We are so pleased to announce the launch of two new films with Verse, an immersive interactive storytelling platform. The Last Move and Life After Water are part of a four-story partnership that pairs the MediaStorm storytelling ethos with Verse’s innovative platform.

Both films were recently honored by Photographer of the Year International, one of the oldest and most prestigious photojournalism organizations in the world. The Last Move received third place in Documentary Journalism while Life After Water received the Award of Excellence for Multimedia Issue Reporting.

MediaStorm’s Andrew Michael Ellis was also recognized as Multimedia Photographer of the Year.

Congratulations to all our partners who make this work possible, our fellow POYi winners and nominees, and you, our audience, for continuing to support, inspire, and encourage us.

The Last Move: Michael Thomasson has devoted his life to video games. It’s been his passion and his obsession for more than three decades. He owns over 11,000 unique game titles for more than 100 different systems.

Why?

“Because there’s something wrong in the back of my head.”

His collection is so large, in fact, that it’s currently recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.

There’s only one thing Michael loves more than his games: his family.

The Last Move pays tribute to one man’s quest to prove that his family’s needs come before all else–even his lifelong passion.

Life After WaterCalifornia’s Central Valley produces more than half of America’s produce. But the summer of 2015 marked the fourth year of what has become a monumental drought. Small family farmers like Jesus Ramos are in trouble. And when the farmers are in trouble, the country is in trouble.

As Ramos’ daughter says “No one is going to want to spend $5 on an orange”.

Life After Water is the compelling story of one man’s struggle to reimagine an apocalyptic world–a world without water.