Welcome to the Play.Docs Showcase & Conference, an engaging journey through the immersive realm where storytelling meets interactivity. As part of the program at the Beldocs International Documentary Film Festival we invite you to explore profound narratives, thought-provoking themes and innovative gameplay experiences that define the landscape of the so-called serious video games.

In recent years, video games have transcended their traditional role as mere entertainment, evolving into a powerful medium for exploring complex issues, fostering empathy, and sparking meaningful conversations. Through meticulously crafted gameplay mechanics and compelling narratives, serious video games offer players a unique opportunity to engage with topics ranging from social justice and mental health, all the way to environmental conservation and historical events.

As part of the official program of the 17th edition Beldocs in Belgrade, we will showcase interesting games that draw our attention to some of the key social challenges of today through the domain of games. Alongside the showcase which feature 4 games coming from across the European continent, Beldocs and the SGA will also present a half-day conference program aimed at indie and young creators interested in creative and social aspects of contemporary game narratives, featuring local and international case studies, lecturers and intersections with SGA’s Playing Narratives program.

The absolute highlight of the program will be masterclass/ live-performance RED REDEMPTION: A Brute Marxist Crash Course of the Vienna-based Total Refusal collective, focused on the artistic intervention and appropriation of mainstream video games. In their practice, they upcycle video games in order to reveal the political apparatus beyond the glossy and hyperreal textures of this media. This performance will be held on Saturday, May 25th at 12.30 PM at the Yugoslav Film Archives.

Throughout the premiere Play.Docs showcase, we aim to exhibit a diverse selection of serious video games that push the boundaries of storytelling and challenge conventional perspectives. From emotionally charged narratives that tackle the human condition, to interactive experiences that shed light on pressing global issues – each game invites you to become an active participant in the exploration of important social themes and ideas. The Showcase is presented alongside the XR exhibition, which Beldocs has been consistently promoting for several years, and will be staged at the Balkan cinema.

Finally, the half-day conference will be held on Friday, May 24th from 5 to 8 PM at the Nova Iskra Workspace, and will have two key segments:

European Gaming Narratives
Supporting creative game development across the region via Creative Europe MEDIA program

In this extended panel interwoven with several short project presentations, we will look at how the Creative Europe MEDIA program has been supporting game creators across the CEE region, or more specifically the ex-Yugoslav cultural space. We will hear from game studios from all three countries, those who have successfully applied to the Creative Europe MEDIA program for the development of narrative games. Furthemore, representatives of local Creative Europe Desks as well as national trade organizations for the field of game development will also be involved in conversation.

We would like to reflect on some of the success stories, and also to look further at how we can animate new and emerging narrative game creators to use the advantages, funding and support mechanisms offered by the EU funding programs. The European Commission is increasingly dwelling into the game dev field in recent years, and following several major research projects, new funding and capacity building programs are expected to be announced in the coming years, supporting the European creative and innovative spirit beyond sheer entertainment, and celebrating the vast social, education and storytelling potential that games as a cultural medium have already demonstrated, and will increasingly do so in the future.

Program participants:
Aleksandar Gavrilović (Gamechuck/CGDA, Croatia)
Sara Božanić (ITD/Twisted Tales, Slovenia)
Ines Kežman (Motovila/Creative Europe Desk, Slovenia)
Saša Veličković (Codemancy, Serbia)
Andriana Miladinović (Codemancy, Serbia)
Una Domazetoski (Creative Europe Desk, Serbia)
Moderator: Nenad Jovanovski (SGA)

Games of our Common Future
Looking back and forth at Playing Narratives program by the Serbian Games Association

In this special appearance of the Playing Narratives program by the Serbian Games Association at Play.Docs, we will open the doors of this special  8-month mentoring process intended for 35 creatives from across Serbia – to the general public and Beldocs audience. The link is very natural as the program, which is running its fourth annual cycle this year, is precisely dealing with the conceptualization of the type of games which are, and will be represented by Play.Docs.

A diverse group of creative writers, visual artists and sound designers enter the inner workings of the gaming industry, in order to tackle some of the key notions of our current social environment. In 2024, the focus is on climate, through a special collaboration with the Center for Promotion of Science. Starting from April, they will learn a lot about designing narratives for games, and delivering them as “pitchable” concepts with a developed storyline, characters, art, music and general market orientation. In November, an international jury will judge how successful they were in the process.

At Play.Docs, this year’s group will have a kind of “public class” with a special guest lecture by Igor Simić, creative director of Demagog Studio, on the topic of Transmedia Worldbuilding, which will be interesting for a wider audience. Finally, everyone will have the opportunity to follow a live presentation of one project pitch from each of the previous three cycles of the program, representing the diversity of projects and celebrating the successes of all previous teams that participated in the program:

First cycle: Vladimir Đaković, Beyond the Gates by Soulbusters
Second cycle: Manja Topalović, Bodysnatcher by Rag&Bone
Third cycle: Pavle Lazarević, The 3rd Dimension of a Stickman by Čiče Gliše

So far, more than 18 games were conceptualized and presented as part of the program. In November, we will have at least six more!

The program is realized with the support of Media Desk Serbia, and for more details about the complete program of the BELDOCS festival – visit their website.