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A Visual Letter about Hope
The author Khaled Hosseini, a UNHCR goodwill ambassador, wrote Sea Prayer as an imagined letter from a Syrian father to the son lying asleep in his lap, on the eve of their sea crossing to Europe.
Sea Prayer is the first narrative animated virtual reality film created using Tilt Brush, a tool for painting in a 3D space with VR. Using this tool, the Guardian’s in-house VR team, in collaboration with the acclaimed VR artist Liz Edwards, has brought Hosseini’s sensitive imagining of this letter to life.
Narrated by the Bafta-winning actor Adeel Akhtar, who takes the role of the father, Sea Prayer reflects on the city of Homs, a devastated war zone where he grew up and which he is being forced to leave behind with his son. Hosseini’s piece also meditates on the dangerous sea crossing that lies ahead.
As the story develops, it recounts the conflict itself, and the chaos this created for ordinary people. Hosseini’s piece then meditates on the dangerous sea crossing that lies ahead for those who had to escape.
Sea Prayer is accompanied by a score specially composed by Sahba Aminikia, an Iranian-American contemporary classical music composer, and performed by the US-based string musicians Kronos Quartet and the musical saw player David Coulter.
Khaled Hosseini is an Afghan-American author best known for The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. His novels, rich in historical and emotional depth, explore themes of exile, identity, and resilience.
Author
Adeel Akhtar is a British actor known for Four Lions, Utopia, and Sherwood. He made history as the first non-white actor to win a BAFTA for Best Leading Actor in Murdered by My Father (2017).
Voice/Actor
Liz Edwards is a UK-based 3D artist known for her VR creations in Tilt Brush, Medium, and Quill. A former AAA character artist, she now explores immersive art, collaborating with Google and Warner Bros.
Artist
Anetta Jones is a Creative Producer working in documentary film & immersive arts, based in London.
Producer
Sahba Aminikia is an Iranian-American composer and founder of the Flying Carpet Festival. His work, performed by groups like Kronos Quartet, blends music with social impact, earning him a TED Fellowship in 2024.
Composer
David Coulter is a multidisciplinary musician and composer known for his mastery of the musical saw. He has collaborated with artists like Tom Waits, Kronos Quartet, and Gorillaz, shaping experimental and theatrical music.
Musician
The Kronos Quartet is a pioneering American string quartet known for its innovative approach to contemporary and experimental music. Since its founding in 1973, the group has collaborated across genres, redefining the possibilities of string quartet performance.
Musicians
Henrik Oppermann is a 3D sound specialist with over 15 years of experience in immersive audio. He has worked on 150+ VR/AR projects and is the founder of Schallgeber, specializing in spatial sound design.
Sound Design
Shehani is an award-winning immersive director and producer, focusing on new forms of storytelling. Her early career was as a journalist and filmmaker for the BBC and The Guardian. She has worked for a number of immersive studios including Factory 42, Nexus Studios and East City Films.
Director
Nicole Jackson is the Head of audio at the Guardian. She specializes in general assignment news, government and politics. She also covers culture and society topics, and climate change.
Director
Anrick is a Creative Director and explores the future of spatial immersive storytelling through experiences built with virtual and augmented reality, computer vision and machine learning.
Director
Francesca Panetta is an immersive artist and journalist known for pioneering storytelling with emerging technologies. She has led VR projects at The Guardian and MIT, earning global recognition for her innovative work.
Creative Director
SoWhen? is a Paris-based CreaTech company specializing in creating immersive and interactive experiences through physical, phygital, and virtual platforms. As an official partner of Unreal Engine by Epic Games, they offer comprehensive services to help clients achieve their interactive and immersive project goals.
Development Partner
Commissioner
Commissioner
