IGF Independent Games Festival
When? 16-17 March 2020
Where? San Francisco’s GDC, California, USA
What? The Independent Games Festival was established in 1998 to encourage innovation in game development and to recognize the best independent game developers.
The goal was to create a similar event to Sundance for independent game developers, the festival has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in prizes (and brought major exposure and a much higher profile) to a multitude of indie and student game developers who have entered. There are three main elements to the Festival itself:
THE INDEPENDENT GAMES FESTIVAL PAVILION
Located on the show floor at the Game Developers Conference, and open to any members of the public or game professionals who have bought an Expo Pass to the show or above, the IGF Pavilion showcases every finalist for that year’s Festival in playable form. Members of the development team for each IGF finalist are on hand to discuss and demonstrate. The 2020 IGF Pavilion will open March 18,
THE INDEPENDENT GAMES FESTIVAL AWARDS
The IGF Awards take place on the evening of the third day of Game Developers Conference and are a major celebration of the best in indie gaming. The 2019 IGF Awards are available for online viewing. The Festival Awards will take place on March 18, 2020.
THE INDEPENDENT GAMES SUMMIT
The Independent Games Summit seeks to highlight the brightest and the best of indie development, with discussions ranging from indie game distribution methods through game design topics, guerrilla marketing concepts, and student indie game discussions. The twelfth annual IGS is planned for March 16, 2020, through March 17, 2020.
Now Play This a Festival of Experimental Game Design
When? from 3-5 April 2020
Where? Somerset House in London
What? Festival of experimental game design showcasing interactive and playful work as part of the London Games Festival.
In 2020 the festival will examine games relating to the theme of ‘Breaking Point’. Games are aestheticised forms of systems, and the festival will showcase works that somehow break or subvert their prescribed system. Visitors should expect everything from small scale remixes they can sit with, to new and exciting installations that get people playing together.
Now Play This 2020 is guest directed by Marie Foulston, and producers Sophie Sampson, Jo Summers and Nick Murray.
AMAZE
When? from 22–25 April 2020
Where? NEUZEIT OST in Berlin
What? 9th International Games and playful media festival
Amaze Berlin is an international Games festival focusing on arthouse games and playful media running from 2012. The Festival invites experimental game and VR creators, digital artists, musicians and all sorts of creative minds from around the world to share a 3-day event programme of talks, workshops, idea market places. The festival also welcomes the general public to enjoy in the evenings, offering live music performances and access to an impressive interactive exhibition.
In this edition, 25 Games will compete in 6 categories for the amaze awards plus 5 nominees for the 3rd humble new talent award.
IndieCade
When? 23-24, October 2020
Where? Santa Monica, California, USA
What? IndieCade is the premiere international event dedicated to celebrating independent interactive media from around the globe.
IndieCade was formed by Creative Media Collaborative, an alliance of industry producers and leaders founded in 2005. Their mission is to support independent game development by organising a series of international events showcasing the future of independent games. It encourages, publicizes, and cultivates innovation and artistry in all forms of interactive media, helping to create a public perception of games as rich, diverse, artistic, and culturally significant.
Like the independent videogame developer community itself, IndieCade’s focus is global and includes producers in Asia, Latin America, Europe, Australia, and anywhere else independent games are made and played.
IndieCade Europe
IndieCade Europe is an annual IndieCade conference and Expo originated in Paris, France and providing the European and international community broader access to IndieCade as an event and celebration. IndieCade Europe has provided allowed to showcase a greater selection of international developers annually.