Dan Candela, director of Technology for Walt Disney Animation Studios, will be joined by industry veterans from other studios, top software vendors, and leaders of independent open source projects, for a timely and informative track that will illuminate the current status and promising future of open source software.

With many of Hollywood's top studios continuing to make significant contributions to open source projects, there is a world of opportunities and possibilities for sharing and advancing technology for the benefit of the entire industry.

This track will explore a wide range of topics related to open source software and discover what lessons have been learned to date from successes and failures. Questions being asked include: What business environment contributes to adoption of and contribution to open source in this industry? How do vendors view the increase in open source projects?  Where will the state of open source be in five years? Valuable perspectives will come from a panel of distinguished experts, including Rob Bredow (Sony Pictures Imageworks), Dan Candela (Walt Disney Animation), Larry Gritz (Sony Pictures Imageworks), Philipe Leprince (Double Negative), Phil Parsonage (The Foundry), Marc Petit (Autodesk), Bill Polson (Pixar) and Sebastian Sylwan (Weta Digital).

Focus on: France and Chinese Animation
Each year FMX recognises the unique successes and achievements that have taken place in particular regions. The Focus on France is curated by Yann Marchet and Olivier-René Veillon from ParisFX - one of our associated festivals taking place annually in Paris; their selection of production companies will highlight the developments and achievements of the French market.

Kevin Geiger, President & CEO of Magic Dumpling Entertainment and FMX Program board member will host the Focus on Chinese Animation.

Animation Media Cluster Region Stuttgart
Stuttgart is now one of the most prominent regions in Germany for animation and visual effects production. MFG Baden-Wuerttemberg will present their cluster of studios and special effects houses, the Animation Media Cluster Region Stuttgart. Contributions include Pixomondo's latest TV endeavour, "Hindenburg" produced by RTL and directed by Philipp Kadelbach.

Conference program will be online end of March 2011.
www.fmx.de