Checkpoint Festival 2025 — Program Overview

📍 Location: GAMM – Game Museum, Rome
🗓️ Dates: Thursday–Sunday, November 13–16, 2025
🎙️ Presented by: Women in Games • CSAI • GAMM Game Museum

Day 1 — Thursday, November 13

09:30–10:00 — Arrivals & Registration

10:00–10:15 — Welcome by the Hosts
Speakers: Marco Accordi Rickards & Marie-Claire Isaaman

Festival vision and introduction to the curated programme and Festival Awards

10:20–11:05 — Keynote: Video Games & Culture — The Power of Play to Shape Society
Speaker: Nick Poole OBE, CEO Ukie

Focus: Games as cultural language; identity, community, innovation

11:10–11:40 — Keynote: Culture and Videogames in Italy

11:40–11:55 — Q&A & Coffee

12:00–12:45 — Women in Games Forum — Panel: Expanding Horizons: Women, Culture & the Future of Games
Led by: Micaela Romanini (Women in Games Italia)

Focus: Creative leadership, inclusivity, diversity, advocacy, and innovation

12:50–13:00 — Morning Wrap & Q&A

13:00–14:20 — Lunch

14:30–15:20 — Panel: Guardians of Gaming History — Saving Play
Speakers: Natalia Kovalainen (Chief Archivist, Embracer Games Archive), Bartosz Kwietniewski (Head of Business Development, GOG)
Moderator: Marco Accordi Rickards (EFGAMP)

Focus: Preservation of consoles, code, fan culture; building a shared cultural mission

15:30–16:15 — Keynote: New Horizons — Technology & the Future of Play
Speaker: Roberto Genovesi

Focus: Digital transformation, gaming, XR, and Italy’s creative industries

16:15–16:45 — Q&A + Short Break

16:45–17:30 — Talk: Flock XR: Inspiring the Next Generation of Game Developers
Speaker: Dr Tracy Gardner

Focus: AI-driven learning tools; pathways for young creators

17:40–18:20 — Talk: Story, Heritage & Innovation
Speaker: Maddalena Colamusso

Focus: Narrative design and Italian contributions to storytelling

Day 2 — Friday, November 14

09:30–10:00 — Arrivals & Registration

10:00–11:00 — Women in Games Forum — Keynote Panel: Building Inclusive Communities for Lasting Change

11:10–11:50 — Virtual Talk: When Worlds Collide — Creating Games in a Polarized World
Speaker: Kate Edwards

Focus: Cultural responsibility, global collaboration, narrative authenticity

12:00–12:40 — Panel: Translating Worlds — Localization, Culturalization & the Art of Connection
Led by: Micaela Romanini (Women in Games Italia)
Panelists: Francesca Noto (CEO, Idra Editing SRL), Valentina Mollica (Director of Language Services, Testronic)

Focus: Inclusive localization shaping global storytelling

12:45–13:15 — Talk: The Playful Renaissance — Games Beyond the Factory
Speakers: Dr Chris Lowthorpe & Sean Taylor

Focus: Human-scale play, creativity, and cultural impact

13:15–14:30 — Lunch

14:30–15:15 — Talk: Gamescom Awards 2025 — Trends in Gaming
Speaker: Benjamin Rostalski

Focus: Key trends, technology, creativity, and cultural recognition

15:15–15:55 — Women in Games Forum — Talk: Risks & Opportunities for Real-Time Emotion-Driven Gameplay
Speaker: Professor Karen Cham

16:00–16:40 — Case Study: Entre Líneas — Where Respect Becomes Action
Speakers: Xavier Planell (CEO, Kirodo / eShodo), Ana Pellejero Ibáñez (AREAM)

Focus: Interactive storytelling for empathy, inclusion, and ethics

17:00–17:30 — Talk: Playable Memories: A Collector’s Journey Through Games & Time
Speaker: Cayetano Torres

Focus: Personal preservation, cultural and emotional value of games

17:40–18:20 — Closing Session: Checkpoint Reflections — Mapping the Past, Questioning the Present, Reimagining the Future
Moderated by: Dr Sharon Coleclough

Focus: Collective reflection, connecting themes, and envisioning the future of games

18:30–late — Festival Party (guests, partners, sponsors, speakers)

Weekend — Saturday & Sunday, November 15–16

The GAMM – Game Museum will remain open during its regular hours to welcome all visitors interested in:

Exploring and discussing the themes of the conference

Networking with professionals, creators, and enthusiasts

Sharing ideas and building connections within the gaming community

Program Highlights

Networking & Industry Talks

Spaces to discuss culture, inclusion, innovation, and the future of gaming

Informal professional exchanges, mentoring, and project presentations

Tournaments & Play Experiences

Competitions on arcade cabinets and consoles, featuring retro and modern games

Friendly challenges and leaderboards for all skill levels

Special Guided Tours

Exclusive museum tours and in-depth insights into iconic works, retro gaming, and digital innovations

Recreational & Social Moments

Free play areas for old and new titles

Collaborative activities for families and groups