Two premier events for the 3D, animation and effects market in the UK have combined their resources to create a single event. Digital Arts Festival, owned by Future Publishing, and Digital Media World, owned by Advanstar Communications, have combined into Digital Arts World, a single exhibition showcasing the best of both events. The new event will be held in the Grand Hall, Olympia, from October 9-11, 2002. Digital Arts World will include a single conference incorporating 3D Festival London and the London Effects & Animation Festival (LEAF) and will feature exclusive attractions including presentations from the creative houses behind STAR WARS: EPISODE II, MONSTERS, INC, HARRY POTTER, LORD OF THE RINGS and SPIDER-MAN; specific workshops on broadcast effects, games graphics, Web design, digital music and more; the LEAF Awards; BAFTA's Interactive Entertainment Awards; and the 3D Festival Film Festival. The exhibition and the 3D Festival London and LEAF Conference will run on all three days, with the LEAF Awards on the evening of October 9 at London's Hippodrome nightclub, and the BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards on the evening of October 10 at Olympia. Jimmy Hassel, founder of 3D Festival, will be the conference director for the new event, and has played a leading role in building the program content of Digital Arts World. "3D Festival London has made a commitment to the UK 3D community to deliver a high end 3D conference in 2002," said Hassel. "The merge with LEAF/DMW will help us create an even bigger and better conference."
