Traveling While Black

Virtual Reality

Traveling While Black is more than history — it’s about community.

Immerse yourself inthe long history of restriction of movement for black Americans and the creation of safe spaces for travelers.

In the award-winning cinematic VR film Traveling While Black directed by Roger Ross Williams, you’ll be transported to the historic Ben’s Chili Bowl and join patrons as they share and reflect on their experiences. Confronting the way we understand and talk about race in America, this immersive documentary highlights the urgent need to facilitate a dialogue about the challenges minority travelers still face today.

Nominated for a 2019 Primetime Emmy Award.

Available on

Meta Quest

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Meta Quest TV

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Youtube

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Partners

Trailer

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Awards

2020

Canadian Screen Awards

Best Immersive Experience

Non-fiction

Digital Dozen Award

Breakthroughs in Storytelling

FIPADOC

SMART award for digital-experience documentary

Webby Awards

Best Documentary

Video Immersive and Mixed Reality

2019

Barcelona 360 VR and AR Market

2nd Prize

VR Arles

Grand Prize

VR Days

Halo Award

Non-fiction (Silver)

Making Headlines

It is Emmy nominated for Outstanding Original Interactive Program, and above and beyond that, the film is leading the charge of VR as an instrument of social change.

IndieWire

The experience allows for the past and present to be presented in juxtaposition, merging to validate one eery conclusion: the problems of the past have not subsided.

The Guardian

Watching the moving film, it feels like you’re part of the conversation on race and inequality in America.

CNET

It is Emmy nominated for Outstanding Original Interactive Program, and above and beyond that, the film is leading the charge of VR as an instrument of social change.

IndieWire

The experience allows for the past and present to be presented in juxtaposition, merging to validate one eery conclusion: the problems of the past have not subsided.

The Guardian

Watching the moving film, it feels like you’re part of the conversation on race and inequality in America.

CNET

Credits

FEATURING

SANDRA BUTLER-TRUESDALE, VIRGINIA ALI, THERRELL SMITH, COURTLAND COX, FRANK SMITH, DAVID STRADER, AMANDA KING & SAMARIA RICE

DIRECTED BY

ROGER ROSS WILLIAMS IN COLLABORATION WITH FELIX LAJEUNESSE & PAUL RAPHAEL

CO-DIRECTED BY

AYESHA NADARAJAH

PRODUCED BY

FELIX & PAUL STUDIOS

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

BONNIE NELSON SCHWARTZ, RYAN HORRIGAN & STEPHANE RITUIT

PRODUCERS

AYESHA NADARAJAH, JIHAN ROBINSON & LINA SRIVASTAVA

CINEMATIC VR TECHNOLOGY

FELIX & PAUL STUDIOS

VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR

SEBASTIAN SYLWAN

LINE PRODUCTION

SAILOR PRODUCTIONS

IMMERSIVE SOUND

HEADSPACE STUDIO

MUSIC BY

JASON MORAN

OCULUS EXPERIENCES EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

YELENA RACHITSKY & COLUM SLEVIN

SPECIAL THANKS TO

BEN’S CHILI BOWL & THE ALI FAMILY

THIS PROJECT IS PART OF THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEW FRONTIER AT SUNDANCE INSTITUTE AND IS SUPPORTED BY THE JOHN D. AND CATHERINE T. MACARTHUR FOUNDATION, IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES OP-DOCS