Xiphactinus Premieres at SXSW 2026 as Immersive Storyworld

Acclaimed author Rich Shapero's latest work comes to life through TooFar Media's experiential Immersive Portal.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 4:53pm

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Xiphactinus, a groundbreaking multimedia production from the novel by acclaimed author Rich Shapero, will make its world premiere at SXSW 2026 in Austin, Texas. The immersive experience follows Dun, a successful Silicon Valley venture capitalist whose personal and legal crisis forces him to confront a monstrous inner voice, grappling with questions of survival, morality, and identity. Blending psychological tension, dark humor, and scientific meditation, Xiphactinus examines the conflict between primal survival instincts and modern social existence.

Why it matters

Xiphactinus represents the latest evolution of TooFar Media's Immersive Storyworld approach, where novels, music, animation, and visual art converge into multi-sensory experiences. The work showcases Shapero's commitment to exploring storytelling at the intersection of literature, art, and emerging technologies, redefining what it means to truly experience a story.

The details

Premiering at SXSW, audiences will experience Xiphactinus through a newly developed Immersive Portal by TooFar Media, an experiential environment designed to transport viewers directly into the Storyworld. The portal integrates cinematic animation, spatial sound, and interactive storytelling elements, reflecting Shapero's vision for narrative experiences that extend beyond traditional formats.

  • Xiphactinus will make its world premiere at SXSW 2026 in Austin, Texas.
  • Following its SXSW debut, Xiphactinus will showcase at select literary, tech, and international film and animation festivals throughout 2026 across the U.S., U.K., Europe, and Australia.

The players

Rich Shapero

Acclaimed author and creative visionary behind Xiphactinus.

TooFar Media

An award-winning multimedia production company that pioneers the creation of Immersive Storyworlds, blending literature, music, animation, and film into transformative, multi-sensory experiences.

Dun

A successful Silicon Valley venture capitalist whose meteoric rise in tech has brought wealth and notoriety, but a mounting personal and legal crisis forces him into confrontation with a monstrous inner voice.

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What they’re saying

“Part of the human challenge, especially in our era, is that the security of the close-knit tribe has given way to the reality of larger, more hostile human forces. The conflict that Xiphactinus continually points out—between the rules of survival in the Sea and the social rules for the hominid order—is a conflict most of us face in our daily lives.”

— Rich Shapero, Author and creative visionary

What’s next

Following its SXSW debut, Xiphactinus will showcase at select literary, tech, and international film and animation festivals throughout 2026 across the U.S., U.K., Europe, and Australia.

The takeaway

Xiphactinus represents the latest evolution of TooFar Media's Immersive Storyworld approach, where novels, music, animation, and visual art converge into multi-sensory experiences that redefine what it means to truly experience a story by blending literature, art, and emerging technologies.