Once Upon a Sea
An XR documentary on the accelerating disappearance of the Dead Sea.
About
Once Upon a Sea is a poetic, interactive XR documentary that narrates the tragic tale of the Dead Sea – one of the world's soon-to-be-extinct natural wonders. Through physical exploration of the sea's forbidden, moonlike landscapes and intimate encounters with local characters, users get a rare glimpse into one of the world's most dangerous, soon-to-be-extinct wonders. Centuries of human intervention and political neglect have turned the Dead Sea into a precarious place.
Gallery
Video
Funders & co-producers
- Canada Media Fund (CMF)
- Jerusalem Film Fund
- Bell Fund
- Kan Israeli Public Broadcaster
- SODEC
- Mifaal Hapeis
- Israel Film Council
- Israel Innovation Authority
- Co-ProducerIntuitive Pictures
Awards & festival selections
- Best XR for Change Experience – Games for Change2021
- Lumiere Award, Best Documentary XR – Advanced Imaging Society2020
- Best VR Interactive – VRE Film Festival2020
- DocAviv Festival – Official Selection2023
- NewImages Festival – Official Selection2022
- SXSW – Official Selection2021
- Computer Animation Festival (SIGGRAPH) – Official Selection2021
- Numix Award – Official Selection2021
- Venice Film Festival / Venice Immersive – Official Selection2020
- Cannes XR, Marché du Film – Official Selection2020
- Raindance Film Festival – Official Selection2020
- IDFA Forum – Official Selection2015
Technology
- Photogrammetry
- Capturing real-world locations as high-resolution 3D meshes from photographs.
- Interactive Narrative
- Branching, user-driven story structures built for immersive engagement.
- WebXR
- Open-standard VR/AR delivered directly through the browser, no install required.
Team
Ina Fichman
Producer
Adi Lavy
Director
Nimrod Shanit
Producer, Technical Director
Heidi Miller
Writer
Medhat Hanbali
Original Music
Oury Atlan
Lead Creative Artist
