FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
22 January 2009

For further information:
Brian Ban
+1.773.454.7423
+1.773.915.5050 fax
media@siggraph.org

SIGGRAPH Award Winner Nominated for Oscar

(Chicago, IL) - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences just announced that the SIGGRAPH 2008 Computer Animation Festival Best of Show winner, Oktapodi, is among five animated short films nominated for a 2009 Oscar®. Since 1999, the SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival has been an official qualifying festival for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Animated Short Film award. No fewer than 16 films from the SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival have been nominated for the Academy Award® for Best Animated Short.

The film's directors, Emud Mokhberi and Thierry Marchand were students when they made the film - a tale of two octopi in their comical escape from the grasp of a stubborn and determined restaurant cook. During the SIGGRAPH 2008 Computer Animation Festival, competition screening audiences were able to vote for their favorite selection to win the esteemed Audience Prize - an accolade also given to Oktapodi.

"SIGGRAPH continues to be the place to showcase the latest technical achievements and innovations in animations and computer graphics," stated Carlye Archibeque, SIGGRAPH 2009 Computer Animation Festival Executive Producer from Sony Pictures Imageworks. "Having SIGGRAPH films continue to show up as nominees for the Academy Awards® is a testament to the incredible pieces that are prevalent throughout the SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival. We expect nothing different this year."

In response to a successful expanded format in 2008, the SIGGRAPH 2009 Computer Animation Festival will again be open to the public and feature a comprehensive collection of juried and invited screenings that will showcase the most recent advances in computer-generated imagery. In addition, the Festival will feature presentations and panels that focus on the art, science, and technology that are used to create the latest advances in production and projection of digital cinema and visualizations. The Festival is also expanding its general call for submissions to include Real-Time Rendering and Visual Music.

Submissions for Real-Time Rendering are encouraged to highlight work produced interactively in real-time game engines that push the boundaries of what users and viewers have come to expect in all fields where real-time rendering is used: games, medicine, astrophysics, and more. The Visual Music focus aims to present work that spans visual music culture from the academic vision of Visual Music to the more urban pop culture vision of music combined with visuals such as music video. Live or captured DJ performances will be considered as well. Artworks that combine music and images into a captivating multi-sensory experience are encouraged. Deadline for submissions is 4 March 2009, 22:00 UTC/GMT

Juried content will be featured during daily screenings with attendees able to choose from several time choices based on their schedule preference. The daytime Competition and Invited Screenings will be genre-focused based on the film category (narrative animation, real time, research, etc). Plus, a special "Jury Chair" Reel will be showcased that will feature the favorite pieces of the 2009 Jury Chair, Miles Perkins from Industrial Light & Magic.

Presentations and discussions on the process of creating films, behind-the-scenes developments, virtual tools, production-related art, and related subjects will be offered in the Computer Animation Festival's presentation rooms. Retrospectives and documentaries about computer graphics visionaries and their tools will also be featured.

In addition, this year, the Computer Animation Festival has a special invited focus on Multicultural Representations and Visualizations as part of its Invited Content program. The goal is to include works of all genres in animation, games, visual effects, and storytelling that display a multicultural vision. Curation will continue through late spring 2009.

Detailed information on submission categories and important deadlines for film submissions can be found at http://www.siggraph.org/s2009/submissions/caf_films/index.php. For information regarding how to submit for Real-Time Rendering pieces visit
http://www.siggraph.org/s2009/submissions/caf_real-time/index.php.

For complete information on SIGGRAPH 2009 or to download a copy of the SIGGRAPH 2009 Preview Video visit www.siggraph.org/s2009.

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About SIGGRAPH
SIGGRAPH 2009 will bring an anticipated 20,000 computer graphics and interactive technology professionals from six continents to New Orleans, Louisiana, USA for the industry's most respected technical and creative programs focusing on research, science, art, animation, music, gaming, interactivity, education, and the web from Monday, 3 August through Friday, 7 August 2009 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. SIGGRAPH 2009 includes a three-day exhibition of products and services from the computer graphics and interactive marketplace from 4-6 August 2009. More than 200 international exhibiting companies are expected. More details are available at www.siggraph.org/s2009.

About ACM
ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery www.acm.org, is the world's largest educational and scientific computing society, uniting educators, researchers and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources and address the field's challenges. ACM strengthens the computing profession's collective voice through strong leadership, promotion of the highest standards, and recognition of technical excellence. ACM supports the professional growth of its members by providing opportunities for life-long learning, career development, and professional networking.