• 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