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

Freeplay 2019 – Keynote & Theme Reveal

Freeplay 2019 – Keynote & Theme Reveal

We’re thrilled to announce that this year’s festival dates are May 7th–12th. Our theme this year is INTROSPECTION, and our international keynote speakers are the wonderful Hannah Nicklin & Richard Lemarchand. We have a bunch more international speakers to announce soon, so watch this space!

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Showtime Night Market

Showtime Night Market

We’re super excited to announce that Freeplay is a program partner for the delightful event Showtime Night Market – a collaboration between Testing Grounds and The Rose Street Artists’ Market, who’ll bring you two night markets in summer 2019!

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Freeplay is seeking new board members

Freeplay is seeking new board members

The Freeplay Independent Games Festival is seeking nominations for its Board of Directors. We seek passionate candidates to play a role in the stewardship and development of the Freeplay Organisation, and our Independent Games Festival and events.

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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.