“Digital Storytelling: World Building in a Digital Universe” is the sixth annual seminar on the creative use of technology in film, television and games, focusing on how visual effects and digital set design are used to advance storytelling and world building in feature film, television and games. Speakers from the Norwegian, Nordic and International film and games community gather in Oslo to present their work.

The keynote presentation will be on photoreal digital actors, presented by Associate Director of Graphics Research Paul Debevec of the University of Southern California's Institute for Creative Technologies. His pioneer work in image-based lighting, and later development of a series of Light Stage devices for digitizing the shape and appearance of human faces, has been instrumental for the VFX of films such as "The Matrx", "Spider Man 2", "King Kong", "Superman Returns", "Spiderman 3", "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Avatar" to name a few. In 2010 he received a Scientific and Engineering Academy Award with Tim Hawkins, John Monos, and Mark Sagar.

New of this year are presentations from European game industry professionals, from motion capture actor Pascal Langlois (Ethan Mars in “Heavy Rain”), to film director working with motion capture John Dower (Xbox 360 “Milo & Kate”),  Matt Woodward from CCP Games (Eve Online) and Owen O’Brien from DICE (Mirror’s Edge). Norwegian character animator Arne Kaupang will present work on the sci-fi movie “Paul” on behalf of Double Negative, and the usual suspects from the top Norwegian and Swedish VFX studios are making a big VFX Omelette: Camera Magica, Gimpville, Storm Studios, Storyline Studios, Hocus Focus, Fido (Sweden), Qvisten Animation and Rune Spaans.

Digital Storytelling is arranged in cooperation with the Norwegian Film Institute and will take place in the Tancred Cinema at Filmens Hus, Oslo Norway on April 13th. The seminar is followed by the opening of “Visions for a Story World 2011″ an exhibition of concept art and design in film and games in collaboration with Grafill Animasjon. On April 14 and 15 two VFX workshops on NukeX for Norwegian visual effects and film professionals will be led by Matt Leonard of Sphere VFX. At the close of the seminar the Norwegian Society of Visual Effects (NFX) will present the 2011 Best Visual Effects Awards.

Established in 1927, FICCI is the largest and oldest apex business organisation in India. Its history is closely interwoven with India's struggle for independence and its subsequent emergence as one of the most rapidly growing economies globally. FICCI plays a leading role in policy debates that are at the forefront of social, economic and political change.

Through its 400 professionals, FICCI is active in 38 sectors of the economy. FICCI's stand on policy issues is sought out by think tanks, governments and academia. Its publications are widely read for their in-depth research and policy prescriptions. FICCI has joint business councils with 79 countries around the world.

A non-government, not-for-profit organisation, FICCI is the voice of India's business and industry. It works closely with the government on policy issues, enhancing efficiency, competitiveness and expanding business opportunities for industry through a range of specialised services and global linkages. Partnerships with countries across the world carry forward our initiatives in inclusive development, which encompass health, education, livelihood, governance, skill development, etc.
For more details about FICCI please visit www.ficci.com

FICCI Entertainment Division works extensively with the entertainment industry, interfaces with the government, publishes studiesand explores the variouscommercial nuances of this vibrant sector.

Under the chairmanship of Mr Yash Chopra, Chairman, YRF, and co-chairmanship of Mr Karan Johar, CEO, Dharma Productions, works closely with the Ministry for Information and Broadcasting to bring about policy changes.

 

Best Animated FRAMES Awards 2010 (BAF)

About BAF              
       

 

 

  The first ever Animation Awards in India - the FICCI Best Animated Frames [BAF] Awards was instituted in 2004 by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry [FICCI] to recognize excellence in the field of Animation. Through the years, FICCI BAF Awards has grown steadily to encompass award categories not only in Animation but also in the VFX and Gaming fields. Its reach goes beyond the borders of the country and the contest invariably attracts a large number of entries from outside India. In fact, for the last BAF Awards held in February 2009, FICCI received 580 entries from across 21 countries.

The BAF Awards also honour legendary personalities for their outstanding contribution to the Industry. Past recipients of these awards were stalwarts like Ram Mohan, Chairman, Graphiti, popularly known as "Father of Indian Animation", Joan Vogelesang, CEO & President Toon Boom Animation, Tapaas Chakravarti, Chairman and CEO, DQ Entertainment and Margaret Dean, Animation Producer, U.S.A among others/

Anima, the International Animation Film Festival of Brussels will take place at the Flagey Centre from 4th to 13th March 2011 and will be celebrating its 30th edition. In fact, the first ever Anima took place in February 1982. Over one hundred films in the official competition (shorts and features, commercials and music videos), retrospectives, exhibitions, film master classes, workshops for the kids, the Futuranima professional days, round table discussions, numerous guests and cine-concerts, make Brussels THE international appointment with animation for the beginning of the year. If you add events like "the Animated Night", the Cartoon d'Or and the Cosplay, Anima has established itself as a must for the thirty thousand spectators that flock to the Flagey Centre. And a special date to mark with a cross this year: we'll be celebrating thirty years of surprises, fun and discoveries.

Anima 2011 Competition

Short-film: short animated films made after June 30, 2009 regardless of its geographic origin, except of Belgium.Student film: short animated films made after June 30, 2009 regardless of its geographic origin, except of Belgium.Music videos and Commercials : short animated films made after June 30, 2009 regardless of its geographic origin.Feature-film previews: animated feature films made after June 30, 2009, regardless of its geographic origin.Feature-film for children previews: animated feature films made after June 30, 2009, regardless of its geographic origin.Belgian shorts: Belgian animated films completed after June 30, 2009.

Amongst these categories, some shorts will constitute an international competition and some others a national competition, with money prizes from 1.000 up to 2.500 Euros.

The Festival looks after the round trips of selected films and awards anumber of cash and other prizes to the winners.

Deadlines

Entry forms: October 15, 2010 (no entry fees)
Arrival of prints: February 11, 2011

The Game Developers Conference® (GDC) is the world’s largest professionals-only game industry event. Presented every spring in San Francisco, it is the essential forum for learning, inspiration, and networking for the creators of computer, console, handheld, mobile, and online games.

The GDC attracts over 17,000 attendees, and is the primary forum where programmers, artists, producers, game designers, audio professionals, business decision-makers and others involved in the development of interactive games gather to exchange ideas and shape the future of the industry. The GDC is produced by the Think Services Game Group, a division of United Business Media.

This market defining conference features over 400 lectures, panels, tutorials and round-table discussions on a comprehensive selection of game development topics taught by leading industry experts. In addition, the GDC expo showcases all of the most relevant game development tools, platforms and services helping to drive the industry forward. The conference also features the twelfth annual Independent Games Festival, where new, unpublished games compete for the attention of the publishing community, and the tenth annual Game Developers Choice Awards, the premier accolades for peer-recognition in the digital games industry.

From storyboard to screen, the Screen Industries Research and Training Centre (SIRT) brings it all together at a conference dedicated to previsualization and virtual production -- two innovative processes that are changing the face of film and TV production. Hosted by SIRT at its Pinewood Toronto Studios facility, the conference will look at how digital technology and live on-stage computer graphics are allowing film, television and gaming professionals to become more creative, collaborative and efficient.

Panels, presentations and technology demos delivered by industry experts, including:

Ron Frankel, Founder of Proof Inc. (The Green Hornet, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse)Aaron Weintraub, Visual Effects Supervisor for Mr. X Inc. (Resident Evil: Afterlife, TRON: Legacy)Brian Pohl, Co-Founder of POV Previs (Star Trek, Star Wars: Episode I and II)Darren Cranford, President and Director for Keyframe Digital (X-Men, Driven, and Zombieland)Jason Walter, Virtual Production Team Consultant, AutodeskJim Laird, CFO, Bedlam GamesLui Francisco, Artistic Director, Bedlam GamesSteve Hoban, Founder/Producer, Copperheart EntertainmentDavid Footman, Scripted Event Director, Ubisoft Torontoand others...

 

Conference registration fee is $350 or $150 for partner members with a discount code. To register, go to http://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=926463

KidScreen Summit is renowned as the kids entertainment industry’s most important annual event. In 2010, the conference welcomed almost 1,500 attendees from 43 countries, with a record-setting 63% of delegates hailing from outside of the US. Top decision- and deal-makers in the kids business attend KidScreen Summit to engage in critical dialogue on issues that affect the industry and take advantage of some of the year’s best networking opportunities; recognize and understand current market needs, opportunities and challenges; learn more about key innovators and their visions; and share ideas that will drive their businesses forward.

2010 Statistics

Nearly 1,500 delegatesMore than 800 companies representedAttendees from 43 countries150 riveting speakers350+ kids content buyers & investors

Who Attends?

TV Programming, Acquisitions and Development ExecutivesProducers and CreatorsDistributorsRetailersLicensors & LicenseesMarketersDigital Media Content Creators and Distributors

Why Attend?

Build your business by networking with nearly 1,500 international leaders in all sectors.Engage in critical dialogue on issues that affect the industry.Recognize and understand current market needs, opportunities and challenges.Rejuvenate your creativity.Get face time with primary kids industry leaders.Discover new talent and build relationships with potential partners.

Over three days, imagina offers you the opportunity to become a part of the professional 3D community in Europe

- A professional event orientated around professional applications,

- The presence of over 100 international media groups allows you to enhance and optimise your communications,

- A conference programme structured around the 3D industry's major issues,

- An Exhibition Hall that occupies over 4,000 square metres of floor space. Access is free to all professional visitors.

- A welcoming setting designed to encourage networking and trading between different 3D sectors (Publishers, Developers, Service Providers, Clients, Purchasing Advisers, integrators),

- A cross-market 3D technology event, unique in Europe,

- A distinctive high-level concept for facilitating contacts between buyers and sellers (Privileged Information Meetings et Purchasers Meetings),

- A system providing the opportunity to set-up meetings with major figures in the 3D industry ahead of the event,

- 10 prizes rewarding the best 3D visualisation- and simulation-based projects,

- A comprehensive range of services that allow you to organise your own special events.

NATPE is a global, nonprofit organization committed to being a catalyst for the content revolution. Evolving to meet the needs of a changing media landscape, NATPE through its many activities including exclusive videos, live streaming events and vibrant annual market is at the nexus of the multiplatform content world. Moving to Miami, a major international destination, NATPE 2011, January 24-26 is where creativity meets connectivity and commerce.

With more than four decades of success, the International CES reaches across global markets, connects the industry and enables CE innovations to grow and thrive.

The International CES is produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry. CEA represents more than 2,000 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of consumer electronics products. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.

SIGGRAPH Asia 2010 will be held from December 15 to 18 at the Coex Convention and Exhibition Center in Seoul Korea.

This is the third edition of SIGGRAPH Asia, following its debut in Singapore in 2008 and a successful show in Japan in 2009. Having staged SIGGRAPH in North America for 37 years, the

Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) presented SIGGRAPH Asia to bring digital innovations from around the globe to the region, while tapping into its vibrant and emerging digital media landscape.

Over four days, the computer graphics and interactive techniques communities in Korea and the world over will be able to discuss and view the best innovation, ideas and inventions. These are brought to audiences through much-anticipated programs such as:

Computer Animation Festival

The Computer Animation Festival, a traditional highlight at SIGGRAPH Asia, will feature exceptional works in visual effects and computer animation from around the world. The Computer Animation Festival is presented through two screenings:

- Electronic Theater presents carefully selected pieces of the latest innovations in digital animation. The pieces presented represent the best that animation and visual effects have to offer, having been selected by an international jury made up of renowned digital animation experts, leading visual effects producers and top professionals in the industry.

- Animation Theater presents viewers with a digital feast of short stories that capture the flavour of the world of animation and visual effects. Works in the animation theatre is also hand-picked by the Computer Animation Festival’s international jury.

A respected benchmark in the industry, the Computer Animation Festival will name the Best of Show and Jury Awards from among the selected pieces. Notable works will also be specially invited to be included in Computer Animation Festival. Panel discussions and talks on selected pieces will also be conducted, to further enhance the insights gained from the screenings.

Courses

Another highly sought-after program at SIGGRAPH Asia, the Courses program aims to support and enhance the development of skills and knowledge among the computer graphics and interactive techniques talent pool.

Through the high quality and carefully selected sessions, participants can keep updated on the latest technology and techniques in animation, computer-human interaction, entertainment, mobile computing, robotics and scientific visualization.

SIGGRAPH Asia 2010 also will also include an enhanced line-up of courses on games and stereoscopic 3D, as well as topics that cater to the digital graphics community in Asia.

Aimed at both young talents and experienced industry professionals, the comprehensive array of topics will be presented by instructors comprising academics and professionals from universities, production houses, research institutes and other notable organisations. Selected sessions will also be presented in Korean, to allow for a more focussed discussion among the local community.

Technical Papers

The Technical Papers program is where cutting-edge, peer reviewed research will be presented and discussed. Carefully selected from hundreds of submissions worldwide, the Technical Papers presented at SIGGRAPH Asia are among the most respected and innovative ideas and breakthrough concepts in the industry.

Topics discussed will span the entire spectrum of computer graphics and interactive techniques from animation, GPU algorithms, imaging, image and video processing, modeling, physical simulation, real-time and photo-realistic rendering, texturing, and more.

Technical Papers presented in SIGGRAPH Asia will be collated in a special issue of Transaction on Graphics, the prestigious, industry-defining publication of the ACM.

Technical Sketches and Posters

The Technical Sketches and Posters program offers a unique interactive platform for presenting thought-provoking and emerging ideas in the industry. In the Sketches program, concepts behind breakthrough techniques in art, cinema, digital design and engineering are presented and discussed. These sessions expand the application of new inventions, and pave the way for enhancing the application of new techniques and technologies in the future.