Machinima, a word formed by combining ‘machine’ and ‘cinema’, is both a new filmmaking method and also a film genre. A new hybrid of filmmaking game culture, Machinima had its genesis in the United States 10 years ago and is mapping itself across Europe and Asia in the recent years. Machinima is created by compiling and manipulating existing video game characters and environments into a virtual film. The gamer thus adopts the role of a director-producer. As such, it is a phenomenon of player-producer culture rather than an arena of professional filmmaking - anyone can attempt to create M achinima. As a film genre, Machinima refers to films and short clips created by these techniques.
AMAS is an non-profit organisation based in Singapore committed to evangelise the machinima movement in Asia, identify and groom the next generation of game makers and animators. To date, AMAS has successfully organized and launched the Machinima Festival in Singapore in 2006 and the Machinima Festival in Wuhan, China, in 2008. AMAS is also a strong supporter of the global machinima movement led by the Academy of Machinima Arts and Sciences.