Immersion into nature like never before
Based in South Africa, Habitat XR is an impact-led production studio focused on immersing people in nature and her stories using extended reality (XR) technologies. We’re fuelled by our planet’s loss of biodiversity and the incredible power that technologies like virtual reality have to engender empathy. Digital immersion in nature has been scientifically proven to bridge the cognitive disconnection that limits how much people care about environmental issues like climate change.
Habitat XR's legacy of immersive storytelling started in 2014 when our founder, Ulrico Grech-Cumbo, developed a stereoscopic 360-degree camera for commercial (non-wildlife) work. To test it, he would bring each new version on vacation with him (which was invariably in the African bush) and captured wildlife footage to bring back to the team to test. In 2016, Habitat XR was initially formed as an experimental department within the commercial parent company. The team begun a slate of self-funded wildlife experiences beginning with the great wildebeest migration in Kenya.
Since then, Habitat XR has become a globally-operating stand-alone studio, produced projects in 9 countries and counting, won multiple awards and accolades including the prestigious title of Fast Company Magazine's "Most Innovative Company" in 2019, and had work shown at festivals like Tribeca, Cannes, Jackson Wild, EarthxFilm, SXSW and more.
Today, Habitat XR has 3 core activities:
We work with select conservation non-profits to create immersive experiences on a commission basis. Typically, these are used for fundraising and have proven incredibly successful with partners like WWF and Conservation International.
Habitat XR continues to self-fund the development of immersive wildlife experiences with a conservation focus. Given a blank slate for each one, these are the stories that mean the most to us. These experiences are screened at pop-up VR cinema events throughout Africa and licensed around the world.
Aptly-titled "Noah's Arkive", we have established the world's biggest stock library of real-world cinematic natural environments and animals. With a species counting currently exceeding 50, the library boasts 4K, 6K, 8K and 11K resolutions in monoscopic and stereoscopic 360 video. Natural environments range from the jungles of Rwanda to the peaks of the Himalayas. This content is licensed to other creators enabling them to save production costs by not having to capture the same, tough-to-film footage - particularly in a pandemic.
Visionaries working with us to create impact for nature
A Finalist at the Jackson Wild!
Habitat XR & Riverbank Studios produced a series of 3 VR films in the northern Ladakh province of India for the UNDP. Into the Himalayas explores the unique biodiversity and the human-wildlife conflict threatening it.
Habitat XR led cinematography on the Mountains leg of the project (capturing the first ever wild snow leopards in VR!) and oversaw all post-production. Thrilled that Mountains has been shortlisted for Best 360 at Jackson Wild 2020!
Habitat XR's Origin Story Releases on Showmax!
Made in the Mara, the inside-look documentary produced by OnePass Productions, has been released on international VOD platform, Showmax.
The documentary, following the making of Exodus: The Great Migration as Habitat XR's first ever self-funded original, is essentially the founding story of the company.
Habitat XR Works with Ellen!
Habitat XR has just completed an incredible job filming wild mountain gorillas in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park for Ellen DeGeneres' wildlife foundation, The Ellen Fund.
The experience was used in Hollywood at a star-studded fundraiser in October 2019 to help raise an extraordinary $5m for gorilla conservation!
Habitat XR announces 2019 original, "A Predicament of Pangolins"
We are excited to announce that we are in post-production on our brand new original film, focusing on one of the most iconic species of mammal in Africa: the Temminck's ground pangolin. This experience will see two wild pangolins narrating a tale of trial and tribulation as they seek food in the kalahari deserts.
Ultimately, this is a story not of pangolins, but of climate change.
Habitat XR wins coveted "Most Innovative Company" Accolade!
We are thrilled to announce that we have been chosen as one of Fast Company Magazine's "Most Innovative Companies" for 2019. This award has been bestowed upon us for "reconnecting people with mother nature". Catch the April 2019 edition to read more!
My Africa makes Tribeca’s official selection!
A project we were heavily involved with for Conservation International, titled “My Africa”, and narrated by Academy Award-winning Lupita Nyong’o, will officially debut at Tribeca Film Festival 2018.
The VR experience, filmed in Africa by our homegrown team, explores man’s interwoven relationship with wildlife.
Let's create impact together
47 6th Street, Parkhurst, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Tel: +27 10 900 2149
Email: info@habitatxr.com
