SIMA names Authentically Us film She Flies By Her Own Wings as a finalist in the 2019 competition.

Authentically Us: Voices from the Transgender Community earns Silver Prize in Virtual Reality from the Shorty Social Good Awards.

You know that empathy is essential for changework. So, what if you could experience what it’s like to battle a raging forest fire, testify before Congress about social justice, or break rocks in a slave labor camp in India? How would that change your view of the task at hand?

The third annual Shorty Social Good Awards, which put a spotlight on recent cause marketing campaigns, today announced the finalists for this year’s awards show, taking place Nov. 15 in New York City. Read full article >

Authentically Us Director Jesse (Jesus) Ayala joins Patricia Aufderheide, University Professor of Communications Studies, American University, Courtney Cogburn, Asst. Professor, Colombia University School of Social Work, John Martin, Director of Production, Conservation International, and Elise Pearlstein, SVP, Documentary Film and TV, Participant Media in conversation. Watch on Facebook Live here >

North Bend, WA is home to David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, and now it’s welcoming a promising new film festival too.  A new fest kid on the block makes its debut later this summer with The North Bend Film Festival, and in addition to finding a home in a cool little town (and the historic North Bend Theatre) and being organized by some ridiculously fantastic people their first wave of titles offers an eclectic blend of features, VR experiences, and more. Read More > 

Oculus Go gives immersive content new mobility and ease of use. Pride Foundation is testing the Oculus Go’s versatility this month at LGBTQ+ Pride parades and festivals across Montana, Oregon, Alaska, Washington, and Idaho. Read More > 

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA —The Authentically Us partners (Fovrth’s Director Jesse Ayala, Paula Cuneo of Oculus, and Pride Foundation’s Jeremiah Allen) led Augmented World Expo’s discussion on representation and diversity in the AR/VR/XR industry on the main stage and in the XR for Good track. Read more > 

MENLO PARK, CA. — LGBTQ+ Pride Month launched at Facebook HQ in Menlo Park with a showcase of Authentically Us: Voices from the Transgender Community. Oculus hosted a pride-filled event for the Pride@Facebook community and allies. The festivities featured Oculus Go screenings of the Authentically Us series to the Facebook, Oculus, and Instagram communities, with many participants seeing the films for the first time. Read More >

Kris Hermanns (CEO, Pride Foundation) sits down with Julie Young (CEO, SH//FT), Martina Welkhoff (Founding Partner, WXR), Clorama Dorvillas (CEO, Debias VR) and Christopher Lafayette (Founder, The Armada). Watch now on YouTube Live Stream > 

Better Known Truths - Considering Creative Practice (11:10)
Speakers: Charlotte Mikkelborg, Jesse (Jesus) Ayala, Gabriela Arp  Moderator: Gaylene Gould
Stories of the present day that you need to see. Meet three exceptional makers whose work is featured in Better Known Truths, Alternate Realities’ 360º documentary showcase. A three part session containing enlightening presentations and a group discussion with the artists about the importance of portrayal and representation to their work. Read More > 

Pride Foundation aims to expand opportunities and advance full equality for LGBTQ people across the U.S. Northwest. A year ago, Oculus welcomed Pride Foundation and filmmaker Jesse Ayala to the VR For Good Creators Lab program, and the ensuing series called “Authentically Us” provides an introduction to three people in the transgender community.

Join Paula Cuneo (Partner & Strategic Marketing Director, Oculus), Jesse Ayala (Director, Fovrth Studios) and Jeremiah Allen (Project Director, Pride Foundation) 

In this session, Pride Foundation filmmakers will explore the impact of their work using 360-video, and share insights for creators and story-tellers who want to partner with nonprofits and social entrepreneurs to address social issues. Read More > 

Director Jesse Ayala joins Lauren Burmaster (Oculus VR for Good) and Asad J. Malik (1RIC) in a conversation with fellow creators who are all using immersive XR technologies to tell stories for social impact. Read more >

AFI DOCS has announced its full slate of films for 2018 — with AT&T returning as Presenting Sponsor of the American Film Institute’s five-day documentary film festival in the nation’s capital. The 16th edition will showcase 92 films representing 22 countries — including five world premieres, one international premiere, one North American premiere, eight U.S. premieres and four East Coast premieres.  This includes films in the VR showcase, which invites audiences to participate in immersive virtual reality experiences that represent the cutting edge of documentary storytelling.  AFI DOCS 2018 runs June 13–17 in Washington, DC, and Silver Spring, MD. Read More > 

#NFF18 Enter the Story: Virtual Reality Experiences program announced. In 2016, we unveiled our first ever virtual reality demonstrations and experiences. This is a new frontier in storytelling, and we are proud to showcase select VR titles that aim to dazzle attendees throughout the festival in our Legacy Lounge. Read More >

We invite you to experience 360º documentary collaboratively in our Better Known Truths section of the Alternate Realities exhibition. Coalesce and immerse yourself in stories of love, loss and hope. Engage with stories of our present day that are essential, urgent, enlightening and often heartbreaking. Featured projects in this section include Authentically Us: We're Still Here , This Is Climate Change: Feast & Famine and Yemen's Skies of Terror. Visit the Better Known Truths. Read More > 

Authentically Us films "We're Still Here" and "She Flies by Her Own Wings" to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 13, 2018. The films join several other leading films in the VR space ranging from graphic novels, cinematic VR and interactive storytelling. The films are presented as part of VRROOM's presentation and in the NEXT Library. Read More > 

In one of the most haunting scenes from “She Flies by Her Own Wings,” Shannon Scott walks alone through a graveyard. As she explains in voiceover, the site is home to the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C., where she visits the burial places of gay soldiers who have been laid to rest. One headstone, outfitted with two pink triangles pointing different directions, proclaims: “A proud, gay Vietnam veteran.” Read More >

Join VRRoom hosts leaders in the VR storytelling at Cannes to discuss "Producing stories in virtual reality from concept and production, to marketing and distribution.

- Pasha Shapiro, Co-Director, Masters Of The Sun (Sundance 2018) - USA
- Ernst Weber, Co-Director, Masters Of The Sun (Sundance 2018) - USA
- Martin Taylor, StartVR, Director (creator of "Awake" series / SXSW 2018 ) - Australia
- Jesse Ayala, Director & Producer at Fovrth Studios ("She Flies By Her Own Wings" (Tribeca 2018), "We're Still Here" (SXSW 2018) - USA
- Gilles Freissinier, Digital Director at arte France

GLAAD’s Ross Murray catches up with director Jesse Ayala Jr., subject Shannon Scott, and producer Jeremiah Allen to discuss "Authentically Us,” a 3-part virtual reality project done in conjunction with OculusVR for Good and Pride Foundation that showcases the diversity within the transgender community and uses interactive technological tools to build empathy and advance equality. Part 2 of the project, "She Flies By Her Own Wings,” makes its world premiere at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. Watch Now >

Virtual Reality is creating new and unique opportunities for teachers, creators, advocates and audiences to connect in meaningful ways. Leaders in the field will show how VR is forging new means to immerse its viewers in issues in order to inspire, educate and effect change. Panelists include the creator of SPHERES: Pale Blue Dot, Eliza McNitt, the co-creator of 1000 Cut Journey, Courtney Cogburn, Executive Producer of Oculus VR for Good, Amy Seidenwurm, and the executive producer of This is Climate Change and senior VP of and TV and Film at Participant Media, Elise Pearlstein. Tuesday, 4/24 @2:00 PM - Tribeca Festival Hub. Read More 

Driven by the military tenet of “Leave No One Behind,” Shannon Scott, a proud transgender veteran pulls the levers of democracy urging freedom and justice for all be secured from the marbled halls of Washington D.C. to the hallowed ground of those who championed equality before her. Watch Now >

Behind-the-scenes with the star of Fovrth’s new VR documentary, We’re Still Here.  Aiden, an artist and historian of Cherokee, Choctaw, and Scottish descent, sees the value of sharing his culture with the world; yet, as a Native American Two Spirit, he appreciates the importance and responsibility of carefully representing his heritage to a non-native audience. Read more > 

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Last week, Oculus VR for Good, Pride Foundation, and Fovrth Studios premiered We’re Still Here at the 2018 South by Southwest Film Festival. We’re Still Here is the first film in Fovrth’s new VR documentary series, Authentically Us, which bring viewers into the lives of transgender and gender diverse Americans, who, through living authentically, are enriching our communities across the United States. Read More > 

Dick's Drive in Restaurant talks with Oculus VR for Good team about their premieres at SXSW film fest.  Watch Now > 

SXSW Film Review: Oculus VR for Good Creators Lab. Cultivating empathy through immersive film shorts. "Jesse Ayala’s "We’re Still Here" paints a compelling portrait of Two-Spirit artist and educator Aiden Crawford. The film is stunningly cinematic in its approach to following Crawford from his bedroom adorned with regalia and art to a classroom where he teaches those about the Two-Spirit identity and community." Read more > 

Oculus Celebrates Socially Conscious Virtual Reality Films at SXSW. Virtual reality: great for intense gaming experiences and apparently, immersive and socially important films. At least that’s what Oculus is trying to create with its VR for Good’s Creators Lab program. Read More >

The 2018 Tribeca Film Festival will take place in New York City next month, April 18-29. The festival's lineup was announced earlier this week, and includes several LGBTQ-inclusive films that will be either premiering or screening during the 12-day festival. The year also marks a record for the festival, 46% of the 96 movies in the feature film program are directed by women, an all-time high for the festival. The lineup also includes 46 first time directors. Read more >

SXSW Preview: Films to Watch. Here's a look at some of the features and documentaries premiering at the festival. Virtual Reality; Subjects tackled by this year’s slate of immersive virtual-reality films include the Philharmonia Orchestra, melting glaciers in Greenland, and a couple abducted by a UFO. Jesse Ayala Aiden’s “We’re Still Here,” premiering on March 13 at 11 a.m., turns the lens on gender identity and sexuality in relation to Native American tribal roles. Read More > 

A new virtual-reality take on “War Games” and interactive and immersive projects that feature Rosario Dawson, Lupita Nyong’o, Alicia Vikander and the band OK Go are among the projects on tap for the Tribeca Film Festival’s 2018 lineup of immersive, interactive and virtual reality titles. Read More >