HDFEST announced the launch of its HDFEST 2006 World Tour which will screen HD independent cinema across the globe. HDFEST continues to build upon the phenomenal growth the festival experienced last year during which the festival reached 12,000 festival attendees and racked up several million total impressions. This year will include HDFEST festival events taking place in New York, Los Angeles, London, Hameenlinna, Finland and Seoul, South Korea. This is the seventh year for HDFEST which focuses on screening digital cinema movies and panels and seminars on high- definition technology and filmmaking. Since its inception in 2000, HDFEST has been labeled "the world's only high-definition film festival" as it has had the distinction of being the only film festival in the world to screen films shot exclusively using HD technology. HDFEST also screens all festival movies exclusively in HD.

The first event of the year is taking place in conjunction with the Seoul Film Festival from September 9th through 14th. HDFEST focuses on empowering independent filmmakers by offering a glimpse into filmmaking capabilities possible using HD technology and the organization is pleased to be spreading its vision across the globe. In the city of Seoul, HDFEST will present two HD feature films "The Mars Underground" and "December Ends." Amongst the numerous highlights of this years tour is the HDFEST Breakthrough Presentation "The Mars Underground," Directed by Scott J Gill. HDFEST is proud to announce that this landmark documentary, which was shot exclusively with HD technology and also includes stunning state-of-the-art computer generated imagery and animation, will be making its Asian Premiere, London Premiere and New York Premiere with HDFEST. The film centers around world-renowned Dr. Robert Zubrin, described as "a maverick aerospace-engineer and author,'" and his passionate pursuit for manned exploration and colonization of Mars. Zubrin believes that an expedition to Mars could be attained in the next 10 years and eventually colonization could occur via terraforming the red planet. With recent comments from such visionary scientists as Stephen Hawkins concerning the importance of space travel and the survival of the human race, HDFEST is pleased to be assisting to highlight this important and timely documentary. Also to be receiving an Asian premiere is the HD dramatic feature "December Ends" directed by Lee Krieger.

In Seoul, HDFEST will also present a cutting edge series of animations created completely at HD resolution. HDFEST's groundbreaking HD animation series includes "Vaudeville" directed by Chansoo Kim, DreamWorks animated short "First Flight" directed by Kyle Jefferson and Cameron Hood, the comedic HD animation "Arrest Assured" from Studio Pendulum directors Michael McCormick and Robert Taylor, the comedic HD animation "The Toll" directed by J. Zachary Pike, "Mantis Parable" directed by Josh Staub, and Elephant's Dream" directed by Bassam Kurdali and Blender. "First Flight" was screened theatrically earlier this year as it was the opening short before screenings of the DreamWorks hit comedy "Over the Hedge." "Elephants Dream" is a particularly interesting animation to note as "members of the user/development community were selected to come over to Amsterdam to work together on an animated short movie, utilizing Open Source tools only." The animation is also notable as it achieved the milestone of being the first HD-DVD release in Europe. This sequence of HD animation will showcase the accomplishments now possible for filmmakers and animators working even with fairly low budgets. HDFEST 2006 will showcase what is the largest collection of HD animation to be screened together at any film festival to date. Festival Director Issac Alexander states in regards to the HD animation presentations "for years HDFEST has been working on assembling a comprehensive collection of animation rendered at HD format. This year HDFEST's impressive line-up of HD animation offers a glimpse into the near future of animated films and what is to come in the way of visuals and powerful high resolution imagery. This should really be a unique visual experience for audiences this year."

HDFEST's touring festival will continue in early October with a London event October 2nd at the Cineworld Shaftesbury Theatre in conjunction with the Raindance Film Festival, and screenings in New York City on October 6th to be held at the Tribeca Screening Room. HDFEST will continue the tour in Finland on November 3rd and 4th, and than wrap-up the tour in Los Angeles the first week of December 2006. Judging takes place throughout HDFEST's events to determine the winners of HD filmmaking in 14 categories. The HDFEST tour concludes each year in December with the bestowing of awards specifically recognizing achievement in HD filmmaking. HDFEST's unique awards are entitled "The HDFEST Deffie Awards," the nominees and winners of these awards each year are determined by a panel of over 30 judges who are industry experts in film and video. The HDFEST 2006 Deffie Award ceremony will be taking place in December in Los Angeles.

HDFEST sponsors this year include Dolby, Avid, Entertainment Partners, Final Draft, Footage Firm, Revolution Stock Media, Mammoth HD, SYPHA, and Production Update Magazine. Additional HDFEST sponsors for this year's tour are still signing on and the complete list of sponsors will be announced September 25th. The HDFEST Seoul event will be taking place September 9th-14th, the London event is October 2nd at Cineworld Shaftesbury Theatre and the New York Event is October 6th at the Tribeca Screening Room. All tickets can be purchased at the door the day of the event. More information about the Seoul Film Festival can be found at www.senef.net. Tickets for HDFEST New York can be purchased online at HDFEST's website and are $10 for HD shorts sequences and $12 for HD feature film screenings. More information and schedule for all HDFEST events can be found at HDFEST's website www.hdfest.com.