2020 Freeplay Digital Festival: Belonging

JUNE 10–14

Freeplay is the world’s longest-running independent games festival, located in Melbourne, Australia.

Established in 2004, the festival embraces the fringes, spotlights grassroots artists and game makers, and acts as a response to and critique of the status quo. For over 16 years, Freeplay has been exploring the vital margins of independent, alternative, and experimental games culture. The festival continues to champion artistic exploration and experimentation in games and play, and positions game making as arts practice.

Join us in June 2020 for a 5-day digital festival filled with online talks, panels, workshops, and more!

Latest News

Announcing Parallels: Freeplay’s 2017 Showcase!

Announcing Parallels: Freeplay’s 2017 Showcase!

Parallels highlights some of the most unique, experimental, personal, and alternative games being made at the fringes of Melbourne and Australia’s independent games scene today. Come and watch as local designers demonstrate and play their creations live on stage, and discuss their influences and creative passions.

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A very Freeplay update: New director and suite of events for 2017-18

A very Freeplay update: New director and suite of events for 2017-18

Today, we’re thrilled to share some exciting news with you! First off, our very own Chad Toprak will be joining the Freeplay team as our new director, replacing Dan Golding who now serves on the Freeplay board. Chad is a game designer, curator, and academic, best known for his work with Hovergarden and more recently the Contours exhibition.

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Freeplay in 2017 – Updates, Changes, and Your Chance to Get Involved

Freeplay in 2017 – Updates, Changes, and Your Chance to Get Involved

Welcome to Freeplay for 2017! After a quiet 2016, which we used to build up the organisation behind the scenes, we’re going to have an exciting year. Let me update you on a few things we’ve been up to, and on our plans for the future. We’ve added some terrific people to the Freeplay board over the last year.

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Freeplay acknowledges the Wurundjeri & Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the Lands upon which the festival takes place.
We pay respect to their Elders past, present, and emerging, and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the wider community and beyond.
Sovereignty was never ceded, and this always was and always will be Aboriginal land.