Special Event: FMX

Centered on the theme ‘Changing the Game,’ storied event heads back to Haus der Wirtschaft this coming May 3-5, with a virtual program following on May 6; director and producer Hasraf 'HaZ' Dulull joins as first ever program chair.

‘Then & Now Track’ welcomes the visual effects pioneer, who will talk on ‘The Cinema of the Future;’ conference runs online May 4-6.

Program highlights include feature film animation competition, screenings, film talks, and free live-streams; notable speakers include Oscar-nominated ‘Wolfwalkers’ director Tomm Moore and David Silverman, director of ‘Extinct.’

MARZ VFX supervisor Ryan Freer will share the often-invisible VFX on Marvel’s first Disney+ series; three presentations will peek behind the curtain surrounding the year’s first blockbuster VFX-driven tentpole to see monster making up close and personal.   

The upcoming conference program, in partnership with the Academy Software Foundation, highlights cross-industry efforts to develop shared technology for VFX, animation and sound; additional confirmed speakers include Pixar’s technical director Markus Kranzler and Inda Barnardo, director of ‘Cat and Moth.’

Program includes sessions with director Glen Keane on the making of ‘Over the Moon;’ RISE’s Florian Gellinger and their first in-house productions, ‘Dragon Rider’ and ‘Stowaway;’ and MR. X’s creative team discussing the film adaption of ‘Monster Hunter’ video game; project submissions being accepted until February 22 for Animation Product Days.