FMX 2016 Sets ‘Blending Realities’ Theme

Conference on Animation, Effects, Games and Transmedia to host director Mark Osborne and stop-motion creative director James Caliri as they discuss their successful blend of animation techniques in ‘The Little Prince.’

STUTTGART, GERMANY -- FMX 2016 has coined its main theme for this year’s edition: “Blending Realities.” Following this headline, FMX creates a space to analyze, discuss and try out the realities of others in Art, Technology and Business. What are the mindsets and conceptualization methods of my own and neighboring industries, which pipelines and distribution models are available? In thinking outside the box, FMX brings together people from across different sectors so they may discover the opportunities of assimilation, cooperation or convergence that arise from their similarities and differences. FMX 2016 is set to take place from April 26-29 in the Haus der Wirtschaft, Stuttgart.

Great emphasis is placed on VFX and Virtual Reality, on Augmented Reality and other fields that are currently being explored for their new potential to blend realities. These realities turn into the center of attention of numerous presentations, workshops, and new, collaborative formats in the Forum. FMX 2016 furthermore looks at the following topics: Realtime Storytelling, Disruptive Technologies, Sound Design, Hack Art, Directing for VR, Business Leaders, Investors meet Technology Start-ups, Stop-Motion, Layout and Set, Tools of Tomorrow as well as Cameras & Pipelines. In addition, popular favorites such as Visual Communication, Concept Art, Virtual Humans Forum, VFX for TV and for Commercials return to FMX. The Lighting & Rendering track, a firm installment on the FMX program, shifts its focus to cinematographers and directors of photography this year, bringing people from Live-Action and VFX closer together for a new take on the subject. Moreover, the program features an introduction to the Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg - which hosts FMX every year -- in celebration of its 25th birthday.

Director Mark Osborne and stop-motion creative director James Caliri to discuss their successful blend of CG and stop-motion animation in ‘The Little Prince.’

Though the opening of FMX is still weeks away, important industry heads and companies have already announced their coming. Just to name a few: Director Mark Osborne and stop motion Creative Director James Caliri talk about their successful blend of 3D computer animation and stop motion in The Little Prince, while Chris Robinson (Festival Director of the Ottawa International Animation Festival) illuminates his artistic evolution as part of the “Animation Wild & Strange” track. What’s more, Game Cinematics move into the spotlight. Amongst others, Creative Director Stuart Aiken from Axis Animation provides insights into the epic introduction sequence of Halo 5 as well as into the collaboration between Axis, 343 Industries and Microsoft Games for the game’s cinematics. This year’s tech talks include Tomasz Bednarz’ series of presentations on “Hack Art” and Jon Peddie’s track, “Graphics à la Cloud.”

More confirmations and detailed information on what “blending realities” signifies for the different fields of digital entertainment will be revealed during the next press releases.

FMX is funded by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts and the Ministry for Finance and Economic Affairs of the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg, the City of Stuttgart and the MFG Film Funding, taking place in cooperation with VES Visual Effects Society, ACM SIGGRAPH, World Building Institute and Eurographics. FMX is an event by the Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg, organized by the Institute of Animation, Visual Effects and Digital Postproduction, hosting the Animation Production Day 2016 (APD), a joint venture with the Festival of Animated Film Stuttgart (ITFS).

Source: FMX 2016

Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.