Jens Merkl, 28, Florian Mühlegg, 26, and Roland Sigmond, 24, study interactive media and motion design at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. Their film was created during a machinima workshop run by the Interactive Media department and parodies the main character of blockbuster video game Grand Theft Auto IV. The game follows Serbian character Niko Bellic and his search for a traitor from the war. It is set in Liberty City, modelled on New York City.
Since Grand Theft Auto IV went on sale in April 2008, more than nine million gaming fans have regularly sent Niko Bellic into new adventures, shoot-outs and car chases—or thrown him from rooftops. In their film, the three Ludwigsburg students search for the “individual” Niko Bellic behind the mask of the brutal hero. With subtle humour, they explore who Niko Bellic really is—what his childhood was like, why he came to Liberty City and how he truly feels.
The New York-based Academy of Machinima Arts and Sciences is a non-profit organisation supporting and promoting machinima and machinima filmmakers. The Academy has invited guests to the Machinima Film Festival in New York since 2002. This year, 35 films have been nominated in 15 categories. The awards ceremony will take place on 1 November 2008.
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