People
John De Margheriti
Producer
Dems Entertainment
John De Margheriti is a veteran producer of independent video games and genre films, holding a Global Executive MBA from Sydney University. In 2022, he produced the comedic horror film Sissy, which examines the dark side of a social media influencer’s life. The film was nominated for Best Film at the AACTA 2022 awards.
De Margheriti’s extensive portfolio includes successful films and games such as Ladies in Black, Fallout Tactics, and Hot Wheels Bash Arena. He has worked with industry giants like Bruce Beresford, film Director, Brian Fargo CEO Interplay and Trip Hawkins CEO & Founder of Electronic Arts. In 1985, he co-founded Micro Forté, one of the oldest independent video game studios. He co-patented scalable client-server technology in 1995 and co-invented massively multiplayer middleware through his company BigWorld Technology, later sold to Wargaming.net
In 1996, he founded the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE), the world’s first non-profit game school, and established the Game Developers’ Association of Australia (GDAA) in 1999. Transitioning to film, he co-founded DEMS Entertainment, which focuses on developing and producing independent genre films and TV series.
His achievements have earned him numerous awards, including the 2001 Cisco Innovation Award, the 2014 iAward for CSIRO Benson Entrepreneur of the Year, 2019 recipient of the John Scott Memorial Award for contribution to training and development of the interactive entertainment sector and the 2022 Pearcey Medal for lifetime achievement. He is also an Honorary Ambassador for Canberra. De Margheriti oversees a family-run conglomerate in game development, visual effects education, and film production, with plans to develop AIE Studios by 2026, featuring virtual production soundstages, film facilities and film and TV financing.
Emily De Margheriti
Producer/Actress
Dems Entertainment
Emily De Margheriti is one of the original founders and a director of DEMS Entertainment, and based in Los Angeles and Australia. Aside from her role as a producer, Emily also takes on a dual role as an actress in the films, Theatre of the Dead (2013), Blue World Order (2017), Ladies in Black (2018), I Hate Kids (2019) and Sissy (2022). She graduated from WAAPA’s Bachelor of Performing Arts in 2016, Brent Street’s Cert IV in Performing Arts Course in 2012 and Canberra Dance Development Centre’s Vocational Dance Program in 2011. DEMS Entertainment is her producing vehicle that allows her to pick the roles and projects she is interested in. Please find her latest projects listed on IMDB.
DAVID DE MARGHERITI
Board Member
Dems Entertainment
A native of Canberra, David De Margheriti holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University. His primary goals are to explore, examine, and execute creative ventures on behalf of DEMS Entertainment as well as negotiating film finance agreements and optimising organisational efficiency by creating synergistic business units that benefit all key stakeholders.
David De Margheriti has also co-founded Dreamgate Studios, a mobile MMO developer and visual effects studio. Additionally, David is CEO and founder of non-profit Games Plus , a games industry focused co-working space aiming to expand nationally and internationally. David is a director and COO for the Academy of Interactive Entertainment Ltd. David works closely with the family’s investments on strategy, focus, and growth for the many business units worldwide. David is passionate about DEMS projects often working as a Line Producer long side a seasoned financial team in creating DEMS budgets, and working with the producing team.
VICKI DE MARGHERITI
Chief Executive Officer
Dems Entertainment
With a background in business , a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from the University of NSW and MBA from University of Canberra, Mrs. De Margheriti co-manages a family-run conglomerate comprised of video games development, video games and visual effects schools, film and game coworking spaces, film financing and production, commercial and residential real estate investments, and a technology park.
Vicki De Margheriti, along with the other members of her family, are the founders of DEMS Entertainment. With over 30 years of experience managing companies and facilitating business and industry growth in game development, 3D animation and visual FX industries, Mrs. De Margheriti works with DEMS Entertainment’s employees and partners in financing and producing upcoming major films. In addition to DEMS Entertainment, she is also the CEO of the Academy of Interactive Entertainment Ltd (AIE), the Canberra Technology Park and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Additionally, Mrs. De Margheriti has been a director on the board of games studio Micro Forté Pty Ltd and middleware developer BigWorld Pty Ltd.