FFV swipes two Awards at the WXO Experience Awards!

Dear Friends and Followers,

Last week marked an exhilarating achievement for us at the World Experience Summit in NYC. Out of 165 outstanding entries and 26 finalists, our team was overjoyed to receive not just one, but two prestigious awards at the first WXO Experience Awards!

The awards are curated by a panel of renowned international expert judges and voted ?by WXO - World Experience Organization members. There were five categories: Art, Science, Business, Tech, and Impact of Experience…

The Ring Cycle wins in Category ‘Technology’

With that exciting news, we’re over the moon to announce that?The Ring Cycle has won in the Tech category at the WXO?Experience Awards!

This project is one we're incredibly proud of - a revolutionary 15-hour production of Richard Wagner's epic 'Ring des Nibelungen', renowned as the Olympics of opera. This masterpiece produced by Opera Australia features stunning digital set design by flora&faunavisions, pushing the boundaries of operatic storytelling in the digital age as the first-ever digital Ring Cycle. The digital set, a testament to our passion for transformative experiences, features giant 10-meter LED screens choreographed to move seamlessly across the stage. Fifteen rear-edge panels and eight additional side panels (14 tonnes of 834 individual LED panels), capable of spatial movement, enhance the immersive experience. We invested years developing the digital set, integrating motion tracking for actor interaction with synchronized animations. Costumes incorporate signaling devices, and motion sensors record actors’ movements, creating a harmonious blend of music, singing, visuals, and lighting.

The Ring Cycle represents a monumental leap forward in the marriage of art and technology, creating a transcendent opera experience that pays homage to the classical roots of Wagner's masterpiece while embracing the possibilities of the digital age. We are incredibly grateful that our efforts have been recognized with this prestigious award.

Utopian Garden wins in category ‘Science’

Our immersive IP, Utopian Garden, won in the Science category at the WXO Experience Awards - we're so honored and grateful to everyone who voted for us and to not only win in one but two categories. This achievement means so much to us.

Our IP Utopian Garden is a visionary project about the beauty we find in each other and the world around us: it is a thrilling, optimistic adventure that encourages participants to look deeper at themselves and at the exquisite detail of the natural world by exploring the connections between science, nature and art. The exhibit is a joyful, colourful journey through a magnificently imagined immersive digital landscape where participants will bring their dreams to life by delving into the concepts around Utopia and playing through three gamified chapters. The 45-minute story-based fully-immersive interactive experience is driven by co-creation: participants will co-create in an interactive adventure within an enormous digital projection. Following a guided, 3-part storyline, visitors actively build their journey through the Utopian Garden, interacting with dynamic projections in beautiful visual scenes focused on the three chapters of art, science and nature. A fully original, dynamic sound design paired with breathtaking digital art ensures that visitors are fully immersed in the incredible Utopian Garden adventure.

Utopian Garden is available for licensing and set to tour the world.

Panel ‘New Media, New Ways Of Telling Stories’

During the summit, Founder and Creative Director of FFV, Leigh Sachwitz represented our team in a compelling panel discussion titled ‘New Media, New Ways Of Telling Stories’. Alongside industry luminaries Alex Luthwaite (SVP Show Systems; Madison Square Garden Entertainment, Sphere Studios) and Mark Miller (Executive Creative Director; ILM) and hosted by Louis Alfieri (Chief Creative Officer; Raven Sun Creative), Leigh shared insights and perspectives on pushing the boundaries of storytelling in the digital age.

The atmosphere was electric with anticipation and celebration and provided a platform not only to showcase our work but also to connect with fellow visionaries and leaders shaping the future of experiences worldwide.

We are inspired and grateful for the recognition and are excited about what lies ahead in our journey of innovation and creativity.

Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all the collaborators who contributed to bringing both projects to life. This award belongs to all of you!

Thank you. ??

Yours truly,

FFV

Thanks for reading!

Let's stay connected! If you would like to stay on top of our creative adventures then make sure you connect with our?Instagram, Facebook, Vimeo and LinkedIn accounts. Feel free to tag us in your creative projects or discoveries!?

For press inquiries please contact [email protected]

Credits

THE RING CYCLE

Conductor: Philippe Auguin

Director: Chen Shi-Zheng

Associate Set Designer: Maruti Evans

Digital Content Designer: Leigh Sachwitz (flora&faunavisions)

Digital Content Designer Associates: Sebastian Grebing, Milena Mayer, Antonia B?hme (flora&faunavisions)

Costume Designer: Anita Yavich

Lighting Designer: Matthew Marshall

Associate Lighting Designer: Lucy Birkinshaw

Choreographer: Akasia Ruth Inchaustegui

Assistant Director: Matthew Barclay, Miranda Summers

Photos: Wallis Media

UTOPIAN GARDEN

Concept, design & production by flora&faunavisions GmbH

Soundtrack: Julian Ganzer & Ilja Coric

Sound Design: Julian Ganzer / Studio Kreuzberg

Music Games - Art, Science & Nature by Asako Fujimoto

Interactive programming by wirmachenbunt.