Produrre cinema dentro e con i videogiochi. A Milano ci fanno un festival (da 30 anni)
The Milan Machinima Festival recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of machinima, the practice of creating audiovisual works and films within video game environments. The event, curated by scholar Matteo Bittanti at IULM University, explored the medium's dual origins in 1996: the community-driven "vernacular" style seen in the Quake-based 'Diary of a Camper' and the artistic approach pioneered by Miltos Manetas in his work 'Miracle'.
This milestone highlights the growing intersection between gaming technology and contemporary art, where the removal of interactivity transforms digital spaces into raw material for critical analysis. By distinguishing between fan-made content and "art machinima," the festival underscores how the art world legitimizes digital subcultures, turning glitches and gameplay into sophisticated tools for deconstructing modern algorithms and visual culture.