A MAZE. / Berlin 2024

13th International Games and Playful Media Festival

WELCOME TO THE A MAZE. AWARD SYSTEM!

SUBMIT YOUR GAME & PLAYFUL MEDIA WORK / REGISTER FOR SELECTION COMMITTEE

Since 2012 A MAZE. awards The Most Amazing works. The winner is selected by an interdisciplinary, international and 100% independent jury. We extended and changed awards in the many years since, our categories are now: “Most Amazing Award”, “Human Human Machine Award”, “Long Feature Award”, “Digital Moment Award”, “Explorer Award” and “Audience Award” as well as the "Gender Diversity Award" presented by WINGS.

This year, we will also have a special alternative controller exhibition, meaning that even not nominated for an award, there are more chances to make it in our selection! (Artists need to be present to set up and maintain their work)

A MAZE./ is looking for works pushing the medium of playful arts - fully finished works, demos, experiments, interactive performances, installations, immersive theater or prototypes are welcomed! Each nominee and honorable mentions will receive news buzz and a spot in our onsite exhibition - Travel and building up booths is optional! Besides winning one of the Awards with their attached 1000€ price money (2000€ for the main price), every exhibited work at the festival has the chance to additionally win the Audience Award.


CHECK OUT LAST YEARS

NOMINEES, WINNERS and the HISTORY


Artists can register or use a previously used account to submit their work (automatically for all award categories and alt.ctl exhibition, submission-fee 0-30€/€35/50€ per Entry - Early Bird ending Dec 31) between December 11, 2023, and January 31 (new: Feb 12), 2024. Check the Conditions of Participation. Submitting a work will allow for a 25% discount at the festival tickets and early access to the Open Screens submission, where you can show your work in timed slots. We support community tickets (pay more so others can take part too or use Supporter Ticket Boosters for yourself).

Members of the Selection Committee can register or reactivate a previously used account to test Submitted Works between January 15, 2024, and February 25, 2024. To reactivate an account, simply log in, edit your Profile and select "2024" in the drop-down in your Jury Profile. Reviewing 5 or more entries will allow members of the Selection Committee to get a 25% discount at the festival tickets.


Register as Artist Register as Selection Committee


IT'S ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY

Join the A MAZE. Discord, where we invite anyone to showcase their works to our international playful media and arthouse games community. Hold livestreams, get feedback, discuss current topics or be part of the open playtests if you become a member of the selection committee. A MAZE. is all year around!

A MAZE. Discord


TIMELINE

Dec 11: Start of Submissions and Jury-Registration
Jan 15: Judging starts
Jan 31: Original Submission Deadline
Feb 12: Extended Submission Deadline
Feb 25: Judging ends
Mar 13: Announcement Nominees
May 08: A MAZE. / Berlin starts online and onsite
May 10: Award ceremony

How we review
The international Selection Committee reviews all entries and rates them based on innovation, potential, interdisciplinarity, social/cultural/political impact, aesthetics and overall awesomeness. They also leave comments and suggest a category. The A MAZE./ Berlin team builds upon that base and selects the nominees. After the nominee selection, a final jury of 5 experts, including the winner of the previous year, has the honor to select the winners.


If you just want to showcase your work for a few hours - Please apply for the open screens around one month before the festival, post your work in our A MAZE. Discord or become part of the A MAZE. Bazaar - the only and first international market for arthouse games, independent games and playful media productions which gives authors and digital artists the opportunity to meet with publishers, funding institutions, art institutions and collaborators. Submissions and Honorable Mentions in the Award Contest will be notified and preferred.

Read the directors statement | More about the award categories


Have a look at the last years editions:



2023 Recordings of Talks and Shows


If you have any questions, please contact us at award_at_a-maze.net.

More about A MAZE. / Berlin 2024
Festival-Tickets available here

Organized by A MAZE.
Check out the 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2029, 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions!