I'm Mario von Rickenbach, a game designer and artist based in Zurich, Switzerland. I use technology to create playful experiences that tickle your senses. I co-founded Playables and I'm teaching at ECAL MID

Get in touch:
Twitter: @any_user

Awards & Recognition

2019
Best Professional Film, ReAnima FestivalBergen, NO
Best Animation, Interfilm Short Film FestivalBerlin, DE
14th Tacoma Film Festival, Best Animated FilmTacoma, US
Best of Show, SIGGRAPH Asia 2019Brisbane, AU
Best First Professional Film, KROKVolga River, RU
Best Animated Short, Corti in CortileCatania, IT
High Swiss Risk, FantocheBaden, CH
Special Distinction, ANIMANIMAČačak, RS
Honorable Mention, 27th Curtas Vila do Conde IFFVila do Conde, ES
Special Jury Prize, SESIFFSeoul, KR
Honorable Mention, Florida Animation FestivalFlorida, US
Honorary Mention, Computer Animation, Prix Ars Electronica 2019, Ars ElectronicaLinz, AT
Best Animated Short, 21st Ismailia International Film FestivalIsmailia, EG
Egyptian Animation Society’s Award, 21st Ismailia International Film FestivalIsmailia, EG
Golden Zagreb Award, AnimafestZagreb, HR
Special Mention, World Festival of Animated FilmVarna, BG
2018
Nuovo Award Nominee, Independent Games FestivalSan Francisco, US
2016
Jury Selection, Japan Media Arts FestivalToyko, JP
2015
Nuovo Award Nominee, Independent Games FestivalSan Francisco, US
Best Upcoming Game Nominee, Int. Mobile Gaming AwardsSan Francisco, US
Best Art Award Finalist, BIG FestivalSão Paulo, BR
Innovation Award Finalist, BIG FestivalSão Paulo, BR
Official Nominee, IndieCade FestivalLos Angeles, US
Best Art Award, Sense of Wonder Night, Tokyo Game ShowTokyo, JP
Audience Award, Sense of Wonder Night, Tokyo Game ShowTokyo, JP
The Black Horse of Video Games, Ars IndependentKatowice, PL
International Competition Nominee, Ludicious Games FestivalZurich, CH
2014
European Design Award, Silver, Mobile appsAthens, GR
Excellence in Visual Art Nominee, Independent Games FestivalSan Francisco, US
Gamer‘s Voice Nominee, SXSWAustin, US
IndieCade Nominee, IndieCadeLos Angeles, US
International Competition Nominee, Ludicious Games FestivalZurich, CH
2013
Best Experimental Game, Sense of Wonder Night, Tokyo Game ShowTokyo, JP
Swiss Game Selection, Swiss Arts Council Pro HelvetiaNeuchâtel, CH
Best in Play, Game Developers ConferenceSan Francisco, US
Swiss Game Award, Swiss Game Developers AssociationZurich, CH
FWA Mobile Award, Favourite Website Awards, theFWA.comHertfordshire, UK
MiniClip Award, MiniClipNeuchâtel, CH
Swiss Game Selection, Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia / NIFFFNeuchâtel, CH
Kulturförderpreis, Alexander Clavel FoundationRiehen, CH
2012
Excellence in Visual Art Nominee, Independent Games FestivalSan Francisco, US
Grand Prize, European Indie Game DaysMarseille, FR
Originality Award, European Indie Game DaysMarseille, FR
Best Audio Nominee, BIG FestivalSão Paulo, BR
Best Audio finalist, Independent Propeller AwardsCincinnati, US
Jury & Audience Award, Experimentalgameplay.com ContestBerlin, DE

Residencies & Fellowships

2021
ETH Library Lab Innovator Fellowship, ETH ZurichZurich, CH
2020
PolArts: Arts Meet Polar Science tandem participant, Pro Helvetia & Swiss Polar Institute
2014
Resident @ Zentralschweizer Atelier in New YorkNew York, US
Accelerate@CERN artist in residence, European Organization for Nuclear ResearchGeneva, CH

Exhibitions & Showcases

2021
Homo ludens. Videojuegos para entender el presente, Caixa ForumMadrid, ES
Macao Art BiennaleMacao, MO
Shenzhen New Media Art FestivalShenzhen, CN
2020
Festival Maintenant, Association Electroni[k]Rennes, FR
2019
zkm_gameplay. the next level, Zentrum für Kunst und MedientechnologieKarlsruhe, DE
Centre de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona (CCCB)Barcelona, ES
REFRESH – Swiss Design – Zurich Made, 3 days of designCopenhagen, DK
Kein MuseumZürich, CH
Flatpack festivalBirmingham, UK
Shed im EisenwerkFrauenfeld, CH
Intercommunication CenterTokyo, JP
National Video Game MuseumSheffield, UK
Design BiennaleZurich, CH
REFRESH #2Zurich, CH
Prix Ars Electronica CyberArts Exhibition 2019Linz, AT
In a Gamescape REPLAY, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary ArtKanazawa, JP
2018
KIDS, Museum of Digital ArtZürich, CH
Day of the Devs, Game Developer’s ConferenceSan Francisco, US
KIDS, FantocheBaden, CH
XOXOPortland, US
PLAY, Stadtmuseum AarauAarau, CH
GameBoxShanghai, CN
Museum of Contemporary Art MetelkovaLjubljana, SL
Now Play ThisUK
2017
The Ludwig Forum for International ArtAachen, DE
2016
Japan Media Arts FestivalTokyo, JP
Nam June Paik Art CenterYongin, KR
2015
Independent Games Festival IGFSan Francisco, US
Grafik 15Zurich, CH
Leftfield Collection, EGX RezzedLondon, UK
IndieCade @ E3Los Angeles, US
Wonder ConsortiumMelbourne, AU
Out of Index FestivalSeoul, KR
FILE FestivalSão Paulo, BR
Brasil Independent Game FestivalSão Paulo, BR
Sense of Wonder Night, Tokyo Game ShowTokyo, JP
Indie Game Revolution, EMP MuseumSeattle, US
Neuland, DOK LeipzigLeipzig, DE
Transmedia International Competition, Tous EcransGenève, CH
2014
Ludicious Games FestivalZurich, CH
Swindle of Reality, Akademie der KünsteBerlin, DE
Digital Art Weeks, Museum of ArtSeoul, KR
Gamer's voice, SXSWAustin, US
ALT.CTRL.GDC, Game Developer’s ConferenceSan Francisco, US
Mirage FestivalLyon, FR
SónarBarcelona, ES
FILE FestivalSão Paulo, BR
2013
FILE FestivalSão Paulo, BR
AMAZE PlaycaseBerlin, DE
Game on! El arte en juegoAzul, AR
game Z festivalZurich, CH
Eurogamer ExpoLondon, UK
What's your Spiel, NYU Dt. HausNew York, US
ZKM Gameplay, Zentrum für Kunst und MedientechnologieKarlsruhe, DE
Press Start to Play, SpielzeugmuseumRiehen, CH
Indie Game Fest, Tokyo Game ShowTokyo, JP
Amaze InteractJohannesburg, ZA
VMGS Virgin Media Game SpaceLondon, UK
FILE FestivalSão Paulo, BR
Republika FestivalRijeka, HR
Swiss Game Selection, Neuchatel Int. Fantastic Film FestivalNeuchâtel, CH
Bits & Beasts, Villa WenkenhofBasel, CH
Di-Egy Digital Arts FestivalCario, EG
Indiecade EastNew York, US
UAMO FestivalMunich, DE
2012
Brasil International Game FestivalSão Paulo, BR
Playtime/gamespace.ch, dock18, Rote FabrikZürich, CH
IndieCade Night GamesLos Angeles, US
AMAZE InteractJohannesburg, ZA
Game On, Darklight FestivalDublin, IE
Swiss Game Lounge, House of SwitzerlandLondon, UK
Joue le jeu, Gaité LyriqueParis, FR
FMX conferenceStuttgart, DE
AMAZE Indie ConnectBerlin, DE
Independent Games Festival IGFSan Francisco, US
Swiss Games Arcade, SwissnexSan Francisco, US
Experimentalgameplay.com five button contest, StattbadBerlin, DE

Talks

2021
Interactive Animation, Game Design Master of Arts, IULM UniversityMilano, IT
2019
REFRESH – Swiss Design – Zurich Made, 3 days of designCopenhagen, DK
2018
Ludicious Games FestivalZurich, CH
Making of KIDS, Museum of Digital ArtZürich, CH
Making of KIDS, Zurich University of the ArtsZürich, CH
Master class, Turku Animated Film FestivalTurku, FI
AnimatekaLjubljana, SL
2017
Quo VadisBerlin, DE
2016
Fest Anča International Animation FestivalAnca, SK
2015
Swiss Digital Showcase, Cannes Film FestivalCannes, FR
Game Development Workshop, AnimafestZagreb, HR
Neuland, DOK LeipzigLeipzig, DE
Transmedia International Competition, Tous EcransGenève, CH
Plug & Play, From Film to Game, Game Developers SessionPrague, CZ
2014
Expanded Animation Symposium, Ars ElectronicaLinz, AT
Fantoche Animation FestivalBaden, CH
ARTPLAY centerMoscow, RU
HSE Design FacultyMoscow, RU
NYU game centerNew York, US
AnimatouGenève, CH
2013
Play Again! conference, Kino ÚsmevKošice, SK
European Indie Game DaysParis, FR
Cinedarbaar Anime ConventionNew Delhi, IN
Sense of Wonder Night, Tokyo Game ShowTokyo, JP
2012
Imaging the Future, NIFFFNeuchâtel, CH
AMAZE Indie ConnectBerlin, DE
ComputerspielemuseumBerlin, DE
HEAD Haute École d'art et de designGenève, CH

Workshops

2021
Game Design Master of Arts, IULM UniversityMilano, IT
2018
Interactive Animation Workshop, Turku Animated Film FestivalTurku, FI
2015
Play Vasarely, École Supérieure d’ArtAix-en-Provence, FR
Game Development Workshop, AnimafestZagreb, HR
2013
Social Sound, Cologne Game LabCologne, DE
Republika FestivalRijeka, HR
Di-Egy Digital Arts FestivalCario, EG
2012
AMAZE InteractJohannesburg, ZA
Center for New MediaUC Berkeley, US
HEAD Haute École d'art et de designGenève, CH

Jury & Committees

2021
Kulturlabor Zürich, Project Team Member & JuryZurich, CH
2020
HEAD Genève – Media Design Master, Diploma JuryGeneva, CH
2013
European Indie Game Days, Award JuryParis, FR

Film Festival Selections

2019
43rd Cinanima, EspinhoPT
Banjaluka 2019BA
KABOOM Animation FestivalNL
38rd Uppsala International Short Film FestivalSE
Balkanima, BelgradeRS
Les Rencontres CinessonneFR
Aesthetica Short Film Festival, YorkUK
23rd Internationale Kurzfilmtage WinterthurCH
New Chitose Airport International Animation FestivalJP
REX Animation Film Festival, StockholmSE
Cartoons Underground, SingaporeSG
Big Cartoon Festival, MoscowRU
FILEM'ON, BrusselsBE
21st Wiesbaden International Festival of AnimationDE
TOFUZI International Animated Film FestivalGE
dokumentART, NeubrandenburgDE
The International Short Film Festival of Cyprus, LimassolCY
Taichung International Animation FestivalTW
International Short Film Festival Brno 16CZ
12th Heart of Gold International Film Festival, GympieAU
16th Sedicicorto International Film FestivalIT
Sweaty Eyeballs Animation Festival, BaltimoreUS
Animest, BucharestRO
Animatou, GenevaCH
Tacoma Film FestivalUS
52nd SITGES IFFFC, Anima't SectionES
63rd BFI London Film FestivalUK
Festival Animario, MadridES
Edmonton International Film FestivalCA
Ottawa International Animation FestivalCA
13th Bali International Film FestivalID
25th Encounters Film Festival, BristolUK
Tirana International Film FestivalAL
BusterDK
The International Animated Film Festival KROKRU
DC Shorts International Film FestivalUS
Paris International Animation Film FestivalFR
IFF Message to Man, Saint-PetersburgRU
CineFest Miskolc International Film FestivalHU
15th World Festival of Animated Film, VarnaBG
Ars Eletronica, LinzAT
ANIMANIMA, ČačakRS
SESIFF, Seoul international Extreme-Short Image & Film FestivalKR
Fantoche International Animation Film Festival, BadenCH
Odense International Film FestivalDK
Turku Animated Film FestivalFI
Lviv International Short Film Festival Wiz-ArtUA
DokuFest International Documentary and Short Film Festival, KosovoXK
Anima MundiBR
15th Lago Film FestIT
INSOMNIA Festival, MoscowRU
31st Galway Film FleadhIE
27th Curtas Vila do Conde IFFPT
Animator PoznanPL
34th Valencia International Film Festival Cinema Jove - Short Film CompetitionES
Florida Animation FestivalUS
Oltre Lo Specchio FestivalIT
KloosterkinoNL
Annecy International Animation Film FestivalFR
Animafest ZagrebHR
59th Krakow Film FestivalPL
VISAT
21st Ismailia Film Festival 2019EG
47th Huesca International Film FestivalES
Flatpack Festival BirminghamUK
Anifilm TřeboňCZ
Go Short NijmegenNL
31 Filmfest DresdenDE
GLAS Animation FestivalUS
69th BerlinaleDE