Another stellar line-up has just been announced for BFX Festival, featuring top visual effects (VFX) developers and designers from Hollywood’s booming fantasy film and gaming industry – and the Bournemouth graduates sharing the credits on blockbusters like Jungle Book and the Oscar-winning Ex Machina.
As the country’s fastest growing digital economy, Bournemouth is the perfect platform to showcase this award-winning industry.
“We’re delighted to see BFX Festival back at Bournemouth International Centre for a fourth year and to see this niche event grow to attract the global pioneers of the VFX and gaming industry,” says BH Live Director of Venues, Pat Coyne. “Professionals, budding developers and youngsters can come along to discover the very latest techniques in visual effects, animation and computer generated imagery, go behind the scenes with the makers of this year’s box office hits and, perhaps, launch a new career.”
Organised by the VFX Hub, a collaboration between the National Centre of Computer Animation (NCCA) at Bournemouth University, and Arts University Bournemouth, the festival provides a stage for the biggest names and studios in the world, and an opportunity to celebrate the world-class contribution made by Bournemouth’s VFX students.
The main event is BFX Core, a unique four-day programme aimed at students, professionals and hobbyists, with screenings, presentations, workshops and a careers hub. This year’s celebrity line-up includes:
- MPC – Jungle Book
- Double Negative – Ex Machina
- Industrial Light and Magic London (ILM London) – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- Framestore – The Legend of Tarzan
- Blue Sky – Ice Age: Collision Course
- Cinesite – Independence Day: Resurgence
There’ll be workshops from world-leading VFX experts like Scott Eaton and Michael Defeo with their digital human sculptures. Plus the chance to watch films and hear their makers reveal some of the magic behind Hollywood blockbusters and the indie film, 8-Bit Generation.
“Every year we’re astounded by the quality of speakers who are happy to come to the Festival and share their secrets for how some of the biggest movies and games are made – and this year is no exception,” says Festival Director Sofronis Efstathiou. “The BFX Festival is the only place in the UK where you can find content like this.”
Young people (the next wave of VFX talent) are made especially welcome at the weekend, when they can play games, take their first steps in creating animations and see some of their favourite films from a different point of view.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional artist, a hobbyist, a film buff or a youngster who wants to know more about animation, there’s going to be something for everyone this year, a chance to get hands on and create your own animation and learn from some of the world’s best animators, visual effects artists and experts,” says Sofronis Efstathiou.
In the run up to the event, the BFX Competition, in partnership with Kingston Smith, has been pitting students and recent graduates against each other to create the best short animations for this year’s two charities, Refuge and Create. The winners will be awarded and announced during the BFX Festival.
Workshops run throughout the two-week festival, with a day for professionals on 11 October followed by the core festival on 12-14 October, and the Family Weekend on 15-16 October 2016.
Catch the best of last-year’s award-winning VFX action http://bzfd.it/2bsftV1.
Free tickets and more information at www.bfxfestival.com.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
Image caption:
Ex Machina, Universal Pictures, Academy Award Winner 2016 – Best Visual Effects
Bournemouth University graduate Mark Ardington collected the award on behalf of the team who worked on the film.
http://bit.ly/1oSkhbK
For more information about BH Live please contact:
Elizabeth Symmons, PR & Corporate Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
T: (01202) 055562
About BFX Festival
Launched in November 2012, the BFX Festival showcases the visual effects and animation industry, and the wave of fresh UK talent contributing to it. It is the creation of the International VFX Hub, a collaboration between National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA) at Bournemouth University – the leading centre for teaching production and research in computer animation and digital effects – and the nationally-acclaimed Arts University Bournemouth. Now in its fourth year, BFX Festival has attracted some incredible partners, among them Double Negative, Framestore, Moving Picture Company, The Mill, Cinesite, Creative Skillset and BAFTA. For more visit, www.bfxfestival.com
About Bournemouth International Centre
Bournemouth International Centre is managed and operated by BH Live in partnership with Bournemouth Borough Council. With licensed capacity for 10,000 delegates, it is the South Coast’s largest and most versatile event venue. Four main halls and numerous smaller meeting and hospitality areas can be blended and scaled to host multi-hall conferences, exhibitions, meetings, sports events and concerts. In 2015/2016, more than 118,000 delegates attended events at the centre, bringing an estimated £66.3 million to the local economy through business and cultural tourism. Visit www.bhlive.org.uk/business
About BH Live
BH Live is the South Coast’s leading operator of leisure and event venues; a social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives.
With more than three million visits a year and over £36.5 million turnover, the organisation is changing lives – placing it at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy.
In 2015/16 BH Live hosted more than 500 events, sold over half a million cultural, sporting and entertainment tickets. They welcomed 2.4 million active participants into its leisure centres and 118,000 conference and exhibition delegates into its venues. This contributed an estimated £66.3 million to the local economy through business and cultural tourism.
Get social with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter @BHLIVE_UK