Archive notice: This article was originally published on July 4, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
This year, the most important European award in the DCC industry was introduced in Switzerland and the competition announced. The first awards ceremony will then take place in 2009 at the “Festival international du film fantastique de Neuchâtel”.
To introduce the award to Swiss creatives, an information evening took place on July 2. As part of the “Imaging the Future Symposium” in Neuchâtel, DP editor-in-chief Matthias J. Lange and artists presented the Hightligts of the animago AWARDS 2007.
The “Imaging the Future Symposium” is part of the “Festival international du film fantastique de Neuchâtel”. The conference takes an interdisciplinary look at the design and use of digital images. Demonstrations and conferences with directors, designers, researchers, and special-effects and game developers. This year’s guest of honour is Syd Mead, conceptual designer of the films “Blade Runner”, “Tron” and “Aliens”. Guests in previous years have included zombie director George R. Romero and directing guru Terry Gilliam (ex-Monty Pythons).
Participants in the animago AWARD Switzerland automatically also enter the existing animago AWARD, giving them twice the chance of winning one of the coveted Trophären. Eleven animago AWARDs will be presented at a ceremony. The categories are Best Production (main prize – the competition year’s best overall production, taking the use of DCC techniques into account), Best International Cinema Production (film judging section only – the best cinema film produced substantially with the help of digital technology. Best Student Production (advancement award – the best completed DCC project at a public or private university), Best Technical Realisation (the best use of existing DCC tools and/or development of new technology to achieve advances in realism, aesthetics or creative possibilities.), Best Idea (the best idea underlying a DCC production), Best Character (the most convincing CG character in terms of movement, facial animation, texturing and believability), Best Visualisation (the most successful illustration of a topic, product or process using DCC), Best Still (still judging section only – the most convincing still in terms of design, aesthetics and effective use of DCC), Best Interactive Production (interactive judging section only – the most convincing design for a production involving interaction with the user), Best Advertising Production (the commercial that is most convincing not only through its idea, but also through its visuals and execution.), Jury Prize (a special distinction awarded by the jury to a work that has been particularly impressive.
