Contributions from 40 countries around the world, ranging from Australia to the United Arab Emirates. More than 1,000 animated films, TV productions, advertisements and video games created by more than 450 participants – in 2009, the animago will again be one of the biggest and most important worldwide awards for the animation and post-production industry. The winners will be announced on 29 October in one of the world’s leading film studios – Babelsberg. Highlight of the two-day animago CONFERENCE will be the presentation of all 55 nominees in 11 categories during the animago Gala. The identities of the winners are still unknown, but one thing that is for sure is that the animago AWARD is becoming increasingly international.
It is precisely this international element, from countries such as animation stronghold France, which continues to raise the standard of competition. The top-class jury, including industry experts such as Armin Pohl or Marc Gruber-Laux, whittled down this year’s entries to a final shortlist of 125. Interesting to note is the higher number of longer entries compared to last year, as well as an increase in 3D-animation. In four of the 11 categories, the public will decide the winners. The host, trade journal DIGITAL PRODUCTION, will be carrying out public votings, together with its media partners, macnews (in the category ‘Best Mobile Production’), Hobnox (‘Best Advertising Production) and fotocommunity (‘Best Virtual Photo’). The readers of DIGITAL PRODUCTION will select the winner for ‘Best International Cinema Production’.
The animago AWARD has been honouring the best productions in the digital content creation (DCC) industry since 1997. The impressive exhibition documents what the best creative minds are achieving with the newest technology. Films such as ‘Up’, virtual worlds such as ‘Second Life’, video games such as ‘World of Warcraft’ and almost all advertisements would all not be possible without animation.
The growing importance of this still-young industry is shown by the enthusiasm of Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg to host the event, as Medienboard Director Petra Müller explains: “Berlin-Brandenburg is the location of content. With the animago AWARD, we are very pleased that Europe’s most important digital content creation competition is coming to the region. Creative minds from associated industries such as film, games, Web 2.0, visual effects, design and technology are already here – now know-how can be gathered and synergies harnessed.” All the more so now that the local scene has been successfully integrated via the specialist retailer Lichtblick 4D. The creators of the successful Meet & Greet festivals in Berlin will be heavily involved in the planning of the animago CONFERENCE.
The animago AWARD and the after-show party are the link between two days of conferences – the animago CONFERENCE. Focal points during the conference on 29 and 30 October in Babelsberg will be master classes, making-ofs, demos and hands-on workshops. The organisers are currently in the process of acquiring speakers and demo artists. One thing is for sure, though: it promises to be an exciting and varied programme, which also represents Babelseberg as a media location.
