Winner Announced at the “Laudato Si’ Challenge” Celebrations, Ushering A New Era Of Business For Sustainable Impact
ROME, ITALY, December 5, 2017 — Described as an X-ray investigation of the fashion industry, the creators of X-Ray Fashion plan to take the audience on a journey through the lifespan of garment production, consumption and disposal — an experience that will immerse the spectator in the often adverse effects on our climate and our environment, and the devastating consequences for many of the workers involved, while at the same time showing how consumer habits can be changed and how solutions are at hand if actions are taken.
The Uniting for Climate Virtual Reality Pitch Competition winning team is based in Aarhus, Denmark and consists of Ecuadorian born Maria Harholdt-Engermann, Sule Serubugo, originally from Uganda, Danisa Skantarova from the Slovak Republic, in addition to Danish native Signe Ungermand. All of them are in their early 20’s and have banded together to form MANND, a start-up media and design company focusing on virtual reality.
Implemented under the umbrella of the World Bank Group’s Connect4Climate program and its Film4Climate initiative, the Uniting for Climate Virtual Reality Pitch Competition was designed to challenge people’s creativity by asking them to come up with concepts that will use Virtual Reality to give new insights into climate action, explore much needed climate solutions and help people experience the reality of a global issue that is more urgent now than ever. Connect4Climate focuses its advocacy work around several hubs to energize the creative industries and the global community into finding new ways to raise awareness of climate issues and encourage necessary changes in social behavior.
“A well told story can change the world, which is why we are excited to work with Virtual Reality to highlight the shifting trends towards sustainable fashion and how changes in the industry can help protect the environment, benefit the poor and addresse climate change” says Jill Wilkins, Director of the World Bank Group’s Global Engagement and Partnerships Department.
166 submissions were received from more than 50 countries in a three month worldwide search for creative talent. Many fascinating ideas were proposed from a vast spectrum of diverse backgrounds, and it was up to the esteemed 11-person jury to decide which one will best use this highly creative medium to shed new light on how we can all unite to find practical climate solutions that can tackle climate change.
X-Ray Fashion emerged as a clear winner for the jury and receives as their prize the chance to put the idea into VR production thanks to philanthropist Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Productions as Executive Producer partner of the competition.
“We are enthusiastic to once again partner with the Connect4Climate team to spark creators to deliver innovative climate solutions” says Carole Tomko, General Manager of Vulcan Productions. “X-Ray Fashion demonstrated not only a unique approach but strong calls to action showing consumers solutions. Leveraging the latest VR, 360 and technology for X Ray Fashion will create immersive and transformative storytelling experience for audiences.”
The announcement was made at the culminating celebrations for the Laudato Si’ Challenge, an initiative inspired by Pope Francis’ Encyclical “Laudato Si.” Connect4Climate is a partner in the Challenge to young entrepreneurs and social impact companies to focus on ‘Care for our Common Home’ and tackling the issues of climate change and involuntary migration by proposing energy, food, water and conservation solutions in particular.
On December 4th, hundreds of innovators and titans of social enterprise came together in Rome under the banner of the The Laudato Si’ Challenge for a summit titled, “Celebrating the Social Economy”. Advised by His Eminence Cardinal Turkson and presented under the patronage of the Dicastery for Promotion of Integral Human Development, the two-part program showcased the latest cutting-edge innovations that are sustainably addressing climate change and will culminate with an awards program celebrating a new era of business.
In parallel, the World Bank Group will then be taking the call for large scale investment in climate solutions to the One Planet Summit co-convened by the President of France, the United Nations Secretary General, the President of the World Bank Group in Paris on December 12th, outlining in detail the immediate needs in a series of ‘Agora’s’ or market-places to encourage massive investment by both nations and the private sector.
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ABOUT VULCAN PRODUCTIONS
Vulcan Productions is dedicated to the power of storytelling, producing content and large-scale campaigns that entertain, inspire and change the way people understand the world’s toughest challenges. Vulcan Productions’ films, television series and digital content spark ideas and turn action into measurable impact. Founded by Paul G. Allen and Jody Allen, the company creates content across all platforms, and spotlights Mr. Allen’s work in biodiversity, science, climate, oceans, education, technology, current social issues, history and the arts. Award-winning projects include Sundance Special Jury Award-winner STEP, The Ivory Game, Unseen Enemy,Racing Extinction, Naledi: A Baby Elephant's Tale, Academy Award®-nominated Body Team 12,Mind of a Giant, We the Economy, We the Voters, Ocean Warriors, #ISurvivedEbola, Girl Risingand The Blues. Upcoming projects include Ghost Fleet. For information on Vulcan Productions and our leadership in generating change through impact storytelling, visitvulcanproductions.com.
ABOUT CONNECT4CLIMATE
Connect4Climate, also known as the Communication for Climate Change Multi Donor Trust Fund, is the World Bank Group’s global partnership program dedicated to climate change communication. It is supported by the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, along with more than 400 partners including civil society, media networks, international organizations, academic institutions, youth groups and the private sector. Film4Climate is the official Connect4Climate initiative dedicated to greening the silver screen, with more than 160 partners from the global film industry. For more information, and to download the Connect4Climate overview report, please visit: connect4climate.org.
