Current programs & news

Meet the GDC Ensemble Cohort!

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Celebrate the future of game dev at the
🎉Pixelles Make Games Showcase 🎉

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Créer votre premier jeu vidéo avec Pixelles !
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Workshop - Digital Networking:
Posting Your Way to a Job

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Pixelles Make Games Showcase

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Workshop:
How to Get Started on a Cultural Game

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Pixelles Game Incubator 10 Year Reunion 🎉

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Workshop:
Game Dev Mom Micro Talks

The Montreal Game Writing Program returns!

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Fireside Chat:
Indigeneity in Games

Sponsor Pixelles Ensemble at GDC26

Help us make impactful, career-changing difference this year 💖

Since 2016, Pixelles has sent over 250 women, nonbinary, genderqueer, and trans game developers to GDC.In addition to GDC's Festival Pass, the Pixelles Ensemble program provides its recipients with a meaningful support network, safety, peer mentorship, healing, and career development opportunities. However many participants don’t have the financial means to attend. Without financial support, these marginalized game developers will miss out on an essential opportunity for professional and personal growth.

Become a partner

By becoming an Ensemble program partner, you can make a real difference in the careers of marginalized game developers today and directly contribute to a more equitable games industry. We're available by email at sponsorship@pixelles.ca to answer any questions in english ou en français.Our Sponsorship Document is also available for download:

Pixelles Ensemble at GDC26

Meet our cohort & sponsors!

We're returning to GDC with our scholarship program, Pixelles Ensemble! Through this scholarship, we provide a GDC pass and need-based travel funds, and host events to assist the Ensemble members in feeling welcome, safe, and empowered to pursue their professional goals. For many, attending this conference is an inspiration and a career highlight.Providing opportunities like this to marginalized developers directly improves the games industry and surrounding culture for years to come, by not only increasing the diversity of those who benefit from GDC, but improving GDC itself with their presence and experiences.This year, Pixelles Ensemble cohort comprises of experienced developers, from historically excluded genders, who are studio founders and grassroots / community organizers. Many of these developers have never had the chance to attend GDC. We’re honoured to assist them in achieving this career milestone with the help of our sponsors.

Our Sponsors

Without your generosity, many of these talented game developers would not be able to attend GDC. Thank you for your support and commitment to empowering a more diverse industry.

Meet Our Cohort

Andrea Saravia Pérez

Narrative Designer @ Deviant Games

I'm a game designer, writer, and producer with a passion for story. I've written for AAA, tabletop, and indie games for seven years, with additional experience writing in plays, short stories, and entertainment.
What I am most looking forward to is helping more indie studios grow through networking, and connecting with leaders in the field by supporting the summits in my specialization.

Farah Brixi

Associate Narrative Director @ Compulsion Games

Farah Brixi is an Associate Narrative Director at Compulsion Games who worked on Rainbow Six Siege, Dead by Daylight, and South of Midnight. Farah leads narrative execution on character-driven projects, focusing on identity formation, grounded speculative worlds, and tight narrative–gameplay integration, while also shaping pipelines and tools that support clear storytelling and sustainable production.I’m most looking forward to meeting other narrative folks, swapping experiences and key learnings about production, and hearing deep‑dive talks about story structure, systemic narrative, and tools. I’m also excited to connect with people working on weird, ambitious projects and to come home with a head full of new ideas.

Jaqui Lee

Freelance Narrative Designer & Illustrator

Jaqui is an indie sci-fi and fantasy storyteller, writer and illustrator that has worked with giants like Wizards of the Coast and community rooted educational games that teach medical students about social determinants of health. She is a speaker at VNConf and a grant winner that supported the release of a game jam visual novel in a previous life. Her favorite games from 2025 has been Silksong, Blue Prince, and Dredge.At GDC, I'm looking forward to playing game demos and meeting indie developers, geeking out over the tabletop area, having thoughtful conversations and making new friends.

Julia S

Marketing Writer @ Riot Games

I’m a Marketing Writer at Riot Games, working on 2XKO. I’m passionate about creating meaningful, evocative experiences that leave a mark on player communities. I’m also an advocate for people of marginalized gender in games, and I currently run a marginalized-gender organization called MAGICAL.I’m looking forward to meeting other mid-career professionals and community organizers to get a sense of how my peers work and where I might be able to grow. I’ll also be checking out GDC’s talks and demos to see what the industry is excited about right now—it’s always informative to get outside of my immediate bubble in Los Angeles. Lastly, I’m excited to organize and attend a meetup for my marginalized-gender community, MAGICAL. We have a lot of members in the Bay Area, and GDC is the perfect time to get everyone together!

Maurine Fauvert

President & Producer, Hoplite VFX

I’m co-founder, president, and producer at Hoplite VFX, a Montréal-based CGI studio specializing in high-end cinematics, marketing trailers, and 3D outsourcing for video games and animation. I also founded Creative Connect, a nonprofit initiative dedicated to connecting and empowering creative talent across the industry.At GDC, I hope to meet new people, expand my network, exchange ideas with industry peers, and find fresh inspiration to shape my creative and professional goals for 2026.

Mindy Chi

Technical Game Designer @ Riot Games

Hi! I’m Mindy and I have long loved video games for their ability to connect people and create fantastical worlds. I came to love video game development as the intersection of both creativity and technology. It’s the place I can combine my programming, art, writing, and design skills all in one place and make things to delight players and tell stories. I also love meeting creative people and doing game jams!I look forward most to meeting people making games and sharing stories and inspiration! I love going to indie game dev showcases and talking about game design especially.

San Thao

Character Artist at Eidos Montreal

I’m a Montreal-based 3D character artist.After 10 years working in marketing and community roles in the video game industry, I decided to change careers and went back to school to pursue my passion for 3D.
Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to a range of projects, including Rainbow Six and Fable. When I’m not playing video games or sculpting, I love dancing (breaking) and trying good food!This will be my first time attending GDC, and I’m really looking forward to getting inspired by the talks, meeting and learning from fellow game artists and people in the industry

Suzanne Skaar

Owner/ Creative Director: No, Mine! Studios

I’m a multidisciplinary artist, writer, and owner of No, Mine! Studios and Yeetcosystem LLC, based in Tacoma, WA. Accessibility, empathy, and humor are the core foundations of my game design work. I’m currently working on a game that pokes fun at the luxury housing industry with my first team.I’m looking forward to connecting with other game developers, especially in the indie sphere, and learning as much as I can in order to support my current project and team.

Tina Merry

CEO and Co-Founder of Simply Sweet Games

I love the games industry! After decades in senior leadership across AAA and in consultancy, I co-founded Simply Sweet Games, a Canadian studio creating premium casual word and puzzle games that are inclusive by design and good for player wellbeing.I'm looking to connect with interesting individuals from whom I can learn, and the opportunity to showcase updates to our new game, Criss Cross Castle.

Kat Craig

UI/UX Designer at Jam City

I’m a UI/UX designer with 17 years of experience turning complex systems into smooth, satisfying player experiences. I love crafting clever flows, polished HUDs, and UI that pulls players in and keeps them exploring. From early concepts to playtests, I help teams ship immersive games like Baldur’s Gate 3, Disney Magic Match 3D, and Fire Emblem.I'm so looking forward to connecting with new and old friends, making new ones, and checking out talks by my fellow devs.

Majo Félix

Freelance Music Composer, Audio Director, Audio Designer

Hi, I’m Majo! I’m a music composer that loves cute and wholesome games and is passionate about storytelling with audio. I’m based in LA and have about 7+ years in the industry. I co-founded Game Audio Latam because I believe in the power of community support and find it extremely rewarding.At GDC I’m looking forward to connecting with old friends, making new ones, learn from the talks and play awesome new games!

Jenna Yow

Narrative Designer at KO_OP

I'm an American Lebanese narrative designer & illustrator with five thousand hobbies and one evil cat. I've worked on a few indie games like Spirit Swap, Goodbye Volcano High, and the new early access title Young Suns. I'm currently based in the Seattle area.I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones at GDC! Also excited to attend talks in person; the last time I attended I was a junior, so I'm excited to broaden my horizons again in new ways.

Luiza Diniz

Co- Founder and Art Director at Ragdoll Frog Studio

I'm a Brazilian 3D Artist with years of industry experience working for indie studios in my country and abroad. Along with friends, I've started my own studio and we aim to amplify diverse voices and Brazilian culture through strong narrative and engaging gameplay.Pitch my game for funding and meeting old and new friends!

Pixelles Coordinators

Stephanie Fisher

Co-Director, Pixelles

Stephanie Fisher is a Co-Director at Pixelles. Her research on game industry party spaces was recently published in Critical Studies in Media Communication.I'm looking connect with other community-driven organizations who are also creating inclusivity-focused initiatives that support underrepresented game makers.