The AfroAnimation Summit proudly presents the 1st Annual Gaming Awards! Join us for an immersive three-day experience from April 3–5, 2025, at the AMC Burbank 16 Theater in Burbank, CA. This year’s event features in-person and virtual film screenings, main stage panels, workshops, career development labs, a creative job fair, studio recruiting, expo hall, portfolio reviews and our prestigious award ceremonies!

We drive change in the creator economy by connecting multicultural creative and tech talent with leading movie studios, TV networks, new media, tech and gaming companies. Together, we create career and deal opportunities, drive relevant discussions, share insights, upskill, build networks, and celebrate creative excellence.

The AAS2025 Gaming Awards will culminate on Saturday, April 5th!

Winning these awards can be life-changing, offering game developers and designers exposure to influential industry game figures and a global audience, along with a cash prize, opportunities to connect with major studio executives, distributors and financiers. Award recipients are chosen by a distinguished jury with a focus on unique, BIPOC perspectives.

If your game is a finalist and a runner up, up to 15 minutes of your gameplays can be screened at the Summit and online. Winners are determined by a combined vote of 60% from the jury and 40% from the audience.

Next Top Gamer 2025: Cash prize of $500 and Trophy

Runner-Up: Trophy

We welcome indie and independent games that center on diverse, multicultural creators and narratives. Eligible entries must meet these criteria:

- Game Length: Must not exceed 20 minutes

- Category Options: Games of any genre of your choice can be submitted, but nudity or violence, crime and or drugs.

- Screening Rights: Selected games will be screened both in-venue and online

- Language: Games in Languages other than English require English subtitles

Game Developers must own the rights to all submitted content. Finalists grant AfroAnimation permission to use brief excerpts for promotional purposes. Selected games will be notified by March 14, 2025.

Finalist Rules:
1. Designate a contact person with valid phone and email information.

2. Confirm the game’s completion date via email.

3. Grant AfroAnimation permission to use a 30-second clip and still images for promotional purposes.

4. Verify that the game does not infringe any copyrights.

Two finalists will compete for the Summit Winner Awards. There will be at least three official judges. In the event of a tie, a fourth judge will make the tie breaking vote. AfroAnimation maintains the right to make rule updates from time-to-time. Check back here for new updates.

TO SUBMIT A GAME, YOU NEED TO:
1. HAVE COMPLETED THE GAME AFTER NOVEMBER 10TH, 2022.
2. COMPLY WITH THE PRESELECTION CONDITIONS
3. FILL OUT THE SHORT ONLINE ENTRY FORM on FilmFreeWay
4. UPLOAD ONE GAME PER PERSON
(UP TO 20 MINUTES RUNNING TIME) ONLINE TO FilmFreeway
GAME SUBMISSIONS CLOSE ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2025 BY 11:59 PM PST.
5. IF YOUR GAME IS SELECTED, YOU MUST COMPLY WITH
AFROANIMATION’S RULES AND REGULATIONS.

Indemnification. Applicant and rightsholder shall at all times, indemnify, defend and hold AfroAnimation and its companies, respective affiliates, officers, directors, judges, employees, service providers, contractors and sponsors of the foregoing harmless from and against any and all claims, damages, penalties, liabilities, costs and expenses including, reasonable counsel fees, arising out of or relating to: festival violations, omissions, violations of copyright.