Esports Insider (ESI), a global B2B esports and media company, is launching the world’s first esports & gaming short film festival. The festival will be held during ESI London on Friday, October 20th, at the prestigious BAFTA 195 Piccadilly venue. The event aims to highlight the positive impact of video games and esports through the art of film, with a £10,000 cash prize pool sponsored by non-profit partner ESG Gaming.

If you think you got what it takes, submissions are now open for the ESI Film Festival. It’s a good time to illustrate just how meaningful and big of an impact video games and esports have had in people’s lives. Gaming and esports offers a new form of entertainment, creativity and a platform for expression. The deadline for all entries is Friday 1st September 2023. The winners will be announced at the film festival on the evening of Friday 20th October, in which the top three placed films will be showcased for the first time.

Advisory Board and Non-Profit Partner

The advisory board for the festival will feature Gina Jackson OBE, who is a highly experienced individual in addressing the talent shortage in the gaming industry. ESG Gaming has been confirmed as a non-profit partner for the event, dedicated to fostering an inclusive and positive experience for all participants and stakeholders in the digital entertainment sectors. They prioritize collaboration with individuals from diverse backgrounds across the entertainment industry to gather insights for research, product development, and evaluation. The complete lineup of judges, advisory board members, and partners will be announced soon.

Prize Pool and Submission Details

The £10,000 prize pool, courtesy of non-profit partner ESG Gaming, is split as follows:

• 1st Place – £5,000

• 2nd Place – £3,000

• 3rd Place – £2,000

Submissions can be made via the ESI entry form here.

All submissions must have a maximum run time of 20 minutes, and can be any style or film type (e.g. documentary, animation, comedy, action). Submissions can be from individuals, groups (e.g university societies, friends, colleagues), or companies, and all lead participants must be aged 18 or over.

All submitted films will undergo evaluation based on various criteria, including originality, creativity, plot development, pacing, structural coherence, character portrayal, cinematography, and overall entertainment value. Additionally, the effectiveness of the film’s message and the filmmaker’s ability to engage and connect with the audience will be taken into consideration during the judging process.

Further submission information and criteria, including submission specs, can be found here.

All those interested in applying for judge, advisory board or partner positions, please fill out this form.

The ESI Film Festival

The ESI Film Festival is an integral component of the renowned ESI London, the largest B2B esports event worldwide. This exciting event will be held at Wembley’s BOXPARK on October 19th and 20th, providing attendees with two immersive days of in-depth discussions and exploration of the esports industry.

Tickets for the ESI Film Festival are through invitation only. Tickets for ESI London can be purchased here.