Milan Machinima Festival 2021: Online Edition Explores Game-Based Filmmaking

The Milan Machinima Festival returns for its 2021 edition as part of Milano Digital Week, held entirely online due to the pandemic. Curated by Gemma Fantacci, Luca Miranda, and Riccardo Retez alongside Professor Matteo Bittanti of IULM University, the festival features machinima—films created within video games or using game engines. The program includes an open call and invited works, divided into thematic sections: Grand Theft Cinema (curated by Retez), [Code] Confinement (Fantacci), Glitch ‘n’ Scapes (Miranda), a monographic section on Iono Allen, The Classical Elements (introduced by Bittanti), and a single-video section featuring Alessandra Porcu's video essay. Notable works include Luca Giacomelli's "What’s Happening to Our City?" using Grand Theft Auto 5, Nilson Carroll's "Me with and without My Brother" using corrupted Nintendo games, Lena Windisch's "Solastalgia" on nature re-education, Iono Allen's "Parapina" from Second Life, Nick Crockett's "Fire Underground" about coal and fossil fuels, and Porcu's "Decostruire l’algoritmo" analyzing female avatar representation. The festival is organized in collaboration with GAMESCENES and IULM's Master of Arts in Game Design, with free streaming until March 21, 2021.