Agog

We did it. Cameron Kostopoulos's In the Current of Being won the Agog Impact Award at SXSW as part of the XR Competition. Congratulations to visionary?Cameron Kostopoulos, who worked fearlessly and passionately behind this creation. If we want to make any change, we must be bold. Cameron's speech: "Two days ago, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case that could make conversion therapy legal across the country again. That’s the reality we’re living in.?With immersive art, we have the power to take something people might read about and allow them to feel it. To step inside someone else’s reality and experience their story in a real and physical way. With this project, we wanted to share the story of a woman who survived something unimaginable - something that should never happen to her, or anyone else, in any form, ever again. Thank you Carolyn for trusting me with your story to share. To my incredible team here with me, Nina, Taylor, Matt, Mark, Ty, for being here with me - to my producers, Katayoun, Avi, Amy, Chip - to the Rockefeller Family Fund, to CNC, Villa Albertine, Onassis ONX - to the amazing artists who contributed to this project - and to everyone who has fought , and continues to fight, against the harms of conversion therapy. Thank you.'' Our special thanks to our partners Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC), Rockefeller Family Fund, Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education and Onassis ONX. Avi AmarOlivier Fontenay, Pauline Augrain, Camille Jeanjean ?? GDC, Bettina Gardelles, Vincent Florant, Amy Seidenwurm, Chip Giller and many more Photos credits @laurenlindleyphoto.

It's a true honor to announce Cameron Kostopoulos’ “In the Current of Being” as the inaugural winner of the Agog Immersive Impact Award at SXSW 2025! ?? This award, created in partnership with SXSW, honors visionary XR creators using immersive storytelling to drive real-world impact. Kostopoulos’ work shares the harrowing true story of Carolyn Mercer, a survivor of electroshock conversion therapy. Through wearable haptic technology, audiences physically experience her heartbeat, breath, and trauma—a journey of resilience that deeply moved this year’s jury. At Agog, we believe in the power of XR to connect, challenge, and inspire action—and “In the Current of Being” is a shining example of what’s possible when immersive media meets social change. Congratulations to all the incredible projects considered this year, from Navajo nuclear histories to Ukraine war stories and ecological wonders. The future of immersive storytelling is bold, necessary, and just getting started. ?? Read the full announcement: https://lnkd.in/gA6s_WYK ?? Learn more about Agog: https://agog.org/ #SXSW #XRforGood #ImmersiveStorytelling #AgogImpactAward #XRforChange

?? Lights. Camera. Jasmin! ?? Agog welcomes Jasmin A. as our new Programs Manager! Jasmin has spent her career lighting up the intersection of technology and social impact. She led Unity for Humanity, championing XR creators pushing immersive storytelling for positive change. She’s also worked with Black Terminus AR to make XR more accessible and consulted on projects advancing sustainability in cybersecurity. Now, she’s bringing that energy to Agog—fueling groundbreaking XR projects and expanding our community of impact-driven creators. #AgogForGood #XRforChange #StorytellingWithImpact #NewHire

? Attention, artists! ? PHI is launching its residency program for a fifth consecutive year: PHI Montreal, PHI North, and PHI Immersive, as well as the I?n?visible Voices program. Once again, the PHI team aims to celebrate and support local, national, and North American talent with its residency program. PHI Residencies support artists from various backgrounds and disciplines in honing their craft. Calls for artists and projects are now open! ???? https://lnkd.in/gaTQMvHJ

?? We got ourselves a real smooth operator. ?? Meet Jamie Plakos, Agog’s new(ish) Operations Manager! With over a decade of experience in operations and organizational development, Jamie knows how to keep things running like a well-oiled XR machine. Before joining Agog, she served as Director of Operations at Open Signal, where she built policies that promoted inclusion, innovation, and community-driven media. She was also selected for the Alliance for Community Media Emerging Leaders Institute, sharpening her expertise in equitable program development. At Agog, Jamie will ensure our growing ecosystem has the structure, strategy, and support it needs to thrive. We’re lucky to have her! Drop a ?? in the comments to welcome Jamie! #AgogCommunity #XRforGood #SmoothOperator #OperationsWizard

Agog advisor Nonny de la Pe?a, PhD, a trailblazer in immersive storytelling, is leading an extraordinary project with Niantic Labs. Using Scaniverse, this initiative empowers Angelenos to digitally capture and preserve their neighborhoods, landmarks, and cultural spaces in stunning detail. As wildfires, gentrification, and climate change continue to reshape cities, projects like this remind us that XR isn’t just about virtual worlds—it’s about safeguarding the real one. Read more about how Scaniverse is helping rebuild LA, one scan at a time: https://lnkd.in/gGBHcUhY #XRforGood #SpatialComputing #ImmersiveStorytelling #RebuildingLA #AgogCommunity

Don't miss this event on Tuesday, February 25! Get an exclusive first look at the "When Brooklyn Was Queer" VR experience, featuring the premiere of their teaser and a conversation with the visionary team behind the project. Hosted by New Canvas and moderated by Kent Bye, this interactive panel at Agog House in VRChat will dive into the artistic and technical innovations that went into this immersive experience—and why these stories are more urgent than ever. ????? ?????

STARTING SOON! ?? Watch the live stream at 1pm PT: https://lnkd.in/gpx5FvkX

?? Join Agog for a live session with Electric South co-director Ingrid Kopp ?? Ingrid is helping shape the growing XR ecosystem in Africa.?With Electric South and its New Dimensions Lab, she is developing a community of immersive artists and providing the support needed to take projects from concept to execution to world-renowned film festivals.? We can't wait to hear more about what it takes to incubate and drive a thriving, inclusive ecosystem. ?? Date: Thursday, February 20 ?? Time: 1-2 PM Pacific Time ?? Location: Agog House in VRChat and streamed to YouTube ??? RSVP today: https://lnkd.in/gk42aU3P

A free, two-day event featuring three award-winning immersive media works from notable French creators? Très chouette! ???? Check out FRENCH IMMERSION, Feb 13-14, hosted by the Narrative and Emerging Media Program (NEM) at Arizona State University's (ASU) Los Angeles Campus with support from Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education. ?? https://lnkd.in/gnNP5Ndk