Two-Day Event Highlights the Future of Storytelling Across a Wide Array of Screens

INCLUDED ARE MUST-SEE PROTOTYPES DEVELOPED FOR
DavidLynch.com
The Leonardo DeCaprio Foundation
L.M. Kit Carson’s AFRICA DIARY Series
PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE
Behind-the-scenes look at big screen special effects
Surveillance camera filmmaking
Crowd-sourced animation

FREE TICKETS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC

LOS ANGELES (October 20, 2009) – AFI FEST 2009 presented by Audi today announced that AFI DigiFest will take place at the Mann Chinese 1 Theatre in Hollywood on November 4 and 5.

Now in its third year, AFI DigiFest provides a unique, behind-the-scenes look at how storytelling is adapting to an ever-widening array of new screens and platforms. The event is open to the public and admission is free.

“This has been a banner year for new media innovation,” says AFI Digital Content Lab Director Suzanne Stefanac. “We’re seeing forward-thinking writers, directors and producers learn to tell stories across a spectrum of screens, engaging new audiences and inventing new markets along the way. AFI DigiFest is our opportunity to shine a light on the inspiring works created during the past year.”

Projects premiering at AFI DigiFest 2009 on November 4 were incubated in the AFI Digital Content Lab in coordination with MTV, NBC, Method Design, D20, EQAL, Digital Domain, Avatar Labs, TwinArt and many others. Together, the teams:

• created an engaging social network and viral marketing plan for the web series INTERVIEW PROJECT PRESENTED BY DAVIDLYNCH.COM;

• proposed an online strategy for engaging youth in a series of relevant environmental action challenges for the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation;

• developed a mobile application that provides an interactive past-to-future timeline for an ITVS cross-platform micro-series;

• conceived an interactive mentoring environment for One Economy that encourages students from low-income families to learn more about science as a career; and

• presented MOBILE STORY MAKER, a hands-on session with filmmaker L.M. Kit Carson (PARIS, TEXAS; BOTTLE ROCKET), who shot the micro-series AFRICA DIARY using a Nokia mobile phone as his camera. The series is scheduled to air on the Sundance Channel.

On November 5, the AFI Digital Content Lab has invited the creators of cutting-edge recently released or soon-to-be-released digital media productions to present their projects. The productions featured this year include:

• DISTRICT 9, a behind-the scenes look at games and an augmented reality application created by production house Trigger;

• LIVE MUSIC, 3D animation pieced together from contributions by thousands of animators from around the world, masterminded by Mass Animation’s Yair Landau, former vice-chair of Sony Pictures;

• URBAN WOLF, a surveillance camera-based micro-series drama by Parisian director Laurent Touil Tartour;

• MANOBI, a mobile phone application that has helped raise the standard of living for Senegalese farmers and fishermen;

• FIRST THINGS LAST, a visual storytelling application for the iPhone created by ScrollMotion;

• ESCAPE FROM CITY 17, a meld of machinima and live action created by the Purchase Brothers for less than $500;

• NAKED SKY, a look at augmented reality.

A reception at the historic Roosevelt Hotel Ballroom will follow both day-long programs. On November 4, the reception will be followed by poolside screenings of several digital micro-series. On November 5, the reception will celebrate the market launch of Planet Illogica, an AFI Digital Content Lab 2008 project.

To register for AFI DigiFest 2009, visit afi.com or call 1.866.AFI.FEST.

This year’s AFI FEST presented by Audi is offering free tickets to all Festival screenings. Free tickets are available online at AFI.com/AFIFEST or by phone at 866-AFI-FEST, at the Mann Chinese 6 Theatre (6925 Hollywood Blvd.) in the Hollywood and Highland Center beginning October 26, and on the day of scheduled screenings via Rush Lines. Early entry to all screenings can be secured by becoming a patron of the Festival and purchasing an AFI FEST Patron Pass. For more details, visit AFI.com.