Anthony Geffen – Keynote Speaker

Anthony Geffen is one of the world’s leading documentary filmmakers and a pioneer in immersive storytelling. WIRED Magazine recently said he is “behind some of the most exciting advancements in VR/3D/AR and AI storytelling.” He has won 4 Britsh Academy Awards (BAFTAs) and 8 American Emmy Awards. He followed in the footsteps of Ang Lee and James Cameron to be presented in Hollywood with the Charles Wheatston Award for his outstanding contribution to Film and Television. In 2017, he received the first British Academy Award (BAFTA) for VR storytelling.

His diverse films include; 11 projects with Sir David Attenborough, ‘The Coronation’ with the Queen of England, ‘My Passion for Trees’ with Judi Dench, the theatrical film ‘The Wildest Dream: Conquest of Everest’, a film with the late Stephen Hawking and the series ‘Deep Planet’, following five dives to the deepest points of the world’s oceans.

Anthony Geffen worked for 10 years for the BBC before setting up Atlantic Productions in 1992, one of the most respected high-end factual production companies of which he is the CEO. Atlantic Productions incorporates a group of companies including Zoo (computer graphics) and Colossus (3D). Anthony was also responsible for setting up Alchemy VR, which produces immersive experiences including VR, AR and MR.

Geffen has worked an impressive roster of influential figures including Steven Hawking. Hawking reached out to Geffen as he was a fan of Geffen’s work pioneering work in virtual reality storytelling such as his BAFTA- and Emmy-winning 3D television-documentaries ‘David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive’. Hawking asked Geffen to collaborate on a ‘virtual tour of the universe’ to bring his vision of the universe to everyone.

His award-winning immersive projects include; ‘Space Decent’, ‘The Munguruku’, an AI Health APP with Harvard Medical School and Stephen Hawking’s ‘Black Holes’.

Anthony Geffen is a fellow at St Cross College, Oxford University and a Professor at NYUAD.