Beyond Play: A French-American Community Event on the Future of Video Games

Guests will meet the representatives of six French video game companies selected for the ICC Immersion Program, an initiative developped by the French Government (Secrétariat général pour l’investissement, Ministère de la Culture, Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères and Banque des Territoires) within the framework of France 2030.  

Representing 2026’s delegation are: 

• Coralie Nugier (Wild and Sweet) 

• Jordan Moutamani (Astrea) 

• Sylvain Sechi (New Tales) 

• Bruno Lecorbet (Eddy) 

• Sasha Bernède (Menhir FX) 

• Maxime Dumas (PFX by Persistent Studios) 

This evening aims to connect the video game and arts communities of the GDC. These events provide a unique opportunity to meet creators, artists, and video game professionals, celebrating the intersection of art, technology, and innovation. 

Following an official opening speech by the Consul General of France in San Francisco, engage in a night of festivities, featuring: 

• In-depth panels on innovation, impact, and art in video games

• An interactive installation 

• Cocktails and networking with nearly 200 guests, including journalists and influencers 

Led by Institut français and Business France, ICC Immersion Program is implemented by Business France in North America & Villa Albertine. This program provides representatives from six selected French gaming companies with a multi-day immersion in the American gaming industry, covering topics such as artificial intelligence, fundraising, adaptation, marketing, press relations, impact games, community engagement, legal contracts, and pitching. During their stay from March 3 to 11, 2026, the selected representatives will participate in exclusive workshops and masterclasses led by U.S. gaming experts. They will also visit major industry players such as Netflix Games, Ubisoft, Twitch, Disney, and CAA. Delegates will also receive accreditation and access to the GDC, ensuring unparalleled exposure to the American gaming ecosystem. 

The evening will also feature Unnatural – Of Humus & Artifact, a solo exhibition and interactive game installation by French artist Sandrine Deumier, recipient of Villa Albertine’s 2026 French Immersion Exhibition grant. Her immersive work invites audiences into a speculative experience at the crossroads of art and gaming, further underscoring the dynamic dialogue between technology and artistic experimentation.

6 PM – Doors Open

6:30 PM – Welcome Address
Opening speech by Gray Area Representative and the Consul of France in San Francisco
Presentation of the Franco-American dynamic and introduction to ICC Immersion

6:40 PM – Panel I Cross-Sector Creativity: Gaming, Music, and Art 

How is gaming reshaping creative collaboration across sectors?
This panel highlights the convergence of video games, music, and art collections, and explores how interdisciplinary collaborations are producing new experiments, practices, and economic models.

Wade Wallerstein

Senior Digital Media Producer; Digital Anthropologist, Strategist, and Curator at Gray Area
Moderator

See more

Wade Wallerstein is a digital anthropologist, strategist, and curator whose work explores how online environments shape visual culture and embodied experience in virtual worlds. Founder of the platform Silicon Valet and co-director of TRANSFER Gallery, he develops experimental formats to present internet-native art and foster global communities of artists working with networked technologies. As Associate Curator and Community Manager at Gray Area in San Francisco, he curates programs that examine what it means to be human in the digital age, drawing on experience across art, tech policy, and digital ethnographic methods.

Amélie Rousseaux

Senior Digital Media Producer, The Getty Research Institute
Panelist

See more

Amélie Rousseaux (Senior Digital Media Producer, Getty) drives digital strategy and innovation, shaping media experiences that connect global audiences to the cultural space. With 15 years of experience across the U.S. and Europe, she focuses on translating institutional missions into meaningful digital engagement.

Anya Ventura

Editorial Content Producer, The Getty Research Institute
Panelist

See more

Anya Ventura is the  Editorial Content Producer at the Getty Research Institute. She holds an MA in Public Humanities from Brown University and has previously held editorial roles at MIT’s Center for Art, Science & Technology and the Harvard Cognitive Aesthetics Media Lab.

Gareth Coker

British Composer and Producer, Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency
Panelist

See more

Gareth Coker is a British composer and producer known for his melodically driven scores, unique soundscapes, and attention to detail and execution in the application of how music emotionally relates and connects to a game’s players. Works include Halo Infinite (2020), Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope (2022), Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (2024). Most recently he co-scored the critically acclaimed game Absolum (2025) as well as delivering the full orchestral score for ARK: The Animated Series – recorded at Abbey Road Studios currently showing on Paramount Plus.

Florie Zheng

Head of Business Development, Vive Arts
Panelist

See more

Florie Zheng is the Head of Business Development at VIVE Arts, HTC, where she
spearheads the global licensing and distribution of world-class XR projects. Since joining
VIVE Arts in 2020, Florie has been the strategic force behind partnerships with premier
museums, artists and cultural institutions, establishing the company’s role as the industry
leader in the intersection of art and immersive technology.
With a career rooted in finance at Lehman Brothers and the art market at Christie’s, Florie
bridges the gap between traditional cultural prestige and next-generation tech. A former
fintech leader who pioneered blockchain solutions for global banks, she now focuses on
scaling the future of XR. Florie is from Beijing and she is an alumna of Columbia University
and Baruch College, CUNY.

7:10 PM – Panel II: Scaling and Ethics in Video Games

Scaling Challenges and Ethical Considerations in Game Production
This panel explores the challenges of building a video game studio from the ground up. It will touch on the various phases in an independent game’s development lifecycle, the process of creating a company around it, and how technology can best serve storytelling to emotionally engage players in a compelling, immersive experience that unites many art fields in a single, cohesive piece. Speakers will examine the challenges of scaling game development while addressing ethical considerations in gameplay.

Jason Della Rocca

Co-Founder, Execution Labs
Moderator

See more

Jason Della Rocca is a game industry entrepreneur, funding advisor, and ecosystem strategist who works closely with studios and public institutions to grow sustainable game development communities. As co-founder of Execution Labs, he was an early-stage investor in more than twenty independent studios across North America and Europe, and helped launch GamePlay Space, a Montréal hub whose alumni have generated hundreds of millions in game sales and funding. Formerly executive director of the International Game Developers Association (2000–2009), he has been recognized with the Game Developers Conference’s inaugural Ambassador Award and a spot on Game Developer Magazine’s “Power 50” for his contributions to the global games ecosystem.

Tom Guillermin

Co-founder & CTO, Sandfall Interactive
Panelist

See more

Tom Guillermin is a game developer, co-founder, and CTO of Sandfall Interactive, the Montpellier-based studio behind the turn-based JRPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. After studying computer science and software architecture, he joined Ubisoft as a gameplay programmer on titles such as Ghost Recon: Wildlands and The Division 2 before founding Sandfall to pursue his own vision for narrative-driven RPGs built in Unreal Engine. As lead programmer and technical director on Clair Obscur, he focuses on tight battle systems, ambitious visual effects, and keeping a small, agile team structure that preserves creative control and craftsmanship

Celia Hodent

PhD Psychology, Expert in UX and Cognitive Sciences
Partner

See more

Celia Hodent, PhD in psychology, is recognized as a leader in the application of user experience and cognitive science in the game industry. Through her 16-year experience in game studios (Ubisoft, LucasArts, & director of UX at Epic Games), she has contributed in advancing the topics of UX strategy, inclusion, and ethics in games.

Author of the critically acclaimed book The Gamer’s Brain, Celia is the founder of the Game UX Summit & Ethical Games, and works today as an independent consultant.

7:40 PM – 10:00 PM – Cocktail and Networking

As a special highlight, Unnatural – Of Humus & Artifact, a solo exhibition of interactive fiction by French artist Sandrine Deumier, will be on view. A laureate of the French Immersion Exhibition Grant 2026 by Villa Albertine, this interactive and narrative work explores a speculative future where humans live in harmony with nature. Participants navigate a mysterious, human‑free environment guided by an enigmatic character. The work highlights ecological awareness, interspecies relationships, and interconnected futures. Through immersive digital storytelling, it invites reflection on how humans can coexist with the non‑human world.

Gray Area, the venue for Beyond Play, is a nonprofit cultural incubator in San Francisco dedicated to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Since 2008, it has established itself as a unique hub for critically engaging with technology and culture, empowering creative practitioners to drive social impact through groundbreaking work.

With an emphasis on cross-cultural exchange, technological innovation, and artistic exploration, Beyond Play promises to be a landmark event for professionals and creatives looking to shape the future of the gaming industry.