The deadline for ANIMA2011 has been extended until May 27th, 2011!!!

 

ANIMA - Córdoba International Animation Festival is both an academic and cultural event, devoted specifically to animation in its artistic and technological dimensions. ANIMA merges the energy, enthusiasm and joy of an Animation Festival with the scientific aspects of a Conference. Held every odd year since 2001, ANIMA is the main animation event in Argentina and a very influential player in its field in Latin America and the Caribbean.

 

ANIMA is no ordinary event. Its main objective is to gather creative individuals devoted to the art and craft of animation into a meeting point where all discussion and exchange can be directed into the scope of animation, in its many dimensions of analysis: as artistic expression, as cultural industry, as educational resource, as corpus for research, etc… Or just as fun!

 

ANIMA is composed by three superimposed dimensions:

 

It’s an ANIMATION FESTIVAL: ANIMA’s 2009 edition screened 130 films (feature and shorts) selected from a pool of 825 submissions from 53 countries. Guests and Jurors in former editions include prestigious animators from abroad, to name a few: Academy Award nominee Barry Purves (UK), Academy Award nominee Christopher Hinton (Canada), Academy Award nominee Caroline Leaf (USA). Most of the finest Argentinian animators have also been guests and Jurors in the Festival: Juan Pablo Zaramella, Javier Mrad, Pablo Rodríguez Jáuregui, among many others.

It’s an OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM THE BEST: ANIMA aims to bring in depth and high – end educational opportunities to its audience. Seminars, workshops and short courses are organized, centered on a variety of topics dedicated to specific animation aesthetics and technology, and are conducted by prestigious professionals in the area, such as the forementioned guests, Rodolfo Sáenz Valiente (Argentina), Walter Tournier (Uruguay), Giannalberto Bendazzi (Italy) and many more.

It’s a CONFERENCE: ANIMA’s Academic Forum is the only specific Conference on Animation held in Latin America. It holds an open call for papers, video presentations and posters on animation, that undergo double peer – reviewing by an Academic Committee for selection and publication.

ANIMA2011 will be held on October 6th through 8th, 2011. Deadline for submission of film entries is on May 27th, 2011. Deadline for submission of papers, posters and audiovisual presentations is on June 17th, 2011.

“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/

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.

83rd Annual Academy Awards – February 27, 2011

Each January, the entertainment community and film fans around the world turn their attention to the Academy Awards. Interest and anticipation builds to a fevered pitch leading up to the Oscar telecast in February, when hundreds of millions of movie lovers tune in to watch the glamorous ceremony and learn who will receive the highest honors in filmmaking.

The Oscars reward the previous year’s greatest cinema achievements as determined by some of the world’s most accomplished motion picture artists and professionals. The Academy’s roughly 6,000 members vote for the Oscars using secret ballots, which are tabulated by the international auditing firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers. The auditors maintain absolute secrecy until the moment the show’s presenters open the envelopes and reveal the winners on live television.

And the Oscar Goes To...

Awards are presented for outstanding individual or collective efforts in up to 25 categories. Members select winners from as many as five nominees in each category, which are determined by members of the relevant Academy branch. (For instance, only film editors may nominate for the Achievement in Film Editing award.) The only exceptions are the Best Picture category, for which nominees are selected by the entire membership, and the Best Foreign Language films, which are nominated by a committee of members drawn from all branches.

In addition to the regular annual awards conferred by the membership, the Board of Governors is empowered to bestow Scientific and Technical Awards, Honorary Awards, Special Achievement Awards and other honors. Learn more about all the awards here.

Broadcast rights to the annual Oscar telecast provide the majority of the revenue for the organization’s rich and varied year-round activities.

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

THE TORONTO ANIMATED IMAGE SOCIETY PRESENTS:
ELEMENTAL MAGIC WORKSHOP – An Organic Approach to Special Effects Animation with Joseph Gilland


ELEMENTAL MAGIC WORKSHOP
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 10 AM - 5 PM
NFB MEDIATHEQUE, 150 JOHN STREET
$15, $10 TAIS/NFB members
Pre-registration suggested in order to secure your spot
See online payment option at www.tais.ca/elementalmagic.html or contact the office directly at tais@bellnet.ca


In this inspirational, full-day workshop with master special effects animator and Disney veteran, Joseph Gilland, and based on his ground-breaking book, Elemental Magic: The Classical Art of Hand-Drawn Special Effects Animation, the author brings a fresh perspective to understanding the underlying energy behind elemental special effects such as fire, water, smoke, explosions and magic.

Drawing on a life-long mission to capture the essential energy of the elements, Joseph urges his workshop participants to explore the natural world around them and inside them, to tap into the true nature of the elements and thus bring fresh, dynamic energy to the visual effects that they create. Traditional and digital artists, technical directors and computer programmers alike will discover fresh new ways to approach visual effects animation.

About Joseph Gilland:
In his long and storied animation career, Joseph has utilized his traditional and digital animation talents at such studios as Walt Disney Feature Animation, Don Bluth Animation, and the National Film Board of Canada. At Walt Disney Feature Animation, Joseph served as Supervisor of Visual Effects for the Disney classics Lilo & Stitch and Brother Bear. Joseph also served as Head of Florida Special Effects Unit for the features Kingdom of the Sun and Tarzan, and was Special Effects Animator on such notable titles as Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, James and the Giant Peach, Hercules and Mulan. His broad experience also includes animating video games, several short film projects at the National Film Board of Canada, and directing dozens of television commercials as an independent director. From 2003 to 2005, Joseph headed up the world renowned animation program at the Vancouver Film School.

Joseph is currently writing a follow up volume to Elemental Magic: The Classical Art of Hand-Drawn Special Effects Animation (Focal Press, 2009) so expect some sneak peeks of his new book at this workshop.

Presented in partnership with the NFB Mediatheque and with funding support from The Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council.

For more info, visit www.tais.ca

Join us for two weeks of new, exclusive classes in an interactive, online event. Each two hour class focuses on a different element of the VFX and games industry and allows individuals to discuss the content with the instructors. One ticket gives you access to all 12 classes, with more to be announced!

Each class is offered online in a private forum, allowing you to participate in discussion with the instructor and other students. Each instructor will check the forums daily and do their best to answer students' questions. All instructional videos are high-definition and can be accessed any time during the event, as often as you like.

Each high-def lecture is 2+ hours long and available 24-hours a day, so you can watch them whenever you'd like, as often as you'd likeOne ticket gives you access to all 12+ classes, a total of over 30 hours of lecture!This is a phenomenal value and opportunity to learn from many of the industry’s masters, gain insights into their techniques, experiences, thought processes and workflow. Buy a ticket and get a massive dose of inspiration, motivation and education while sharing the experience with your peers from around

the world.

Sign up for our mailing list to be informed of updates about Master Classes 2011.

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.

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.