Nico and the Weighing of the Heart Showcase: FIU x AVG Event Recap
- AVG Guild
- Apr 28
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 28
April 23, 2026, FIU’s Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media students in Game and Animation took the stage at the Mary Ann Wolfe Theatre in North Miami Beach and reminded everyone why Miami’s creative scene is worth investing in. The Nico and the Weighing of the Heart showcase was part public premiere, part industry review, and part community pep rally—exactly the kind of “students + pros in the same room” moment that helps an industry grow.
AVG was proud to collaborate with FIU for this showcase by bringing four industry judges (featured on the event page) to give students real-world feedback and help select the next wave of capstone projects. The energy in the room was equal parts excitement and nerves—in the best way. This was a night where talented students got to say, “Here’s what we made,” and working professionals got to say, “Here’s how you can level it up.”
A message of gratitude and momentum from Carlos Sulbaran
One of the most memorable moments of the night was the speech from Carlos Sulbaran, who delivered a message full of gratitude and hope for the students.
The core idea landed clearly: AVG is here to help build both the industry and the community—by connecting professionals and students, creating opportunities to learn, and making sure emerging talent doesn’t have to grow in isolation.
It wasn’t a “one day event” kind of talk. It was a reminder that community-building is a long game, and that students deserve a local ecosystem where mentorship, feedback, and collaboration are normal—not rare.
Student pitches: Five Game Concepts and Three Animated Short Films
We began the night in pitch mode—and the students delivered.
We heard five video game idea pitches and three animation short film pitches, each with its own creative hook, visual direction, and production challenges. Pitching is a skill all by itself: you’re not only selling the idea, but you’re also proving you understand scope, pipeline needs, and what it takes to actually finish. Watching students present to industry judges in a live setting is one of the fastest ways to build confidence—and get better, fast.
The judges’ challenge: pick the next capstone projects
The judges had a tough job: selecting one game pitch and one animation pitch that will become the students’ next capstone projects for the next eight months.
Their decision-making criteria mirrored what real studios weigh every day:
Feasibility: Can this be completed to a strong finish with the available time and team size?
Creativity: Is the concept fresh, clear, and exciting?
Scalability: Can the project expand or contract without breaking the core idea?
Portfolio potential: Will this become a standout piece for demo reels and future job applications?
Growth opportunities: Does the project encourage students to stretch into new skills and solve meaningful problems?
That last point matters a lot. The “best” project isn’t always the easiest or the flashiest—it’s the one that pushes students to learn, collaborate, and deliver something they can be proud to show employers.
And the winners…
After thoughtful discussion, the judges selected the projects that will move forward as the next FIU capstone productions. Congratulations to the winning teams:
Game: Death Rattle — Pablo Rojas Estevez & Arin Taylor
Animation: Duty Calls — Bianca Gonzalez
These picks struck the balance the judges were looking for: strong creative identity, real production potential, and the kind of scope that can become a standout portfolio piece by the end of the next eight-month cycle. We can’t wait to see how both projects evolve!
Nico and the Weighing of the Heart showcase comes to life: ~10 minutes of gameplay, 8 months of work
The judges deliberated, and we shifted gears to the main event: a live look at Nico and the Weighing of the Heart, a cinematic 3D game demo created by FIU students over the last eight months.
We got about 10 minutes of gameplay, and it was more than enough to feel how much craft and effort went into it. From visual presentation to the overall tone, the demo showed real ambition—and more importantly, real follow-through. Creating a playable experience in that timeline takes planning, pipeline discipline, and a lot of late nights. You could see the hard work on-screen.
The world and story also stood out: set in the Egyptian underworld, Nico follows a young thief on a journey shaped by consequence, identity, and redemption. That kind of narrative foundation gives students room to flex multiple disciplines—character performance, world-building, lighting, and real-time rendering—all while still having to make the “game” part work.
Why this collaboration matters for Miami’s creative future
The biggest win of the night wasn’t just the showcase itself—it was the model: students creating ambitious work, professionals showing up, and a community forming in real time.
This is how local industries get built. Not through one giant breakthrough, but through repeated, practical moments where emerging talent gets access to feedback, standards, and support. FIU is training artists and developers with real capability. AVG is helping bridge the gap between the classroom and the industry. Put those together, and you get momentum.
If you were there, thank you for showing up. If you missed it, keep an eye on AVG events—because this is exactly the kind of collaboration we want more of.
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