Our first festival: a look back at FLIM!
We participated in our very first gaming festival: FLIM – Montreal International Gaming Festival !
It was an incredible experience, both on a personal and professional level. It allowed us to connect with many players, but also with several key players in the gaming industry.
The organizers, Nail Beloufi and Marc-Antoine Doyon , managed the event with remarkable efficiency, as if they had been doing it forever! Their work greatly contributed to the success of the festival.
A member of the Es-tu Game? collective, Marc-Antoine has created an outdoor event around board games that is family-friendly, accessible, and packed with activities. The program includes entertainment, interviews, award ceremonies (including the PLI – Prix Ludique International ) and, of course, a multitude of games to discover!
Congratulations to Marc-Antoine Doyon for winning the Game Innovation of the Year Award with his game Hantise ! 👏🎉
A wonderful recognition for a creation that is as original as it is immersive. Hats off!
Several renowned authors were present, including:
Théo Rivière , Élodie Clément , Maxime Tardif , Thomas Dagenais-Lespérance and Marc Larivière .
Prominent figures from the gaming world were also present, such as the entire Es-tu Game? team:
Pierre-Louis Renaud
Benjamin Déziel
Ann-Catherine Choquette
Raphael Lacaille
Also present were:
Tatiana Polouchine (content creator at Origames)
David Ospina (Leisure Office)
Josiane and Martin from C't'à ton tour
Fanny Lajoie (JAB)
Alain and Mario (Ludicon organizers)
Martin Chalifoux ( Martin and his board games )
...and many other enthusiasts of the gaming scene!
It was a weekend filled with encounters, discoveries, fun and, of course, games!
The players' experience with Trigger Warning has been more than positive, and we are confident about what's next!
The addition of the themed candies (14 sweet and 2 spicy), specially created by Confiserie Moderne Okashipop , was an incredible asset in providing a unique and immersive experience to our players. These sweets, as tasty as they are original, helped make each game even more memorable.
👉 Discover Trigger Warning candies and many other delicious creations on their website: https://www.okashipop.com/
💡 Advice for future exhibitors at fun festivals
If you've never participated in a games festival as an exhibitor, here are some lessons learned from our first experience:
1. Arrive prepared
Bring water and snacks: there's no guarantee you'll have time to go to a restaurant. The days are long!
2. Plan enough facilitators
Fatigue sets in quickly. As a creator or leader, you'll be in constant demand, so your facilitators need to be able to take turns—and, most importantly, take breaks.
3. You probably won't play
Don't worry, it's only a postponement! Your role is to host, present, connect—not to play (this time!).
4. Make your booth attractive
Bring drop banners (with string or ties if outdoors).
Use a table tent with a QR code leading to your website, social media, or Kickstarter page.
Tablecloths in your colors for the tables. It's a must!
5. Prepare your merch bags in advance
If you're distributing posters, stickers, business cards, or T-shirts, package them in advance. Less stress, more efficiency during the festival.
6. Have a tablet ready to use
Connected to Square if you sell on-site.
Or to your website to sign visitors up for your newsletter. Business cards are great, but they don't guarantee follow-up!
Obviously, don't forget phone chargers, tablet chargers, Square terminal chargers - and the Square terminal itself, which is very important. (Although, be sure to bring cash for change.)
7. Sleep in advance
Adrenaline alone isn't enough to compensate for three days of setup, pitches, and continuous interaction. Caffeine helps, but sleep is even better.
8. Plan to have several sweaters with your brand logo
Accidents happen quickly (stains, tears), or you might have to lend an extra one to a counselor. Besides, a clean t-shirt a day is always nicer—for you and for the visitors!
Deodorant, toothbrush and mouthwash are also very practical once on site.
Participating in a festival like FLIM is intense, but also deeply enriching.
We leave tired... but with our hearts full of wonderful encounters and energy for what comes next.
