Dogwoof collars first VR doc at Sundance

The deal for Zikr: A Sufi Revival includes funding for further development

UK-based feature documentary distributor Dogwoof has picked up a virtual reality (VR) documentary at Sundance, marking the first time a show of its kind has been acquired at the event.

Zikr: A Sufi Revival is created by filmmakers Gabo Arora, John Fitzgerald and Natthew Niederhauser alongside experiential studio Sensorium, creative tech company Superbright and production start-up Tomorrow Never Knows. The experience is directed by Arora and produced by Jennifer Tiexiera.

The acquisition was brokered by Dogwoof’s Andy Whittaker and Tomorrow Never Knows’ Nathan Brown on the final day of the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, and the agreement includes funding for additional development including an online version of the experience.

Dogwoof will lead on global representation and distribution with location-based installations at high-profile international cultural centres, cinemas and museums. It recently set up VR-focused company Other Set and the Zikr experience adds to a catalogue including Blackfish, The Act of Killing and OJ: Made in America.

Zikr: A Sufi Revival is said to take four participants on an interactive journey into a world of ritual and music to explore the nature of faith alongside followers of the Islamic tradition of Sufism.

The experience is the first public project for VR, augmented reality and artificial intelligence studio Tomorrow Never Knows, which was founded by Arora, Saschka Unseld and Tom Lofthouse.