Fantastic Fest, known for its unique film programming, is now expanding into the world of gaming with the introduction of Fantastic Games. This new showcase is a collaboration with indie gaming nonprofit Day of the Devs and will be a part of the opening weekend of the festival from Sept. 20-22. The event is open to all Fantastic Fest badge holders and is a result of the festival now being owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment after their acquisition of the Alamo Drafthouse chain.
Sponsored by prominent names in the gaming industry such as Blumhouse Games, Double Fine, Devolver Digital, Raw Fury, and iam8bit, Fantastic Games will feature 12 horror games in its inaugural year. Developers have until Aug. 5 to submit their horror-themed games for consideration, with a particular interest in games that align with this year’s festival theme of carnival.
Lisa Dreyer, the Festival Director of Fantastic Fest, expressed her excitement about the partnership with Day of the Devs, highlighting the shared commitment to showcasing unique and innovative experiences in gaming and film. Greg Rice, co-founder of Day of the Devs, also shared his enthusiasm for bringing games back to the festival and spotlighting independent game developers.
While gaming is not a new addition to Fantastic Fest, with the establishment of indie gaming mini fest Fantastic Arcade in 2010, this year’s Fantastic Games marks a significant return to gaming programming for the festival. Fantastic Arcade became a standalone event in 2017 and is set to relaunch in October as a separate event from Fantastic Games.
For more information about Fantastic Fest and Fantastic Games, visit fantasticfest.com. Stay updated on reviews, interviews, and breaking news related to the festival at austinchronicle.com/fantastic-fest.
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