Sharkwater VR, an interactive virtual reality look at the underwater world of sharks produced using footage from late filmmaker Rob Stewart, will be a headliner EarthxInteractive 2019, the world’s largest eco-interactive program, which will be held during EarthX, from April 26-28, 2019 at Fair Park in Dallas.
Stewart’s final film, Sharkwater Extinction, was released in the U.S. earlier this year.
This year’s theme, “Water for All,” will showcase ways to sustain clean water for all and protect the world’s oceans, rivers and lakes. Attendees will have the opportunity to go on wild, immersive journeys like swimming with sharks, rescuing baby elephants, exploring some of the world’s greatest reefs and free diving into the heart of the sea and beyond.
“Interactive experiences such as VR and AR harness a transformative power to permeate the minds of viewers through an unprecedented level of intimacy and immediacy with the content,” EarthxFilm President Michael Cain said. “Viewers are able to educate themselves in a way that truly allows them to put themselves in these environments and often times sparks the drive to affect change.”
The interactive sub-division of the film festival will present over 40 virtual, augmented and mixed reality experiences that employ immersive technology to raise awareness for global environmental issues. Other interactive films will include:
- Explore the waters of Tonga in the world premiere of UnderWater Earth’s 360-degree film “Guardians of the Kingdom” (World Premiere)
- Become immersed in the true story of slavery in the Thai fishing industry in “Ghost Fleet VR”
- Climb the 3,200-foot face of Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan without a rope in NatGeo’s “Free Solo 360,” accompanying the Oscar-winning feature
- Explore underwater wonders in Fiji and the Bahamas with Jean-Michel, Celine and Fabine Cousteau in “Wonders of the Sea” augmented reality
- Bring corals to life and pick up ocean plastics in Virtual Wild’s “Ocean Life Motion Tracking Wall” (World Premiere)
- Visualize the energy transferred via water to plants during a storm in PX Lab’s “Bloom” (World Premiere)
- Become immersed in the experiences of women fighting to preserve their lands from rising sea levels in Hawaii, the Philippines and China in Jess X. Snow’s “After Earth”
EarthX began as Earth Day Dallas, an outdoor event spanning five blocks in Dallas’ Arts District which later grew into Earth Day Texas and now EarthX. Last year, the event brought in over 137,000 attendees, 400 speakers and 650 exhibitors. This year, with continued growth and success, the event is set to bring in 500 speakers and 850 exhibitors.
View EarthxInteractive 2019 full program:
https://earthx.org/expo/main-attractions/earthxinteractive/