Official Selection: "Immersed"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local Filmmaker Philip Rice’s Animated Short “Immersed” Named Official Selection of the 16th Annual Fort Myers Film Festival

FORT MYERS, FL — Local filmmaker, animator, and music composer Philip Rice has announced that his animated short film, “Immersed,” has been named an official selection of the 16th Annual Fort Myers Film Festival, taking place May 20-24, 2026.

A surreal animated experience blending art, memory, and emotional dissociation, “Immersed” has been described by Rice as “a Lovecraftian fever dream about losing oneself in a piece of artwork.” The film also features an original musical composition by Rice, adding another layer to its unsettling and immersive atmosphere.

“Immersed” will screen as part of the festival’s “Mindbender Shorts” block at 8:15 p.m. EST on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, located at 2301 First Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901.

Rice, a Lee County resident since 2000, is the owner and operator of the local IT company PRR Computers, which he founded in 2009. He has been creating animated films since 1998, working with techniques such as machinima, a form of real-time animation that uses virtual production technologies and game engines to create cinematic works. Rice is also a music composer, and his work often combines animation, music, technology, and experimental storytelling.

In addition to his filmmaking and composing, Rice is one of the hosts of “Completely Machinima,” a weekly podcast dedicated to amateur animated filmmaking and the technologies behind it. His creative work is showcased on his YouTube channel, @zsOverman.

The Fort Myers Film Festival is an annual celebration of independent cinema, bringing filmmakers, film lovers, and the local arts community together in Southwest Florida. The festival’s 16th annual edition will feature screenings, events, and filmmaker appearances throughout downtown Fort Myers and the surrounding area.

Tickets ($12) for the “Mindbender Shorts” screening are available through the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center box office by calling 239-333-1933 or visiting sbdac.com (link). More information about the Fort Myers Film Festival is available at fortmyersfilmfestival.com.

Event Details
Film: “Immersed”
Director: Philip Rice
Festival: 16th Annual Fort Myers Film Festival
Screening Block: Mindbender Shorts
Date & Time: Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 8:15 p.m. EST
Venue: Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center
Address: 2301 First Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Festival Website: fortmyersfilmfestival.com
Tickets: sbdac.com (link) or 239-333-1933

About Philip Rice
Philip Rice is a filmmaker, animator, music composer, podcaster, and business owner based in Lee County, Florida. A resident of the area since 2000, Rice has been creating animated films since 1998 and is especially interested in machinima, real-time animation, virtual production techniques, and the intersection of music and experimental visual storytelling. He is the owner of PRR Computers and a co-host of the weekly podcast “Completely Machinima.” His films and creative projects can be found on YouTube at @zsOverman.

Media Contact:
Philip Rice
YouTube: @zsOverman
Podcast: completelymachinima.com