The 23rd edition of FMX, a globally influential conference for animation, visual effects, games and immersive media, welcomed key industry figures such as Phil Tippett, David Sproxton, Chris Wedgeand William Joyce this year, as well as highlight presentations for Blade Runner 2049, The Shape of Water and Jim Knopf & Lukas der Lokomotivführer (Jim Knopf & Luke the Engine Driver).
264 speakers attracted 4,000 visitors to Haus der Wirtschaft and the other FMX venues Carl-Zeiss-Planetarium Stuttgart, Kino Gloria 2 and Metropol as well as the Caligari cinema in Ludwigsburg.
Creating Worlds, the central theme of FMX 2018, looked beyond the production and technological aspects of media and entertainment and explored all facets of content creation from the initial creative spark to IP building and marketing. The FMX 2018 program consisted of presentations, workshops, masterclasses, exhibition floors and screenings cantered on all aspects of animation, VFX, games and immersive media.
Aardman Animations’ co-founder David Sproxton shared the story of how Shaun the Sheepwent from being a minor role in Wallace and Gromit to a global franchise in the space of ten years. Moreover, he presented the new Aardman film Early Man.
Visual Effects legend Phil Tippett was substantially involved in creating the most popular movie worlds, and in his presentation he covered the stop tricks of the first Star Wars films and the advent of CGI with Jurassic Park up to his new stop-motion film Mad God.
In the Wild & Strange track, curated by Jeanette Bonds, director and co-founder of GLAS Animation, indie animation filmmaker Réka Bucsi explained her path to animation and the creation of unconventional stories, and presented her feature film Solar Walk.
Numerous talks presented current developments and productions from the field of immersive media. In the track AR Platforms, Apple, Google and Microsoft presented platforms with which they merge the virtual and the real world.
In addition to its conference presentations, FMX again offered networking and career opportunities with its Recruiting Hub. Moreover, numerous companies presented their latest products and services on the Marketplace as well as in Masterclasses, Company Suites and Workshops.
FMX 2019 will take place from April 30 to May 3, 2019.
