3D Recreation of Auschwitz Conscripted by Movie Industry's Surge of Interest
Going Virtual: Auschwitz 1's Digital Replica:
Hey there! Eager to dive into an intriguing mix of history and technology? Welcome aboard! Let's talk about the high-tech recreation of Auschwitz I camp—a digital replica that has already left quite the impression at the esteemed Cannes Film Festival.
Now, why so fancy, you might ask? Well, it's a creative response to the growing interest of film directors in the history of the German camp, as explained by Bartosz Bartyzel, a spokesperson for the Auschwitz Museum, in an exclusive interview with our cultural platform.
"So, what sparked the idea to create this digital replica?" you may wonder. Well, the Auschwitz Museum has been co-operating with filmmakers for years, both documentary filmmakers and feature directors. However, due to the site's conservation protection, on-site filming is a no-go. The digital replica idea emerged from the need to facilitate this collaboration in a responsible, ethical, and innovative manner.
You might ponder, "Why is a replica essential?" Simples! Conservation regulations don't allow feature films to be shot at the real site. But filmmakers, especially those aiming for more narrative forms, need a space that'll help them tell the story authentically without affecting the site's integrity. This digital replica offers a solution.
"Did filmmakers have a say before implementation?" you might be curious about. Indeed, the project was inspired by years of daily interaction with filmmakers, their production needs, and challenges. The idea didn't just drop out of the sky—it developed from real-life conversations and questions from the creative community.
The project was a joint venture by the Auschwitz Museum, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, and a team of technology whizzes led by Maciej Zemojcin. The team employed cutting-edge spatial scanning technology to create the digital replica of Auschwitz I camp. The foundation is currently aiming to gather funds for the expansion of the project—to create digital replicas of the Auschwitz II-Birkenau grounds and some of the camp's buildings' interiors.
"What's the public and film community's response to the replica?" you might murmur. The response has been overwhelmingly positive—both from the film community, which views this as a valuable working tool, and from the general public, who see it as an opportunity to delve deeper into history through films. The project has also received recognition in international discourse, including at the Marché du Film in Cannes.
We've already started speaking with interested filmmakers about potential collaborations using the digital replica. Although the details of these upcoming projects are hush-hush for now, we're excited to reveal more soon!
The project has been funded by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, raised through donations from private donors. To maintain the project, the foundation is seeking funds, assuming that ultimately, licensing fees from film producers using the materials within the Virtual Film Location will finance the project. Thus, the project will become self-financing, whilst supporting the educational and commemorative mission of the Memorials.
Realizing a large-scale, groundbreaking project like this comes with its challenges. Funding was, of course, a significant hurdle. But the most challenging part was harmonizing state-of-the-art solutions with the unique status of the space being mapped, remembering always that this is an authentic Memorial site that requires utmost consideration.
For more:- Auschwitz- World War II- Culture- Film- History- Cinema
- The Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, in collaboration with a team of artificial-intelligence experts, employed cutting-edge technology to create a digital replica of the Auschwitz I camp, making it possible for filmmakers to tell authentic stories about the German camp without affecting the site's integrity.
- The digital replica of Auschwitz I camp, built with artificial-intelligence technology, has been positively received by both filmmakers who see it as a valuable working tool, and the general public who view it as an opportunity to delve deeper into history through films.
