VR Documentary Lacuna to Make International Premiere at SXSW

Posted on March 14, 2026 by admin

Studio Biarritz

The VR documentary Lacuna will make its international premiere at SXSW as part of the festival’s XR Spotlight section.

Directed by Maartje Wegdam and Nienke Huitenga Broeren and produced by Corine Meijers, the immersive project invites viewers into the fragmented memories of Sonja, as she reflects on a moment of loss during the Second World War. The experience combines conversations with Sonja, animation, 3D modeling, and personal footage to explore how memory—and the absence of it—can shape identity.

Lacuna previously world premiered at the Cannes Film Festival’s Cannes Immersive program and is designed as both a remembrance project and a broader reflection on how people reconstruct the past through imagination.

The VR experience will be available during SXSW’s XR Spotlight Experiences, running daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Fairmont Hotel in Austin through March 17.

Deicidium Graphic Novel Series Gets First Look Ahead of 2026 Launch

Posted on March 13, 2026 by admin

A first look at the upcoming graphic novel series Deicidium from Ram V, Evan Cagle, and Anand “RK” Radhakrishnan has been revealed ahead of its planned release later this year.

The new series, published in English by Image Comics, will debut globally following a six-figure worldwide publishing deal with French publisher Morgen. A special preview edition will also be available at select comic shops during Free Comic Book Day in May, giving readers an early look at the project.

Set in a future where faith has become currency, Deicidium imagines a world ruled by a powerful alliance between corporations and religious institutions. When ancient gods begin manifesting through ordinary people, those in power move quickly to hunt them down, sparking a conflict between control and belief.

The series blends influences from urban fantasy, science fiction, global mythology, manga, and European comics, while featuring striking black-and-white artwork from Cagle and Radhakrishnan.

The first collected volume of Deicidium is scheduled to arrive at comic shops on September 23, 2026, with a wider bookstore release following in October.

Head Lopper Returns This April With New Story Arc Celebrating 10 Years

Posted on January 26, 2026 by admin

Andrew MacLean’s fantasy adventure comic Head Lopper is returning to shelves this April with a brand-new story arc, marking the 10-year anniversary of the series’ original launch. The new chapter begins with an extra-length issue published by Image Comics, arriving April 22.

First released in 2016, Head Lopper follows the warrior Norgal and his sharp-tongued companion Agatha, a severed witch’s head, as they battle mythic creatures across the land of Narschlahn. The upcoming issue continues directly from the end of the original series while also serving as a new entry point for readers discovering the world for the first time.

MacLean, who writes and illustrates the series, recently discussed the return of Head Lopper and the direction of the new arc on the Let’s Talk Comics podcast. The anniversary issue will be available in multiple cover variants at comic shops and on digital platforms including Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

Plague House Turns the Haunted House Story Inside Out

Posted on January 15, 2026 by admin

Haunted houses aren’t exactly new territory, but Plague House isn’t interested in playing by the usual rules. The horror comic from writer Michael W. Conrad and artist Dave Chisholm takes a familiar setup and slowly mutates it into something far more unsettling.

The story centers on the aftermath of a brutal family murder in a quiet California suburb. Thirteen years later, a small group of ghost hunters moves into the abandoned home, hoping to document evidence of something supernatural. What they uncover isn’t just a haunting, but a far darker presence that feels tied to violence itself — something infectious, pervasive, and disturbingly human.

Rather than leaning on jump scares or predictable beats, Plague House builds tension through misdirection. Just when it feels like you understand what kind of story you’re reading, it shifts. The scope widens. The rules change. The horror becomes less about ghosts and more about what lingers after trauma, obsession, and belief collide.

Chisholm’s art plays a huge role here, moving between stark unease and moments of unsettling beauty, while Conrad’s writing keeps pulling the ground out from under the reader. Together, the series feels deliberately disorienting — the kind of horror that sticks around after you’ve put it down.

The newly released trade paperback collects issues #1 to 4, bringing the full story together in one volume. Plague House goes on sale January 20, 2026, from Oni Press.

.lumen Wins CES 2026 Accessibility Award for AI Glasses Designed for the Blind

Posted on January 8, 2026 by admin

lumen CES-2026

CES 2026 included a wide range of accessibility-focused technology, and .lumen was among the companies recognized for its work in that area.

The European deep-tech startup received the CTA Foundation Pitch Competition for Accessibility award, which comes with a $10,000 prize. The award was given for .lumen’s AI-powered glasses designed to help blind users move independently without relying on guide dogs, smartphones, or constant internet access.

The wearable uses computer vision and on-device AI to interpret surrounding space in real time. Instead of audio prompts, it guides users through a haptic feedback system, allowing for hands-free navigation in unfamiliar environments.

Founder and CEO Cornel Amariei noted that the project grew out of personal experience and long-term exposure to accessibility challenges. He also pointed to the gap between the number of visually impaired people worldwide and the limited availability of guide dogs.

In addition to the CTA Foundation award, .lumen was named a CES 2026 Innovation Award Honoree. The company also received recognition last year through a U.S. Army pitch competition.

Pantone Reveals Cloud Dancer as 2026 Color of the Year

Posted on December 4, 2025 by admin

Cloud Dancer, the Pantone color of the year for 2026.Pantone

Pantone has unveiled Cloud Dancer, a soft white neutral, as its official 2026 Color of the Year, marking a notable shift toward subtlety after years of saturated and expressive tones.

Described by the Pantone Color Institute as a “calming, aerated white” that embodies clarity, serenity, and creative renewal, Cloud Dancer reflects what the organization sees as a cultural move toward quiet focus and intentional simplicity. The shade is positioned as both versatile and expressive, able to harmonize with softened palettes or provide crisp contrast across fashion, interiors, product design, and digital spaces.

Pantone’s annual selection, launched in 1999, draws on global research across design, technology, culture, entertainment, and emerging visual trends. According to the Institute, Cloud Dancer represents a desire for a fresh start in a world negotiating rapid digital acceleration while seeking deeper human connection.

The announcement follows recent picks such as Mocha Mousse (2025), a warm, comforting brown, and Peach Fuzz (2024), a soft peach tone symbolizing gentleness and wellbeing.

As Pantone describes it, Cloud Dancer is a “pared-back, reflective white that encourages balance and creative expression”, a quiet statement hue chosen for a moment defined by transition.

Documentary Fantasy Hybrid ‘Adrianne & The Castle’ to Debut on VOD

Posted on November 23, 2025 by admin

A genre-blending portrait of love, grief, and artistic devotion, Adrianne & The Castle will be released on VOD beginning December 5, 2025. Directed by Shannon Walsh, the film follows Illinois artist Alan St-George as he continues work on Havencrest Castle, the elaborate, hand-built home he created with his late wife, Adrianne.

Part documentary and part musical fantasy, the film recounts the couple’s decades-long partnership, their shared creative world, and the ornate, theatrical environment they constructed together. After Adrianne’s passing in 2006, St-George continued their project, transforming the castle into both a memorial and an evolving work of art.

Walsh incorporates staged musical sequences and fantastical imagery alongside archival material and interviews, creating a tone often described as a real-life fairytale. The film explores St-George’s process, his coping with loss, and the way imagination shapes his ongoing tribute.

Adrianne & The Castle will be available on digital platforms starting December 5.

Jon Batiste Narrates The Theory of Spice, a Three-Part Documentary Series Exploring the Global Journey of Ginger, Cardamom, and Cinnamon

Posted on November 4, 2025 by admin

Grammy, Emmy, and Academy Award-winning artist Jon Batiste lends his voice to The Theory of Spice, a three-part short documentary series premiering December 5, 2025, on Documentary+. The visually stunning project travels through India, Sri Lanka, and Guatemala, revealing the human stories, traditions, and artistry behind three of the world’s most essential spices: ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon.

Directed by Gilly Barnes and produced by Straight From The Source Studios and The Yogi Foundation, the series blends breathtaking cinematography with original music by Grammy winner Gaby Moreno and narration from Batiste and Rizo. Each chapter uncovers how these ingredients shape communities and sustain cultures through resilience and ritual.

“I’m honored to lend my voice to this series because it’s more than a story about ingredients, it’s a story about people, culture, and connection,” said Batiste.

Documentary+ CEO Geoff Clark praised the series for its cinematic and emotional power, calling it “a masterful capture of the spirit and culture of extraordinary communities.”

The Theory of Spice marks the first original commission by The Yogi Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Yogi Tea, which supports global grower communities and creative storytelling rooted in reciprocity and care. The series will stream on Documentary+ and partner platforms across 70 countries beginning December 5 at 8 PM EST.

Rosamund Pike and Matthew Rhys Star in Babak Anvari’s Psychological Thriller “Hallow Road”

Posted on October 23, 2025 by admin

Golden Globe and Emmy winner Rosamund Pike (Saltburn, Gone Girl) and Emmy and Critics Choice Award winner Matthew Rhys (The Americans) lead the cast of “Hallow Road,” the latest feature from writer-director Babak Anvari (Under the Shadow, I Came By). The film opens exclusively in AMC theaters on October 31 as part of a Halloween Double Feature presentation alongside Vincent Must Die.

Premiering at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival in March, Hallow Road has since screened at major international festivals including Brussels, Melbourne, Munich, Leiden, New Horizons, and Neuchâtel, earning early acclaim for its unnerving atmosphere and emotional precision.

The psychological thriller follows parents (Pike and Rhys) who receive a late-night call from their daughter after she accidentally strikes another young woman while driving her father’s car. As they race to protect their family and contain the fallout, the night unravels into a series of chilling revelations that expose deeper secrets, and the fear that they may not be the only ones on Hallow Road.

Produced by Ian Henry, Lucan Toh, Aram Tertzakian, Nate Bolotin, and Richard Bolger, the film marks another step in Anvari’s exploration of guilt, dread, and human fragility through genre storytelling. The filmmaker, also attached to Paramount’s upcoming Cloverfield project, continues his distinctive blend of grounded realism and supernatural unease.

Picturehouse Acquires ‘The King of Color,’ Documentary on Pantone Creator Lawrence Herbert

Posted on October 22, 2025 by admin

Picturehouse has acquired all North American distribution rights to The King of Color, a new documentary from director Patrick Creadon (Wordplay, Hesburgh) that explores the life and legacy of Lawrence Herbert, the creator of the Pantone Matching System. The film will premiere October 24 at AFI Fest before opening in limited theatrical release on December 12.

At 96, Herbert remains one of the most influential yet underrecognized figures in modern design. His invention of the Pantone Matching System (PMS) transformed the way artists, manufacturers, and brands communicate color across industries worldwide. The film features an in-depth interview with Herbert, offering a rare look into the mind that standardized color itself.

“Pantone is a language that connects artists, designers, and brands across the globe,” said Bob Berney, CEO of Picturehouse. “We’re proud to bring The King of Color to audiences everywhere and to honor Larry Herbert’s legacy of innovation and influence. Patrick Creadon has crafted a film that is as vibrant and inspiring as its subject.”

Creadon, best known for his acclaimed documentary Wordplay (a Sundance breakout), is known for illuminating the creative forces behind seemingly everyday phenomena. His directing credits also include If You Build It, ESPN’s 30 for 30: Catholics vs. Convicts, Hesburgh, and Ski Bum: The Warren Miller Story.

The King of Color traces Herbert’s journey from Depression-era Brooklyn to global innovation, spotlighting how one man’s vision turned color from a subjective art into a universal language that bridges creativity and commerce.