www.filmtank.de
About Miiqo Studios:
Founded in Berlin in 2012, develops immersive formats at the intersection of art, science and storytelling. With more than 25 years of experience in digital media, we have faith in a holistic approach of combining meaningful stories with new technologies and a unique visual language to create profound emotional experiences.
About Artificial Rome:
A studio for digital design and visual communication with a focus on immersive, interactive experiences. Since its foundation in 2014, the studio has been developing new formats of interactive communication by combining cutting-edge digital technology, creative vision and a unique visual language.
