Animation and Visual Effects Symposium

11 August 2006

World’s Best Attending International Animation and Visual Effects Symposium

The world’s leading animation and visual effects studios will meet at an international animation and visual effects symposium to be held in Wellington in November this year.

AnimFXNZ is the first animation and visual effects symposium ever held in this country, and will be brought to New Zealand by Positively Wellington Business and IBM.

Influential figures from studios such as DreamWorks SKG, Warner Bros, Blue Sky Studios Inc and Wellington’s Weta Digital will attend.

Positively Wellington Business chief executive Philip Lewin said the symposium recognised New Zealand’s innovation, expertise and growing influence in the industry.

“These Hollywood-based companies are among the best in the world, and their presence here shows the high regard they have for our creativity, story-telling and technological abilities,” said Mr Lewin.

IBM is the major backer of AnimFXNZ, and IBM New Zealand’s managing director Katrina Troughton says she hopes the symposium will bring continued success and opportunities to New Zealand.

“The New Zealand animation and visual effects industry is world-renowned and IBM technology has long powered its success,” said Ms Troughton.

AnimFXNZ is being held with support from the prestigious Los Angeles-based Visual Effects Society (VES).

VES is the industry’s only organisation that represents the full breadth of visual effects practitioners in all areas of entertainment, from film television and commercials to music videos and gaming worldwide.

AnimFXNZ will include two days of lectures, screenings and workshops in Wellington on November 4-5. There will also be a series of business meetings in both Wellington and Auckland.

“The global success of our film industry is driven by the talent of the people that work in it. Increasingly, this includes those that develop and run the IT systems that bring film, television and games to life,” said Ms Troughton.

“Their innovation has put Kiwi film makers on the map and is providing an engine for growth in our economy.”

AnimFXNZ is supported by Academy® Award winners Richard Taylor of Weta Workshop and Joe Letteri of Weta Digital.

“With the recent growth in the New Zealand animation and visual effects industry, many young kiwis have found a career path within the two disciplines. Wellington City has long been the centre of film making excellence in New Zealand and as a country we have enjoyed the international recognition of our vibrant film industry around the globe,” said Mr Taylor.

“The importance of both national and international collaboration is being recognised and an event such as this symposium will help bring like-minded professionals together.

“Through the symposium, the attendees and sponsors will come to appreciate that it is not just about technology, but rather the art of telling stories while engaging and inspiring audiences through the use of animation and visual effects.

“This is something that New Zealand film makers already excel at and can continue to grow as an important part of the local film industry.”

ENDS

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