French Immersion at SXSW 2025

French Immersion supports innovative French XR productions and immersive experiences in the U.S., fostering creative exchange through grants and festival participation. Launched in 2018 by Villa Albertine and partners, the program helps creators showcase their work at major U.S. festivals.

This year, several French immersive projects supported by the program will be presented at SXSW XR Experience in Austin, Texas, from March 7–15, offering attendees a chance to discover cutting-edge creations from international talents.

Virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality technologies are revolutionizing our perception and interaction with the world. The XR Experience at SXSW showcases how these innovations are pushing the boundaries of storytelling and art in immersive environments.

Explore the two French XR projects featured at SXSW 2025 as well as other French highlights at the festival below.

Oto’s Planet (France, USA)

Directed by Gwenael François

In Oto’s Planet, Oto enjoys a peaceful, solitary life on his tiny planet, spending his days lounging in a hammock beneath a single tree. However, his serene existence is disrupted when Exo, a clumsy and overly energetic astronaut, crash-lands nearby. The two must navigate the challenges of communication and cohabitation as they struggle to adapt to one another’s vastly different lifestyles.

In the Current of Being (France, USA)

Directed by Cameron Kostopoulos

In the Current of Being is a powerful haptic VR experience that immerses participants in the true story of Carolyn Mercer, a survivor of electroshock conversion therapy designed to “correct” her gender identity. Through wearable haptic technology, participants physically connect with Carolyn’s heartbeat, breath, and the tremors she experienced during the traumatic procedures. The experience sheds light on the inhumanity of such practices and honors Carolyn’s resilience in her journey to live authentically.

La French Touch Rendez-Vous

Presented by BPIfrance, La French Touch Rendez-Vous is the unmissable event at SXSW, highlighting the best of French innovation and creativity at the Courtyard ATX on March. Discover four groundbreaking XR experiences created by innovative French start-ups, showcasing the future of immersive technology:

• Behind the Dish – The Sushi Master by Targo Stories
• In Urbe by Ugo Arsac
• Ito Meikyu by Borris Labbé
• Impulse : playing wiht reality by May Abdalla & Barry Gene Murphy

Meanwhile, be sure not to miss our panel “Connecting French Immersive Creation with U.S. Venues”

From domes and movie theaters, to museums, film festivals and art spaces, U.S. venues are hungry for high-quality XR content. But where can they find it? France has become a global leader in immersive storytelling, with award-winning projects and cutting-edge innovations—but many remain untapped in the U.S. market. This panel connects American stakeholders, venue operators with top French creators, exploring how to bring these groundbreaking experiences stateside.

With Diliana Alexander (FilmGate Miami), Katayoun Dibamerh (Floréal), Vincent Florant (Villa Albertine), Elisha Karmitz (Mk2).

The event will also invite three French panelists to participate in the following discussions:

March 9, 2025, 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM – Emerging Global Immersive Exhibition Market of East & West

This panel will explore how immersive technologies like real-time gaming, XR, and AI are transforming entertainment. Speakers, including Philippe Riviere, Director of Digital at Art Explora Foundation, will discuss the global differences in audience behaviors and how producers and curators adapt to these variations.

March 11, 2025, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Artificial Presences : AI, XR and Humanoid Robots

This panel will examine how cutting-edge technologies are redefining presence and human connection. Jérôme Monceaux, CEO of Enchanted Tools, will discuss the evolving interplay between AI companions, immersive XR, and humanoid robots.

March 11, 2025, 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM – AI Immersive Storytelling: LILITH.AEON Lecture Performance

This panel explores LILITH.AEON, AΦE’s AI-driven XR dance odyssey, where cutting-edge technology meets raw emotion. Panelist Esteban Lecoq, Co-Artistic Director of AΦE, will share insights into integrating Motion Capture, Machine Learning, and Unreal Engine to push the boundaries of immersive storytelling.

March 11, 2025, 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM – Reshaping the Future of Immersive Exhibitions

This roundtable brings together pioneers in immersive storytelling, featuring Elisha Karmitz, CEO of MK2, London-based Lightroom, and US multi-platform venture studio Kinetic Energy Entertainment. Moderated by award-winning curator and producer Jeremy Boxer, the panel will explore new exhibition models, from MK2’s innovative immersive museum prototype to Lightroom’s artist-led shows and Kinetic Energy Entertainment’s story-driven IP productions.