From The Main Square

From The Main Square is an animated, interactive virtual reality experience by Berlin-based Brazilian director Pedro Harres. Created with an international team from 14 countries, the piece creates a compact portrait of social disruption.

The experience is a production of Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf and has been funded by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg. It is also the only German production to ever enter the Venice Immersive competition at the renowned Venice International Film Festival, where it was awarded with the Grand Jury Prize in 2022.

Encircling a central square, a new town emerges in all its diversity. A crossroad of stories, buildings, hopes, and conflicts. People nurture sympathy and care for their equals but also animosity toward those who are different. It doesn't take long for an "us-versus-them" atmosphere to take over.—Thessaloniki International Film Festival

Awards:

- 79th Venice International Film Festival (Italy) - Venice Immersive Grand Jury Prize
- Festival du Noveau Cinema 2022 (Canada) - Horizon Awards
- Bucheon Internation Animation Festival 2022 (South Korea) - Best VR Animation
- Thessaloniki International Film Festival 2022 (Greece) - Best Immersive Film
- Red Sea International Film Festival 2022 (Saudi Arabia) - Golden Immersive Yusr
- XR Must 2022 (Online) - 2nd Prize - Best Impact or Documentary Award
- Kaboom International Animation Festival 2023 (Netherlands) - Best VR Animation
- New Images Festival 2023 (France) - Grand Prize

Direction
Pedro Harres

Production
Lorena Junghans

Art Direction
Daniel Eizirik, Paulo Lange

Animation
Samuel Patthey, Sophia Schönborn

Music
Justin Robinson, Marcus Sander

Assistance
André Correia

Programming
David Schornsheim, Douglas Rachevsky, Marius Morhard, Pedro Harres

Level Designers
André Correia, Sebastian Willhelm, Sarvenaz Zolfaghar,
Nikan Salari, Daniel Eizirik, Antoine Maubon, Lucille Lefebvre,
Leonie Aurelia Klaus, Matheus

Filmuniversitaet Babelsberg Konrad Wolf
Brandenbunburg Medienboard