THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF IBELIN

About the Film

Animated, Documentary | 106 MIN | Norway

Underwritten by Monica Vidal + Joe Sherman

When Mats Steen, a Norwegian gamer, died of a degenerative muscular disease at age 25, his parents mourned what they thought had been a lonely and isolated existence. They were unaware that Mats had long been leading a vibrant digital life that had profoundly impacted a community of fellow gamers.  

The film explores the breadth of Mats Steen’s adventurous online life and introduces us to Ibelin, his charismatic World of Warcraft persona. Through reconstructed animated moments from Mats’ gameplay, narrated entries from his blog, and interviews with people who knew him as Ibelin, a picture of a remarkable young man emerges, underscoring how community and soulful relationships can transcend the boundaries of the physical world.

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