The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center is expanding access to its acclaimed virtual reality survivor testimony films beyond its physical galleries. Beginning October 8, 2026, three immersive documentaries—Walk to Westerbork, Letters from Drancy, and Escape to Shanghai—are available for free download on Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S headsets, with Pico 4 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy AndroidXR compatibility arriving later this fall.
Holocaust Survivor VR Films Launch for Free Download
- Three virtual reality films featuring Holocaust survivor testimonies are now available for free download on standalone consumer VR headsets.
- Previously restricted to the museum’s physical locations in Chicago and traveling mobile trunks, the films use 360-degree video, motion capture, and spatial sound.
- The global rollout supports English, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese subtitles to combat rising global antisemitism and Holocaust denial.
Expanding Virtual Reality Beyond Museum Walls
Experiencing these digital testimonies required visiting the museum’s Richard and Jill Chaifetz Family Virtual Reality Gallery or The Northern Trust Virtual Reality Theater in downtown Chicago, or encountering the traveling Mobile VR Trunk program. The transition to consumer hardware removes these geographic barriers. According to a GlobeNewswire announcement, the initiative is supported by Agog: The Immersive Media Institute, enabling global audiences to access the films from home.
Inside the Immersive Documentaries
Produced by the museum in collaboration with East City Films, the projects incorporate 360-degree video, 3D environments, motion capture, and spatial sound. Viewers are placed directly within reconstructed historical spaces guided by the memories of survivors Rodi Glass, Marion Deichmann, and Doris Fogel.
| Film Title | Survivor Focus | Key Locations Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Walk to Westerbork | Rodi Glass | Amsterdam, Westerbork transit camp, Vittel internment camp |
| Letters from Drancy | Marion Deichmann | Northern Europe, France |
| Escape to Shanghai | Doris Fogel | Nazi Germany, Shanghai |
Filmed on location across Germany, France, the Netherlands, China, and the United States, the documentaries weave archival photographs and documents together with live-action and animated sequences. Subtitled versions are available in English, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Preserving Testimony Amid Rising Antisemitism
The release arrives as global antisemitism and Holocaust distortion surge. As the generation of survivors continues to grow smaller, institutions are increasingly turning to emerging technology to preserve firsthand accounts.
These three films exemplify how virtual reality can transform historical learning,
said Kelley Szany, SVP of Education & Exhibitions at IHMEC, noting that the medium serves as a universal bridge to complex histories.
Darren Emerson, Co-Founder and Creative Lead of East City Films Ltd., echoed that sentiment in the museum’s announcement, stating, At a time of increasing global conflict and divisive rhetoric, the stories of Marion Deichmann, Rodi Glass and Doris Fogel remind us of our shared humanity and the importance of continuing to listen to those who experienced the Holocaust first-hand.
The films are available to download on Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S, with Google Play distribution planned for Pico 4 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy AndroidXR devices later this fall.
