X-Ray Fashion to Premiere in Competition at the Venice Film Festival

World Bank Group’s #connect4climate, #vulcanproductions and #alcantara sign on to support young creatives by producing the winning concept of Uniting4Climate Virtual Reality Pitch Competition to shine a light on the impact of #fashion on climate and human rights.

Washington, D.C. — August 21, 2018 — #connect4climate, the World Bank Group’s global climate communications and partnership program, is proud to present #xrayfashion which will screen in competition at the 2018 Venice Film Festival in the Virtual Reality section. #xrayfashion exposes the dark story of the world’s second largest polluter: the #fashion industry. It is co-produced by Paul G. Allen’s #vulcanproductions with the support of #alcantara, a certified “Carbon Neutral” company.

Directed by Italian-born director and #fashion photographer #francescocarrozzini (Franca: Chaos and Creation), #xrayfashion is a cinematic VR experience built around a 49-square meter physical installation that guides the viewer through the different stages of garment production from cotton farm to sweatshop, and from catwalk to consumer purchase to the afterlife of the garment. The seven scenes of the film consist of 360-degree live-action footage that imparts a stunning, photo-realistic atmosphere. The transitions between the scenes consist of a CGI environment that allows the viewer to walk between the different scenes. This cinematic experience is a pioneering VR piece that tests the implementation of physical and sensory effects through settings that incorporate heat, wind, scent and shifting terrain. By adding multidimensional sensorial effects, the filmmakers seek to draw the participant into an immersive physical experience that enriches storytelling in a new way.

Carrozzini states, “I have worked in the #fashion industry for many years, but regretfully I ignored the consequences our business has on the environment and #people around the world. When the World Bank Group’s #connect4climate program and #vulcanproductions proposed that I direct the film, which was so beautifully conceived by MANND, I felt compelled to be part of it, as a way to learn even more about the impacts that I had neglected for so many years. I was immediately attracted to this project because it held the potential for experimentation with strong political messages and virtual reality. This has been one of the most eye-opening experiences of my professional life, and I hope the film will educate the world about some of the harsh realities of the #fashion industry.”

Further information in the press release to download