2017 Women in VR Showcase Program

360-Virtual Reality (VR) Films Lineup

2017 Showcase Program

Evening from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Notes To My Father

Tells a trafficking story, in a way we have never seen before. Not only does this VR film allow you to immerse yourself in a trafficking story for the first time, but it is also the first time a story brings to focus the father’s role.
SF PREMIERE. Directed by Jayisha Patel. Runtime: 11 min.

Learn about the Director

Jayisha Patel – Jayisha Patel is a multi-award winning documentary maker based in London. Her short films have shown at festivals such as Berlin, Cannes, AFI Silverdocs and the New York Film Festival. She is a graduate of Economics from the University Of Nottingham and of Documentary Direction from the International Film School of Cuba, (EICTV)

Testimony

Crossing the Testimony is an interactive documentary for virtual reality that shares the stories of five survivors of sexual assault and their journey to healing. Beyond just a film, Testimony is an advocacy platform to allow the public to bear witness to those who have been silenced. The Brock Turner case, Bill Cosby’s sexual assaults and Bill O’Reilly’s harassment of women are three recent examples that have helped create the perfect storm of public outcry over sexual assault and issues around consent. Despite persistent victim-shaming and the discounting of their experiences, survivors are increasingly coming forward, empowering one another to become agents of change and hope. Testimony is an interactive investigation that aims to tackle the obstacles women and men still need to overcome in order to report an assault and confront the legal system. The goal of Testimony is to inspire those who have been silenced to speak out while building courage amongst survivors. Witness these powerful testimonies and help us shatter the silence.
CA PREMIERE. Directed by Zohar Kfir. Runtime: 10 min.

Learn about the Producer

Zohar Kfir – is a New York-based media artist working with experimental video, interactive art and VR. Her artistic practice employs non-linear narratives and traditional cinematic techniques and features expanded interactivity. Kfir has shown her work internationally in galleries, festivals and conferences and has been reviewed in major publications.

Borderline: Crossing the Border, Reaching the Dream

This student film is a narrative piece and focus a student filling the gap of her mother who had been deported. In this exclusive behind-the-scenes look, the audience observes an animated discussion of immigration and how the main protagonist’s story empowered her to use her personal experience to help others.
Co-directors: Kimberly Ortega and Marybie Arias. Runtime: 10 min.

Learn about the directors

Kimberly Ortega – Kimberly has a future ambition to become a therapist for kids in juvenile hall because she wants to help those who may be overlooked. After her mother was deported, she assumed this role in her household while her father worked hard to cover the family’s expenses. Currently, she is s student at Canada College with an intended major of Pyschology and minor in Film and Video.

Marybie Arias – Marybie’s parents placed a large focus and education and her experience in the US meant greater opportunities in the classroom. Through her educational journey she has learned to take risks, voice her opinions, and be committed to her family roots. Marybie currently attends Foothill College and is majoring in Computer Science.

Is This Love? (Kya Yahi Pyar Hai)

**India’s first VR experience about intimate partner violence (IPV) for Love Matters India, which was exhibited at 10 Delhi metro stations in June 2017.
**This film follows a seemingly normal relationship in modern day India, addressing domestic violence through it’s first POV narrative. India’s first VR experience about intimate partner violence (IPV) for Love Matters India, which was exhibited at 10 Delhi metro stations in June 2017 immigration and how telling her story empowered her to use her personal experience to help others
CA PREMIERE Directed by Gayatri Parameswaran. Runtime: 7 min.

Learn about the director

Gayatri Parameswaran – She is a VR/360° creator, documentary maker and journalist from India currently based in Berlin, Germany. Her areas of focus are human rights and the environment. She has documented under-reported issues in over 25 countries – including witch hunting in India, political satire in Myanmar, struggles of the transgender community in Nicaragua, resurgence of Kurdish culture and politics in Syria and slavery in Iraq. Her work has appeared in international media outlets such as Al Jazeera English, Radio Netherlands Worldwide, Weekendavisen and The Caravan and more. She wasthe Editor and Global video strategist at lovematters.in/en – a digital platform that gives non-judgmental information about sexuality and sexual health to youth in India. She is a part of Oculus VR for Good’s Creator’s Lab 2017.

UTURN

What happens when a young female coder joins a male-dominated floundering startup that’s deep in an identity crisis? With a comedic twist, UTURN is an immersive live-action VR series where you get to experience both sides of the gender divide. We aim to raise engagement towards gender diversity through this inclusive experience.
Directed by Nathalie Mathe and Ryan Lynch. Runtime: 10 min.

Learn about the director

Nathalie Mathe – Nathalie is an experienced VR creative and an award-winning animation and documentary shorts director. She contributed to over 35 cinematic Virtual Reality projects over the past four years, including Zero Point for Condition One (Sundance New Frontier 2015), Paul McCartney in concertThe North Face Climbers, and The North Face Nepal for Jaunt. For twelve years, she was one of the few women creating visuals effects on feature films like Fast & Furious 6Skyfall and Dark Knight Rises. Nathalie now runs NativeVR, a VR studio in which she co-created and produced UTURN.

Ryan Lynch – Ryan is an award-winning screenwriter and director. Her latest comedy web series, called SanFranLand, won Best Screenwriting at Miami Web Fest, Best Comedy Series at the Rome Web Awards, and Best Directing at LA Web Fest. Ryan worked in Story and Development departments for over ten years at Pixar on films such as Brave and Ratatouille. She is a member of Film Fatales SF and holds an M.F.A in Film Directing.

Wonder Buffalo: The VR Experience

Ann, 16, a Thai-American teen coping with body dysmorphia and an overbearing mother, struggles to own her place in the world. The Wonder Buffalo VR experience begins in a colorful bedroom captured in photogrammetry. Ann’s eclectic and bright bedroom mirrors her internal clash between Thai and American cultures. By exploring Ann’s eccentricity and unlocking her six strength objects you transform Ann’s room into a cosmic comic book kaleidoscope and ultimately unleash Ann as her own superhero character, Wonder Buffalo.
SF Premier. Directed by Christine T. Berg. Runtime: minimum 4 min

Learn about the director

Christine T. Berg – Christine was born in Thailand, raised an army brat, and served eight years as a Russian linguist and Blackhawk helicopter crewmember in the American Army. She holds an MFA in Film and Television Production from USC. Her current film “Wonder Buffalo” was developed by Christine and her partner Simon Shterenberg at the Writers Guild Foundation’s Veterans Writing Program and granted the 2016 Innovative Technology Award from the Entertainment Technology Center at USC which gave them an opportunity to make a short movie and an additional VR project. Wonder Buffalo: The VR Experience was a finalist in the Television Academy’s new juried Emmy category for 2017 – Innovation In Interactive Programming for an Emmy. Netflix acquired the dramatic feature BURNING SANDS co-written by Christine, which premiered at Sundance 2017.