Token Taverns(2023)

Video Games: The Movie(en)

From executive producer Zach Braff and director Jeremy Snead, "Video Games: The Movie" is an epic feature length documentary chronicling the meteoric rise of video games from nerd niche to multi-billion dollar industry. Narrated by Sean Astin and featuring in-depth interviews with the godfathers who started it all, the icons of game design, and the geek gurus who are leading us into the future, "Video Games: The Movie" is a celebration of gaming from Atari to Xbox and an eye-opening look at what lies ahead.

This is Not a Game(en)

Angela Su’s fictional artist Rosie Leavers is the last remaining person to upload her consciousness to a video game. Contemplating during a pandemic year which also saw people’s resistance movements in many parts of the world, the work pinpoints the uncanny affinities between gaming and warfare strategies. They have mutually informed the infrastructure of both worlds since time immemorial when diplomatic conflicts played out on the battlefield of the 64 squares of a chess board to flight simulation technologies which were adapted to shape gaming experiences as we know it now. When the conflict is between the state and its people, she speculates that gaming strategies empower civilians in resistance movements to counter imperialism through its own operative logic. But once we upload our consciousness, are we able to return to the sensibilities and political motivation that inspired the revolution to begin with?

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters(en)

In this hilarious arcade showdown, a humble novice goes head-to-head against the reigning Donkey Kong champ in a confrontation that rocks the gaming world to its processors! For over 20 years, Billy Mitchell has owned the throne of the Donkey Kong world. No one could beat his top score until now. Newcomer Steve Wiebe claims to have beaten the unbeatable, but Mitchell isn't ready to relinquish his crown without a fight. Go behind the barrels as the two battle it out in a vicious war to earn the title of the true King of Kong.

Dance Dance Documentary(en)

In 1999, Konami Corp. introduced a Japanese-influenced coin-operated arcade stand-up to the U.S. Its draw was unheard of for a video game: the combination of music, competition, and interactive video-gameplay along with actual physical activity. Four years later, Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) has become one of the most popular game crazes stateside and found easily in video game stores and in nationwide retail markets. This story explores the youth culture surrounding the game and follows a group of devoted players and documents their interactions at various arcades and tournaments.

Wreck Or Get Rekt(en)

Still Standing(en)

Discover the untold story of Pinball and Arcade in Australia in this heart-warming, and at times heart-breaking, nostalgic journey through the golden era of gaming.

No Scope: The Story of FaZe Clan(en)

A wide-ranging documentary of the popular gaming brand, and the remarkable series of ups and downs that have defined that story and its characters over the last decade-plus. For years now, the growth of esports has been one of the defining stories of entertainment . And at the center of all that growth has been FaZe Clan, an organization that’s gone from the brainchild of a few gamers streaming their play on the internet to publicly traded company with teams and players all around the globe competing professionally in an array of games. The film explores questions about the costs of their rapid growth and extraordinary success. As FaZe has come to encompass stars and performers from the traditional sports and entertainment worlds, even in the wake of the company’s public offering, the financial viability of the whole enterprise hardly appears stable. Through it all, esports are undoubtedly here to stay. But “No Scope” makes clear that the path from here is anything but assured.

Dangerous Games: Roblox and the Metaverse Exposed(en)

Follow Alex, Janae, and Katie as they investigate the hidden threats inside online worlds designed for children. After Katie is harassed by a predator on Roblox, the trio uncovers a disturbing network of extremists, predators, and illicit content. As their investigation gains traction, real-world tragedies — including a kidnapping and a mass shooting — underscore the devastating consequences of a system failing to protect its most vulnerable users. Through expert interviews and gripping verité storytelling, the film exposes the gaps in platform regulations and the dangers that continue to slip through the cracks. Blending investigative journalism with compelling visuals, Dangerous Games delivers a wake-up call on the urgent need for accountability in the evolving digital world.

Amiga: Classic Game Insights Vol 1(en)

The Classic Game Insights series presents in-depth interviews with game developers, providing detailed accounts of their work on a particular classic game and the creation process involved. Each film is independent and concentrates on either a single, specific game or a series of games, with the creator personally guiding you through their development journey. Amiga: Classic Game Insights Vol 1 offers 3 hours of content that explores a range of iconic Amiga games, this is an essential viewing experience for anyone with an interest in the Amiga computer, its games, or game design as a whole.

Games You Can't Win(en)

Games You Can’t Win explores “empathy” gaming, a new video game movement in which developers are sharing some of their most intimate or traumatic personal experiences through artful, documentary-style video games. Using a combination of intimate verité footage and video capture from the games, the short film tells the stories of three developer and the personal experiences that inspired their game.

Spelkollektivet: To Build a Castle(en)

"Spelkollektivet: To Build a Castle" is the story of the world's largest co-living space for game developers, and the people living there. Follow the founder James Newnorth as he navigates the many obstacles of turning an untried idea into reality. Meet the three indie devs Leene Künnap, Matej Jan and Michal Roch as they work on their respective games, "Death and Taxes", "Pixel Art Academy" and "Lords and Villeins". Find out if Spelkollektivet fosters the next indie dev star.

Going Postal: The Legacy Foretold(en)

Feature length documentary about the infamous video game franchise 'Postal' by Running with Scissors. Exploring the company's history and possible imprint violent video games bring to the real world.

Summer Game Fest 2022(en)

A fan-first celebration of the future of video games, featuring world premiere new game announcements and first looks at the latest games from the world's biggest video game developers.

Here Comes a New Challenger(en)

The story of the gaming phenomenon that is Street Fighter II, exploring its origins and its impact on the lives of kids and teenagers worldwide.

The Lost Arcade(en)

Chinatown Fair opened as a penny arcade on Mott Street in 1944. Over the decades, the dimly lit gathering place, known for its tic-tac-toe playing chicken, became an institution, surviving turf wars between rival gangs, changing tastes and the explosive growth of home gaming systems like Xbox and Playstation that shuttered most other arcades in the city. But as the neighborhood gentrified, this haven for a diverse, unlikely community faced its strongest challenge, inspiring its biggest devotees to next-level greatness.

The Fading Nature of Physical Media(en)

In the following documentary, we explore how two collectors and a store owner feel about the current digital distribution of video games and what could happen if buying physical media is no longer an option.

Memories of NaiD: The DVD(en)

An online fan of NAID (the North American International Demoparty) spent time piecing together NAID footage over 1995-1996. With nearly 2 hours of found footage of the 1990s demoscene in North America.

A Goodbye to Blessed Realities(en)

A video essay that despite, multiple delays, finally released to document the story and cancellation of solo-dev Heavenly Den!'s game, Blessed Realities, as a way to bring closure to the game and the studio's story. The story is over.

Head Transplant and the Non-Existence of the Soul(en)

A critical analysis by Jacob Geller analyzing the depiction of head- (or consciouness-) transplants in video games such as Wolfenstein 2 or Soma in parallel with the history of the almost-father of head transplants (his experiences having been limited to monkeys), Robert Joseph White. How did we end up moving the center of human consciouness from the heart to the brain ? Where does the soul come in to play here? When is the body / Theseus' ship no longer the body / Theseus' ship for having had its limbs / its wood transplanted too much ?

A World Under Glass(en)

A married couple working together at a pinball museum explore the state of pinball and what it means to them.