As SXSW continues to expand the boundaries of storytelling, immersive creators from around the world are bringing projects that challenge how audiences experience narrative. Among those returning to Austin this year is the award-winning Netherlands-based Studio Biarritz, presenting the international premieres of two XR Spotlight experiences: Lacuna and Lesbian Simulator. Led by immersive producer Corine Meijers, the studio has become a familiar presence at SXSW, previously captivating festival audiences with experiences such as Future Botanica, The Imaginary Friend, and the sold-out Symbiosis. With this year’s projects—both developed by predominantly female-led
This is a spoiler-free review. Three decades after Ghostface rewrote the slasher playbook and Sidney Prescott cemented herself as one of horror’s most enduring final girls, Scream returns with its seventh installment. The latest chapter leans heavily into its legacy while continuing to evolve within the modern slasher landscape it helped shape. Few traditions define the franchise more clearly than its iconic opening kill—the moment that signals Ghostface’s return and marks the beginning of another killing spree. At its best, the sequence establishes the film’s tone while setting the stage
SXSW is officially underway, and Austin once again welcomes filmmakers, television creators, and audiences eager to unveil the stories that will soon shape the cultural conversation. Over the years, the festival has earned a reputation as a launchpad for breakout films, buzzy series, and unforgettable performances, with projects like Everything Everywhere All at Once and A Quiet Place offering an early glimpse at the kinds of titles audiences will be talking about in the months ahead. Part of what makes SXSW so special is its sense of discovery. The next
Pop Culturalist is excited to be partnering with Amazon MGM Studios to give away tickets to an NYC screening of Project Hail Mary. You and a guest will see the film before it’s released on March 20th. All the details are below. Good luck! About the Film Science teacher Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: solve the riddle of the mysterious substance causing