fmx, a key event in animation, visual effects, games and other 3D content, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year (April 27-30 in Stuttgart, Germany) by continuing to offer a holistic, cinematic and integrated approach to the booming CGI industry. You can see the changes in CGI reflected in the new design for the fmx/05 logo and trailer, based on the clip, Timeless, by Filmakademie graduate student Linus Ewers.
With expected visitors numbering 2,000 per day, this conference is appeals to professionals and non-professionals alike. As in previous years, fmx/05 will offer a broad spectrum of events, including:
* Panels on Workflow, Virtual Actors, Digital Production and Film Funding, supported by the FFA German Federal Film Board.
* Animation sessions on GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE, the tale of the European co-production series, THE UGLY DUCKLING AND ME.
* Vfx sessions on Australias Animal Logic (HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS) and Rising Sun Prods. (SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW), Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPIDER-MAN 2) and CA Scanline Production (DREAMSHIP SURPRISE) from Germany.
* Game sessions presented in cooperation with the German Chapter of International Game Developers Assn. and Electronic Arts addressing the increasingly close relationship between film and game industries, as well as lectures on mobile games.
* Technology sessions concerning dynamic animation as a way to create autonomous acting virtual characters and Visualization in Science and Industry Trends in Visualization, Simulation and Virtual Reality, in cooperation with the MFG Medien und Filmgesellschaft Baden Württemberg (MFG Media and Film Society, Baden-Württemberg).
* Production sessions featuring a panel on film funding (with Rola Bauer from Tandem Communication on THE NIBELUNGEN), as well as numerous talks on Digital Production, for example, in connection with the German movie DIE FETTEN JAHRE SIND VORBEI (THE EDUKATORS).
* fmx/Essentials: Reflections on the basic questions of animation, such as: How Do Production Techniques Influence Content? by David Sproxton of Aardman Animations.
* Various workshops, hands-on training sessions and company suites from Discreet, Avid and others. Plus topics such as 3D, Compositing, Content Management, HD, Digital Film and Digital Lab. And, for the first time, sessions on audio production, sound design and reports and screenings of 3D stereoscopy.
* For the first time, in-depth seminars on arts and content: Ed Hooks with Acting for Animators and Jeanine Breaker with Life Drawing for Animators.
* Developing Interactive Narrative Content, by Sagasnet, the network for European professionals engaged in the content development for interactive digital media.
* fmx/Talents: A focus on young professionals. The European Talents project fair gives students and graduates the possibility to pitch their projects in front of a jury and get in contact with investors and business partners. Students or graduates from German-speaking schools can submit their projects (preferably a series or a feature film) until Feb. 28, 2005 on www.fmx.de.
* RealtimeL After its successful premiere in 2004, fmx/05 features an increased Realtime section. On top of workshops and presentations, the Realtime Film Festival will be showing a selection of works. At an awards ceremony on April 28, the best works will be chosen in the categories Demos, Cut Scenes, Machinimas and Flash animations. Submit online until March 1 on www.fmx.de.
* The flashconferenceâ: the oldest and biggest German event centered on Macromedia Flash is again taking place at: www.flashconference.de.
* Also this year, the animago Awards 2005 for Digital Content Creation in German-speaking countries. Organized by the leading special interest magazine DIGITAL PRODUCTION, the animago award gives artists the opportunity to present themselves and their work. Submissions can be made in the following categories: still, animation and compositing, games and interactive (including DVD design). You can register online at www.animago.com. Deadline for all submissions is March 15.
fmx/05 (www.fmx.de) is organized by the Film and Media Festival Co., supported by the Institute for Animation, Visual Effects and Digital Post-production at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. fmx is funded by the Ministry of the Land Baden-Württemberg, the MFG Baden-Württemberg, as well as the German Federal Film Board FFA.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
