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ESI Events Unveils ESI Film Festival 2024 Shortlist
- Best Film nominations: Wisper: Bolivia’s 1 in 12 Million, Heroes of Lofoten, Bad Moon Rising | Cyberpunk 2077
- Fanfilm, 24 Hour Making of a CHAMPION: An MLBB Esports Exclusive & Live Legendary: Launders
- Best Student Film nominations: Zara – My Game, Questopia & C++
ESI Events is thrilled to announce the official nominations and shortlist for the second edition of the annual ESI Film Festival, taking place as part of the ESI Lisbon 2024 event at the MEO Arena. This year’s festival celebrates the power of storytelling within the gaming and esports communities, highlighting the talent and creativity of filmmakers from around the globe.
The ESI Film Festival, launched in 2023 at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, returns in 2024 with an expanded event, offering filmmakers a platform to share gaming related stories that deserve to be told.
This year’s festival not only adds a second category but also continues to bridge the gap between the worlds of film, gaming, and esports. By showcasing films that delve into the positive impact of gaming can and does have, the ESI Film Festival reinforces the notion that video games and esports have the potential to make meaningful differences in people’s lives.
Best Film Nominees:
Wisper: Bolivia’s 1 in 12 Million
- Directed by Rich Bowen at OG Esports
- Adrián “Wisper” Céspedes – a kid from Bolivia who ended up defying the odds to make it to Dota’s biggest stage, becoming one of OG Esports’ most important players. This is part of our series ‘Origins’, where we look into the past of our players and learn what made them the people they are today.
Heroes of Lofoten
- Directed by Johanna Cederstrøm at MistGames
- Heroes of Lofoten: A Counter-Strike Experience above the Arctic Circle. Last year MistGames flew some of the greatest Counter-Strike talents in Europe to one of the most beautiful places in the world, Lofoten. Our goal was to combine the entertainment of esports with technology and travel. The documentary puts emphasis on the joys and struggles behind the scene of the event.
Bad Moon Rising | Cyberpunk 2077 Fanfilm
- Directed by Kira Cesnik
- In Night City there is chaos in every corner. So when V gets a gig from an unknown caller regarding some deadly cyberware, it’s up to him to save the day.
Chuck & Fern
- Directed by Henry Alexander Kelly
- Within a fantasy video game, a heroic swordsman and a D-List villain face an existential crisis but must push past it when a greater purpose calls.
Live Legendary: Launders
- Directed by Chew Productions
- This documentary chronicles the journey of Launders, the beloved Counter-Strike caster. Growing up in Toronto, Launders is the son of a determined mother of Indian descent, who immigrated to Canada in search of a better life. His early years were spent with his mother in a women’s shelter, where he learned the resilience and strength that will define his future. In his youth, Launders struggled to find his path, working blue-collar jobs and occasionally falling into trouble. His life took a pivotal turn when he joined a “Big Brother” program and was paired with a mentor who saw his potential and encouraged him to reach for it. This is a story of a mother and son, of friendship, and the power of finding one’s true passion. It highlights the impact of positive influences and the transformative power of believing in oneself.
24 Hour Making of a CHAMPION: An MLBB Esports Exclusive
- Directed by MOONTON Games
- MLBB Esports presents an exclusive look at the historic triumph by Selangor Red Giants at the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup 2024. Take a look behind the scenes at Malaysia’s greatest achievement in MLBB.
Best Student Film Nominees:
Zara – My Game
- Directed by Jack Carmell
- This documentary follows Zara Horton, a former professional windsurfer for Team GB, as she takes a leap of faith into studying esports instead of taking a traditional route. We follow her journey through University esports and how she has used her competitive nature to her advantage.
Questopia
- Directed by Shahzer Kashif
- Danny’s gaming obsession turns deadly as he fights for his life in a game he thought he had total control over.
C++
- Directed by Bashar Taha Abduljabbar
- The story follows Yassin, a skilled programmer who tragically loses his wife, Suzanne, due to medical malpractice. Driven by anger and thirst for justice, Yassin kidnaps the negligent doctor, Khalid, responsible for Susan’s death. Within a virtual reality video game of his own creation, Yassin manipulates Khalid’s perception, confronting him with the truth behind Susan’s death. As the game unfolds, Khalid discovers shocking revelations and faces his fate, leading to a climactic showdown between Yassin and Khalid. “C++” explores themes of justice, loss, and the consequences of blurring the lines between reality and illusion.
Prize Pool & Categories
With a total prize pool of €6,000 courtesy of not-for-profit partner, ESG Gaming, the festival recognizes outstanding contributions across two categories—Best Film and Best Student Film. The breakdown of prizes is as follows:
- •Best Film
- 1st Place: €2,500 | 2nd Place: €1,500
- •Best Student Film
- 1st Place: €1,500 | 2nd Place: €500
Judging Panel
The nominees will be judged by a panel of industry experts, including:
- Hélène Juguet – Managing Director, Ubisoft Film & TV Paris
- Lee Willows – Founder & Executive Chair, ESG Gaming
- Stuart Burnside – Video Game Certification Manager – British Film Institute
- Karina Ziminaite – CEO – Z1MT Creative
- Alex Weber – Award-Winning Filmmaker
- Rui Pedro da Tendinha – Film Critic & Presenter
The post ESI Events Unveils ESI Film Festival 2024 Shortlist appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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The SOFTSWISS Sportsbook at Five: From MVP to Award-Winning Global B2B Solution
Reading Time: 3 minutes
The SOFTSWISS Sportsbook celebrates its fifth anniversary, marking a major milestone in its journey from MVP to a fully mature, internationally recognised B2B product. Over these five years, the team has achieved standout results, from launching a project in just 14 days to delivering a mobile-first experience that generates over 90% of GGR.
Since its debut in 2020, the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook has expanded its sports and esports catalogue, introduced premium cricket, launched a mobile app, added a customisable betting interface, unique bonuses, and various gamification tools for player engagement and retention. It has also introduced seamless integrations with the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator and Jackpot Aggregator.
An important milestone was reached ahead of UEFA Euro 2024, when the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook team delivered 22 new projects across 11 casino platforms, including the SOFTSWISS Casino Platform, within a single month. A breakthrough record was also set when the team launched a project in just 14 days from contract signing to the first bet.
The SOFTSWISS Sportsbook is engineered for smooth, platform-agnostic integration, enabling fast rollouts on both proprietary and third-party platforms. Delivering a strong player experience and supporting business growth, the Sportsbook seamlessly integrates into any iGaming operation with flexible launch options to meet diverse needs. Recent updates further enhance its efficiency, including API 2.0 for more scalable integrations and a renewed CMS with deeper content control.
Alexander Kamenetskyi, Head of SOFTSWISS Sportsbook, comments: “Five years ago, we set out to build a modern Sportsbook – flexible, scalable, and ready for the future of betting. Today, we have a stable architecture, powerful engagement tools, a strong risk management layer, and a team that knows how to move fast without compromising quality. The product has matured, and we are ready to push forward with even greater ambition.”
Delivering 2,000+ betting markets across 200+ sports and esports, with all Sportradar official leagues included, the Sportsbook supports 100,000+ monthly live events and a mobile-first experience that generates over 90% of GGR. Clients also highlight its intuitive CMS, robust risk management, and 24/7 technical assistance, reinforcing the Sportsbook’s position as a reliable B2B solution.
Anton Eshtokin, CMO of Boomerang Partners, shares: “The SOFTSWISS Sportsbook is an ideal choice for any iGaming operator looking to diversify its portfolio and strengthen its competitive position in the market. On behalf of our entire team, I’d like to congratulate the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook on reaching this remarkable five-year milestone. As a partner, you’ve consistently demonstrated innovation, professionalism, and a deep understanding of the industry’s evolution. We wish you continued growth, bold ideas, and the drive to keep setting new standards in the iGaming market. May the next five years bring even more success stories and breakthroughs that inspire the entire industry.”
The SOFTSWISS Sportsbook’s achievements have been acknowledged across the industry, earning accolades such as Best Online Sportsbook Provider at SiGMA South Asia Awards 2025, Innovative E-sports Product of the Year at SPiCE South Asia Eventus Awards 2024, Best Sports Betting Provider in the Baltics at BSG Awards 2023, and Rising Star in Sports Betting at SBC Awards Latinoamérica 2022.
In 2025, the sports betting solution entered a new phase, focusing on architectural upgrades to support faster feature delivery. The team plans to release a new API Tester in December and is preparing for the upcoming launch of virtual sports. The Sportsbook platform also covered urgent Brazilian and Bulgarian regulatory requirements. These strategic moves will allow the solution to maintain momentum and scale to meet the growing expectations of operators in diverse markets.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 36,700 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post The SOFTSWISS Sportsbook at Five: From MVP to Award-Winning Global B2B Solution appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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SkillOnNet redefine los juegos RNG con el lanzamiento de GAIA, la primera ruleta con un crupier generado por IA
Reading Time: 2 minutes
GAIA es la primera ruleta del mundo impulsada por IA y que ya está en uso comercial.
La compañía de entretenimiento global SkillOnNet ha anunciado el lanzamiento de Ruleta GAIA, una nueva experiencia de ruleta revolucionaria impulsada por inteligencia artificial.
El juego – que ya está en vivo en PlayUZU Mexico – con planes de expansión a otros mercados de la red de SkillOnNet en los próximos meses – mezcla la emoción de un juego RNG con el realismo de los juegos en vivo. Es la primera ruleta del mundo impulsada por IA que ya está en uso comercial.
A diferencia de las ruletas aleatorias tradicionales, Ruleta GAIA incorpora un crupier personalizado para cada jugador. GAIA aprende las preferencias del jugador, adapta su estilo de comunicación y facilita ayuda en tiempo real, de forma que los usuarios reciban información sobre apuestas, flujo del juego y estrategias.
Los jugadores pueden conversar sobre el juego – preguntar sobre los resultados, números previos, sus pérdidas y ganancias, y revisar el historial– y también preguntar sobre temas del día a día como aficiones, deportes, comida, películas, el tiempo y mucho más para que la experiencia sea mucho más entretenida.
Diseñada y desarrollada internamente por SkillOnNet, GAIA se convertirá en tu crupier IA. Utiliza GPT-4.1-mini para el chat, que admite todos los idiomas, de manera que los jugadores de todo el mundo pueden conversar con ella en su lengua nativa.
Para los jugadores que disfrutan del toque personal de un crupier en vivo, GAIA es el siguiente nivel. Y al estar impulsada por tecnología RNG, pueden disfrutar de un ritmo de juego más rápido y más tiradas por sesión que en los juegos en vivo con crupier real.
Para SkillOnNet, GAIA representa un gran avance para el gaming impulsado por IA y para las experiencias de casino personalizadas.
Jani Kontturi, Responsible de Juegos en SkillOnNet, dice “Con la Ruleta GAIA redefinimos las posibilidades del entretenimiento de casino RNG, y nos enorgullecemos de ofrecer a nuestros jugadores algo verdaderamente revolucionario. PlayUZU siempre se ha posicionado como un operador transparente, divertido e innovador – y GAIA encaja a la perfección con esos valores. Este lanzamiento establece un nuevo estándar en lo que los jugadores pueden esperar de la ruleta”.
The post SkillOnNet redefine los juegos RNG con el lanzamiento de GAIA, la primera ruleta con un crupier generado por IA appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Emily Atack joins BOYLE Casino as Brand Ambassador with new hero campaign launching ‘Serious About Play’
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Actress, Comedian, and Presenter Emily Atack, has joined BOYLE Casino as brand ambassador, bringing her signature warmth, humour and energy, as she joins the brand in getting ‘Serious About Play’.
In her role, Inbetweeners and Rivals icon Emily will help showcase the platform’s entertainment-led experiences and connect with players across the UK and Ireland. Her activity kicks off by taking centre stage in a hero creative campaign across TV, digital, out-of-home and social, launching today.
Developed in partnership with Beyond and the Story Club, the creative sees Emily transported to a vibrant virtual world, which she travels through surrounded by the thousands of games BOYLE Casino has on offer, her cheeky commentary providing the soundtrack before the new BOYLE Casino identity – Serious About Play – is revealed.
The new partnership and hero campaign follows BOYLE Sports’ relaunch of the BOYLE Casino platform in September, delivering a massive choice of online casino games available in the UK and Ireland. The upgraded site features faster performance, smarter personalisation and a design built to entertain and delight players. Players now receive tailored top 10 game recommendations, immersive jackpot hubs and dedicated spaces for exclusive BOYLE Casino content.
In an exciting week for the brand, December 2nd sees the JOE Pub Quiz in partnership with BOYLE Casino – live at Islington Assembly Hall in London. Entrants will put their knowledge to the test in rounds inspired by memes, cultural icons and classic British trivia, with opportunities to win spot prizes including tickets to BOYLE Sports’ partners, West Ham United and the London Lions.
Commenting on Emily joining the BOYLE Sports team, Gill Blake-Swift, Director of Brand for BOYLE Sports, said: “Emily is such a natural fit for BOYLE Casino – she’s fun, relatable and brings an energy that really mirrors where we’re taking the brand. Innovation lies at the heart of our casino offering and her personality taps perfectly into that momentum, so bringing Emily on board feels like another major step forward.”
BOYLE Casino’s new ambassador, Emily Atack, added: “I’m chuffed to be joining the BOYLE Casino team and being part of its journey – we’ve already had a lot of fun!”
BOYLE Sports’ commitment to responsible gambling continues to sit at the heart of its casino offering. The revamped platform includes clear, accessible safer gambling tools that allow players to set limits, track activity and stay in control at all times.
The post Emily Atack joins BOYLE Casino as Brand Ambassador with new hero campaign launching ‘Serious About Play’ appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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