Video games VIPs, powerful investors and other international leaders have confirmed their participation in the London Games Festival 2019, with first speakers, partners and attendees announced.
Leading games creators will lead summits and discussions on cutting edge interactive entertainment while investors with collective spending power of over £200m are heading to two of the festival’s flagship industry-facing events LGF HUB (2 April & 3 April) and the Games Finance Market (3 April and 4 April).
The London Games Festival HUB runs over the first two days of the festival at Somerset House’s Embankment Galleries and features talks and summits, exhibitions, workshops and international pavilions. The first speaker and content line-up for the HUB includes:
- Siobhan Reddy, co-founder of Media Molecule (Games Impact Summit chair)
- Brie Code, founder of TRU LUV Media and creator of #SelfCare (Games Impact Summit keynote speaker)
- Jodie Azhar, founder of Teazelcat Games (Interactive Narratives Summit chair)
- BAFTA-award winner Brenda Romero (WIN keynote speaker)
A special performance created by Media Molecule in its upcoming PS4 Dreams will open the Festival on the morning of Tuesday, 2 April in celebration of the new Games Impact Summit, which explores the ways games are reshaping the world.
Also at the HUB is the second annual Ensemble, London Games Festival’s BAME talent showcase, which will highlight eight more individuals after the first Ensemble’s successful debut and tour in 2018 – the exhibition has been seen by nearly 5,000 people across the country.
More information including how to attend can be found at www.games.london/hub2019. Tickets for the HUB’s talks and forums start at £60, while Ensemble and exhibition area access is completely free.
Meanwhile another flagship London Games Festival event, the Games Finance Market (3 April and 4 April), is gearing up for it’s biggest showing yet, with 30 global investors already confirmed to hear games studio pitches. Attending funders and supporters include Accel, All 4 Games, Altered VC, Authentic Media Group, BFI, BigBen Interactive, Curve Digital, Finstock Capital, Gamesforge, Goldfinch Entertainment, Greenlight Games, Green Man Gaming Publishing, ID@Xbox, Microsoft, Ingenious Play, London Venture Partners, Marvelous Europe Limited, Miniclip, Northern Ireland Screen, PlayStack, Private Division, SEGA and Triple Dragon.
These are just some of the key events during London Games Festival 2019, which has an extended run and a wider range of events this year when it runs from 2 April to 14 April across the city. The festival is backed by the Mayor of London and seeks to make London the games capital of the world. It is delivered by Games London, an initiative from Film London, the capital’s screen industries agency, and video games trade body Ukie (The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment).
Dr Jo Twist OBE, CEO of Ukie (The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment) said:
“The London Games Festival has become the centre for attracting games talent to London and continues to build upon its global reputation by attracting major speakers from the U.K. and overseas to present and host at the event later this year.
“London Games Festival has helped created a global gateway for games businesses across the UK and continues to attract talented developers making it a go to place for culture, finance and innovative businesses.”
Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said:
“Creative industries are the big success story of the UK and London economies and the games industry is a key, cutting-edge component of this success.
“The London Games Festival attracts the world’s brightest and best talent to the capital and I’m delighted that the festival will both celebrate this achievement and also enable major new opportunities, including driving international business to London through the Games Finance Market, ensuring the capital remains at the heart the global games industry.”
Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries, said:
“The creative industries are essential to London’s success as a global city, and our cutting-edge games industry is a wonderful example of the significant investment and jobs these thriving industries bring to our capital. With the Mayor’s support, the London Games Festival has established itself as a global showcase for the industry and I’m delighted that this year’s event will be bigger and better than ever. The festival will again show the world that London is open to innovation and business.”
Applications are now open for developers and industry professionals looking to take part in London Games Festival and the wider Games London programme – including the Games Finance Market and Ensemble. Find out more at www.games.london and follow @londongamesfest for more updates over the coming weeks and months.
Evening Standard has partnered with Games London to be the official media partner for the London Games Festival. To find out more about other partnership and sponsor opportunities at London Games Festival, contact paul.davies@filmlondon.org.uk
