The countdown is now on for the launch of the Digital Media Festival (DMF), 5-7 December at Sydney’s Convention Centre, Darling Harbour. With only a month to go, the final program of speakers has now been locked in for Australia’s leading digital arts forum and exhibition.

Bringing together some of the world’s finest creative artists, video producers, filmmakers and imaging professionals, the DMF consists of three conference streams, the Australian Effects and Animation Festival (AEAF), the Digital Video Festival , the Digital Imaging Festival and Media 2.0 as well as an exhibition of the leading hardware, software, cameras and equipment.

Now in its twelvth year, the AEAF (5-7 December) features speakers from some of 2006’s biggest blockbusters, as well as offers a sneak preview of some yet to be released titles.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST - Jamy Wheless, Animation Supervisor, Industrial Light & Magic (US) is the latest addition to the blockbuster speaker programme for the Australian Effects & Animation Festival, December 5-7, 2006 at the Sydney Convention Centre. ILM raised the bar higher once again for the second “Pirates” film, Dead Man’s Chest, which required three times as many visual effects shots as did The Curse of the Black Pearl. AEAF attendees will learn how ILM digitally converted actor Bill Nighy’s performance into the fully tricked-out Davy Jones with his octopus beard. Wheless will go behind the creation of the rest of Davy Jones crew and CG characters such as Wyvern, as well as revealing a few comical CGI bloopers.
DREAMWORKS ANIMATION VFX SUPERVISOR CRAIG RING - Prior to coming to DreamWorks Animation, Ring was based at PDI/DreamWorks in Northern California. While at PDI, he served as the digital supervisor on Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, worked as a CG Supervisor on the traditionally animated The Road to El Dorado and was also the lead lighting supervisor for DreamWorks’ first computer-animated release, Antz. In addition, Ring worked on such live-action features as Batman and Robin, The Peacemaker, The Arrival and Batman Forever. Before joining PDI/DreamWorks, Ring was at Industrial Light & Magic, where he worked on the computer graphics in the Oscar-winning feature Forrest Gump. He had started out working in product design, software design and digital hardware design at Hewlett-Packard.
FUTURE OF VFX – Where is it all going? Find out from some of Australia and the world’s leading experts, including Diana Giorgiutti (Matrix Trilogy, Sky Captain), who is presently working on Baz Luhrmann’s currently untitled Australian epic, and recently completed a conceptual phase on the Wachowski Brother’s next film, Speed Racer.
FLYBOYS - London based Visual Effects house, Double Negative, has simulated thrilling aerobatic visual effects sequences for Dean Devlin’s new movie Flyboys, which along with this year’s Superman Reuturns, is one of the first two feature films to be shot on Panavision’s new Genesis camera.
MONSTER HOUSE - SUPERMAN RETURNS - OPEN SEASON - OVER THE HEDGE; and more …

Running over three days, the Digital Video (5-6 December) provides expert advice on digital cinematography, masterclasses on DVD authoring, and essential audio tips for video producers. There are a number of filmmaking case studies covering DV filmmaking, desktop cinema and HD filmmaking, and Day 3 of the festival is dedicated to showcasing HD filmmaking technology and techniques. The evening of Day 2 will feature a special DVFest Film Festival showcasing the best of DV filmmakers.

Learn essential skills and techniques for digital photography and imaging from award winning professional photographers and imaging specialists at the Digital Imaging (5 December). Providing essential information for anyone using digital cameras and imaging software, attendees to the Digital Imaging Festival will hear from master photographers, learn the secrets of digital work flow, the essentials of colour management, and can attend an expert master class on Photoshop CS.

MEDIA 2.0 is a new event designed to bring together the pioneers of the new media era of video blogging, mobile broadband and IPTV. Traditional media services being challenged by new digital technologies, which is resulting in the emergence of new players, new content, new services and new platforms. Internet video services are on the brink of becoming a mainstream phenomenon, and Media 2.0 will feature leading experts seeking to meet the public’s growing demand for truly personalised media.

A number of entry options and passes are available. For bookings and to view the complete Digital Media Festival program visit www.dmw.com.au

Digital Media Festival
Sydney Convention Centre, Darling Harbour
5 – 7 December 2006