The Academy of Machinima Arts & Sciences (AMAS), an organization that provides advocacy, education and community for Machinima, announced the winners of the 2005 Machinima Awards (The Mackies), which were unveiled in an awards presentation during the Machinima Film Festival on Nov. 11, 2005.

”The honoring of so many different Machinimas just speaks to its strength as a medium.” said Paul Marino, exec director of the Academy of Machinima Arts and Sciences. “Artists are exploring many different formats using Machinima, each with its own unique approach and execution. We’ve always promoted Machinima as a platform for creative expression, and this year’s awards is a testimony to that.”

The winners include:

Best Picture
GAME ON — Ethan Vogt/Furnace Media Group

Best Direction
WHIPLASH: THE MOVIE — Jake Hughes

Best Virtual Performance
A FEW GOOD G-MEN — Randall Glass

The IFC Award for Excellence in Machinima Screenwriting
P.A.N.I.C.S. — Rooster Teeth Prods.

Best Visual Design
PERSON2184 — Friedrich Kirschner

Best Technical Achievement
PERSON2184 — Friedrich Kirschner

Best Sound
ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE — Jason Choi/Riot Films

Best Editing
STRANGERHOOD STUDIOS — Rooster Teeth Prods.

Best Independent Machinima
RED VS. BLUE — Rooster Teeth Prods.

Best Commercial/Game Machinima
GAME: ON — Ethan Vogt/Furnace Media Group

Best Off the Shelf Machinima
THE RETURN — Terran Gregory & Ezra Ferguson

Best Machinima Series
THIS SPARTAN LIFE — Chris Burke

Academy Honorary Award
David "crt" Wright for developing KeyGrip for Quake

The 2005 Machinima Film Festival, sponsored by NVIDIA and IFC, is an annual event held to showcase selected Machinima works produced over the past year. The 2005 Machinima Awards recognizes excellence in Machinima production and are announced at the start of the Machinima Film Festival. The award winners have been posted to the festival website (festival.machinima.org) – a DVD of the 2005 winners is also currently planned. The 2006 Machinima Awards will begin accepting submissions in May 2006.