The Light Within Diane von Fürstenberg on Technology, Memory, and Humanity
- ATN
- 14 minutes ago
- 2 min read
By Ahmed Fathi
New York, NY: — At a private Manhattan screening of Darkness to Light: When Technology Heals Generations, two influential women met at the intersection of art, innovation, and empathy. Filmmaker and creative technologist Victoria Bousis, the mind behind the award-winning VR project Stay Alive My Son, continues to explore how immersive storytelling can confront generational trauma and transform memory into a path toward healing.
Fashion icon and philanthropist Diane von Fürstenberg, who hosted the screening, praised Bousis’s unique use of technology to protect and elevate human experience.
“A Way of Using Technology for Humanity”
In her remarks, von Fürstenberg emphasized the importance of bringing empathy—not cynicism—into the digital age.
“Everyone talks about the negative of technology, and I feel like we have to put women energy—female energy—into technology,” von Fürstenberg told ATN. “Victoria did this with this movie. It’s very strong, very emotional, and it tells history. It’s a way of using technology for humanity.”
Following von Fürstenberg’s endorsement, Bousis offered insight into her own creative philosophy, grounding her work in truth, compassion, and ethical storytelling.
“Technology can be used when the story is correct, when the story is told by truth,” said Victoria Bousis.“Using technology places people in the shoes of another. And by experiencing that person’s journey, that creates an opening for compassion and a new frame of mind—a new lens into that life.”
A Personal History of Resilience
For von Fürstenberg, the themes of the film resonate on a deeply personal level. Her mother survived Auschwitz, an experience that shaped much of her worldview: the importance of resilience, the presence of light even in difficult times, and the power of storytelling to confront darkness.
She drew a direct connection between the history she inherited and the story Bousis brings to the screen.
“We all have our own power,” she said.“It’s very important to promote light, to promote kindness, and to use all the faculties and talents that we have to do so.”
From Design to Dialogue
Known globally for her iconic wrap dress and her long-standing advocacy for women’s empowerment, von Fürstenberg is now investing her influence in a new arena: the merging of creativity with technological innovation as a force for human dignity.
Her closing reflection underscored the enduring relevance of storytelling.
“Stories resonate. They just do,” von Fürstenberg said.“It’s important to connect, to expand your horizon, to inspire, and to advocate.”
A Shared Vision
From the fashion world to the film world, Diane von Fürstenberg and Victoria Bousis share a common belief: that technology, when guided by integrity and empathy, can illuminate the most human parts of our collective history.
Their conversation at the screening highlights a growing movement in cinema and digital storytelling—one where technology is not a distraction from the human experience but a tool for deepening it.