PM_B3_Games_0110_2021

B3 Biennial of the Moving Image 2021
15 to 24 October
Frankfurt Rhein-Main & online
Film, art, games, XR, AI, conference, masterclasses

Role model China? - The B3 2021 games program at a glance

(Frankfurt/Main October 2021)

Since its premiere in 2013, games have been a central part of the B3 Biennial of the Moving Image. Games drive innovation, they are an economic factor as well as a cultural asset. The games industry is considered one of the most innovative parts of the cultural and creative industries. Computer games and developments such as virtual and augmented reality have been playing a major role in determining the future of the moving image. The program is once again curated by game expert René Meyer (Haus der Computerspiele).

The highlight will certainly be the panel on current developments in the People's Republic of China. Here, young people’s online gaming has recently been restricted to only three hours a week. What is behind this measure? Does it make sense? Could and should this tough protection of minors also serve as an example for the German-speaking gaming world? How can we reconcile moderate media consumption and virtual sports on the screen? These issues will be discussed by Thorsten Unger, CEO Wegesrand; Dixon Wu, organizer of the Retro.hk Gaming Expo in Hong Kong; and Marian Härtel, gaming lawyer and management consultant in the field of e-sports & Asia. (19 October, 2 p.m.)

Another panel, titled "Fighting the Giants," discusses the question: How can a small game developer compete against the industry's big players? McMiddlearth dared to do it and won. They completely recreated Middle Earth from "The Lord of the Rings" on a Minecraft server. The panel will also discuss what it means to dare to do something new, when it seems easier to stick with an already existing success.

With Jogi Neufeld (Founder of Subotron; A) and Teodor (Head Designer of Minecraft Middle Earth). (17 October, 2 p.m.)

Learning with the help of games and robots is the topic of yet another panel. Natalie Denk, Head of the Center for Applied Games Research at Danube University Krems, will explain why it is important the education sector to think about games culture, and what opportunities there might be. She is involved in a project that supports girls in e-sports. In general, games and gender is one of her topics. YouTuber Ivan Filippov lets us in on why LEGO Mindstorms is a great tool for learning. He runs the YouTube channel UNBRICK ME, dedicated to everything on and about mechanics, robotics and LEGO technique. (18 October, 2 p.m.)

How to develop new games for old consoles and adapt old games for new consoles is the focus of our "Retro Gaming" panel. We will talk about the fascination of old games and consoles, but also about the question of who buys them and who promotes them - and above all about the motivation of their creators. With Nicolas Bétoux (co-founder of Morphcat Games; FR/GER) and Josh Fairhurst (CEO and co-owner of Limited Run Games; USA)

(16 October, 2 p.m.)

The complete program takes place online at www.b3biennale.com.

About B3 – An Alliance for the Moving Image

As a cross-media, cross-genre and international moving image festival offering film screenings, exhibitions, conference and workshop programs as well as various competition formats, B3 addresses the discourse on all trends and developments pertaining to the moving image in the areas of film, art, games and VR/XR. The aim of the Biennial, which was launched in 2012, is on the one hand to create a broad interdisciplinary alliance for the moving image, and on the other hand to offer the international cultural and creative industries a comprehensive platform for innovation and exchange. From October 15 to 24, 2021, the sixth edition of the B3 Biennial will offer the world's film, art and media professionals an international platform for innovation, exchange and visibility. B3 2021 will take place as a hybrid festival. A total of around 80 contributors from 25 countries will be featured. The B3 Biennial of the Moving Image is organized by the Offenbach School of Design (HfG) and funded by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Art (HMWK). Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain and Wirtschaftsförderung Frankfurt are main sponsors. Partners include Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain, Wirtschaftsförderung Frankfurt as well as Sylvia and Friedrich von Metzler. Strategic partners are the Frankfurt Book Fair, THE ARTS+, Film London and many more. Main event partners are ASTOR Film Lounge MyZeil, MyZeil Shopping-Center, and Satis&Fy.

Press contact

Susanne Tenzler-Heusler

T: +49 173 378 6601

M: presse@b3biennale.de