Out of Nowhere to premiere at Venice Immersive
We are proud to announce that VR experience Out of Nowhere will premiere at the prestigious Venice Immersive section of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in August. This ecologically inspired experience has been beautifully crafted by Creative Director Kris Hofmann and Technical Director Andreas Wuthe.
Out of Nowhere gently explores how preserving alluvial forests, marshes and wetlands can help us face the challenges of an ever angrier, unpredictable climate. The story is told through the eyes of Anna, a lifelong resident of Hallein in Austria, who is voiced by actor Saskia Reeves (Slow Horses, Luther). The experience flows from Anna’s first-hand experience of the devastating floods that hit Europe in 2021. In doing so, it considers how reconnecting with nature may be key to protecting ourselves going forward.
Kris Hofmann said: “Every other month we hear about yet another devastating extreme weather event — most recently in Texas, and close to home for me, with severe floods in Austria in 2021 and again in 2024. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, so it’s so important to remember that we have an ally in nature when it comes to mitigating the worst consequences of climate change. I’m really excited that the work will launch at Venice Immersive and I hope it sparks reflection — and maybe even action — on how we live with our rivers.”
The experience began development at the Biennale College Cinema VR Lab, attended by artist Kris Hofmann and producer Abigail Addison in 2023. Kris interviewed Hallein residents about the flood and their stories gave inspiration to the piece. Associate Professor Franz Essl (University of Vienna) provided scientific advice to the project. The screenplay was produced with German writer Ira Wedel. It features a score by British composer Elizabeth Purnell.
Out of Nowhere has been supported by the Vienna Business Agency, FFF Bayern and Apossible.
Notes to editors:
Social media – #outofnowherevr
Instagram: @misskrishofmann
@animateprojectsuk
Credits:
Voice artists: Saskia Reeves and Howard Nightingall (English version), Martina Spitzer and Josef Stockreiter (German version)
Director & Producer: Kris Hofmann
Technical Director: Andreas Wuthe
Co-Producer: Richard Pusch at spec.Studio
Development Producer: Abigail Addison at Animate Projects
Screenplay: Ira Wedel
Music: Elizabeth Purnell
Sound Design and Engineering: Max Thomasberger
Scientific Consultants: Prof. Mag. Dr Franz Essl, Dipl.-Ing. Dr Peter Flödl
Production: Hofmann Studio & spec.Studio
Development production: Hofmann Studio and Animate Projects
Kris Hofmann: Lead Artist, Kris Hofmann has been working in animation since graduating from the RCA in London in 2010. Since 2018 her focus has been on the design of immersive experiences in Austria. Her first site-specific augmented reality experience, ‘The Bookworms’, directed and produced for the Austrian National Library, won the Austrian state prize for digitization in 2021. Since then, Kris designed a number of interactive experiences and education tools on a broad range of topics, from the female menstrual cycle to economic literacy and insect decline. krishofmann.co.uk
Andreas Wuthe: The technical lead of the project, Andreas Wuthe, is a full-stack developer with 25 years of programming experience, who has been active in game and app development for nearly two decades. He has worked on projects for Red Bull, Casinos Austria and international publishers like Electronic Arts and Ubisoft. Since teaming up with creative director Kris Hofmann, his focus has been on developing interactive XR experiences and integrating AI models into their projects and working process.
Elizabeth Purnell: A UK based composer and sound designer, celebrated for her music in a variety of genres. She works at many UK theatres, including the Liverpool Playhouse, Hackney Empire and the Tobacco Factory, Bristol. She is an Emmy nominated orchestral arranger and conductor for film and TV, recording with BBC orchestras and European ensembles. Credits include Samantha Moore’s Treasure, Black Mirror, Annihilation, and numerous David Attenborough documentaries. In 2020 she contributed to Bristol Old Vic’s ‘Sky Orchestra’ hot air balloon artwork. elizabethpurnell.com
Links:
Vienna Business Agency
FFF Bayern
Apossible
Biennale College Cinema Immersive
Supported by
Developed thanks to
