American Immersion Theater Sponsors Full Immersive Program at Overlook Film Festival for Second Year
April 9-12, 2026 – New Orleans, LA – Horror fans and lovers of experiential entertainment are descending on the United States’ most haunted city for a weekend of horror cinema, immersive experiences, and jaw-dropping insider panels during the four-day event, the Overlook Film Festival. Each spring, the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana, becomes alive with theatrical releases, horror genre favorites, and both digital and in-person immersive experiences sponsored by American Immersion Theater.
Overview
2026 marks the second year of American Immersion Theater’s experiential sponsorship of the Overlook Film Festival. Scott Cramton, founder of AIT, first got his start in immersive entertainment by helping to develop The Haunt, a Michigan-based haunted house experience known for its elaborate set designs and heart-stopping scares. Now, in addition to running companies like The Murder Mystery Co. and producing shows such as Speakeasy, Die Softly in Times Square, AIT takes pride in advancing the immersive entertainment movement in the United States by supporting independent experiential performances. The Overlook Film Festival has fully embraced the immersive community, making its partnership with American Immersion Theater, an organization with roots in horror, a natural fit.
From The Organizers
“Since the inception of American Immersion Theater,” says Cramton, “we have been working to promote new voices and reach new audiences in experiential entertainment. Landon and Justin [organizers of the Overlook Film Festival] are incredible advocates, and we are endlessly grateful to partner with them for the second year in a row.”
“As a celebration of not just movies but all of all things horror, The Overlook’s immersive program is a huge part of what makes our haunted festival such a special experience here in New Orleans,” said Landon Zakheim, co-founder and Executive Director of the Overlook Film Festival. “It couldn’t be more fitting for us to partner with the American Immersion Theater, who share with us a passion for both the countless ways which art can impact us and the special experience that is being frightened in the dark.”
While immersive entertainment has surged in popularity in countries like China, Spain, and the United Kingdom, the United States’ immersive movement has been slower to gain momentum. However, younger audiences have shown growing interest in participatory events like E3W and AOTW’s The Mother of Nightmares, a dreamlike world where guests experience a one-on-one surreal nightmare guided by a mischievous figure. Productions like The Mother of Nightmares are not just shows to watch, but stories to step into.
Why it matters
In a world dominated by mind-numbing screens and increasing disconnection, Gen Z is seeking something more meaningful and memorable. “People want to be part of something. Interaction is memorable—you remember what happens to you better than what happens around you,” Cramton explains. “Experiencing something will always stay with people more than simply watching it, which is why immersive storytelling is so important today.”
This year, Overlook Film Festival will host both in-person and virtual immersive experiences, including Eternal, created by Darkfield, Charming Stranger’s Hag, Claws, Rebozo, and Clay McLeod Chapman’s One-on-Ones. The screenings range from short films to new domestic and international cinematic experiences, as well as the 45th anniversary of An American Werewolf in London and the centennial anniversary of A Page of Madness. Attendees should expect to be immersed in horror for the entirety of Overlook Film Festival from April 9th to 12th. Between film, experiential entertainment, parties, and parades, the French Quarter is going to feel like a nightmare-lover’s dream. Horror fans, don’t miss out.
Key Companies and People
Overlook Film Festival Website
American Immersion Theater Website
Charming Stranger – Producers of Claws, HAG, and Rebozo
Feel The Bite – Producers of Eternal
E3W and AOWT – The Mothers of Nightmares
Clay McLeod Chapman – The Pumpkin Pie Show Presents: One-On-Ones
Social Media
