Second Annual Machinima Film Festival Announced

The Academy of Machinima Arts & Sciences, the organization thatprovides advocacy, education and community building awareness forMachinima: the art of filmmaking using real-time 3-D virtualenvironments (3-D game engines), will host the 2nd Annual MachinimaFilm Festival on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2003, at the American Museum of theMoving Image in New York.

Sponsored by NVIDIA Corporation, the worldwide leader in visualprocessing solutions, the one-day event will include Machinima filmscreenings, workshops hosted by Machinima filmmakers, presentations byaward-winning independent filmmakers and Machinimation(tm) kioskspresented by Fountainhead Entertainment(tm) that will allow attendeesto create Machinima films on-site.

Designed to recognize excellence in Machinima filmmaking, entrants'work will be judged in 10 categories: Best Picture, Best Direction,Best Writing, Best Virtual Performance, Best Sound, Best Editing, BestVisual Design, Best Independent Film and Best Technical Achievement, aswell as a new award for Best Commercial/Game Machinima, will be givento Machinima produced for commercial means or in-game cinematics.

Awards will be presented to the best Machinima filmmakers at aceremony following the festival. Award guidelines are available atwww.machinima.org. Submissions will be accepted beginning Friday,August 1, 2003. All submissions must be received by Monday, September15, 2003.

"The American Museum of the Moving Image is devoted to the art andscience of film, television and digital media. The museum is a perfectplace to hold the 2nd Annual Machinima Film Festival which willcelebrate Machinima -- the new frontier in filmmaking," Paul Marino,executive director, Academy of Machinima Arts & Sciences said.

"With advances in technology and the hunger for innovative ways ofcreating captivating entertainment, Machinima filmmakers have a brightfuture," Katherine Anna Kang, president, Fountainhead Entertainmentsaid. "As the creative process unfolds for filmmakers, the earlyinnovators will pave the way to the future. I can't think of a betterplace to recognize and celebrate this art form than at the AmericanMuseum of the Moving Image."

"The Museum was the first in the world to collect and exhibitvideogames, and is committed to exploring new forms of the movingimage," Carl Goodman, museum curator of digital media, American Museumof the Moving Image, commented. "We're excited by the rapidlyincreasing technical capabilities and creative possibilities ofMachinima, and are delighted to serve as a venue for this event."

The American Museum of the Moving Image will offer free admissionfor the day.

Additional information about the art of Machinima and the 2nd AnnualMachinima Film Festival is available at www.machinima.org.

About The Academy of Machinima Arts & Sciences:

Headquartered in New York, the organization was co-founded in 2002by its Executive Director, Paul Marino, an Emmy Award-winning animator.Marino's work with the ILL Clan has received much recognition,including top honors at Showtime Networks' 2001 Alternative MediaFestival. The Academy of Machinima Arts & Sciences was establishedto promote, organize and recognize the growth of Machinima filmmakingand filmmakers.

About the American Museum of the Moving Image:

The American Museum of the Moving Image is the only museum in theUnited States devoted to exploring the creative process behind movies,television, and digital media, and to examining their impact on cultureand society. The Museum offers exhibitions, screenings, lectures andeducation programs, and maintains the nation's largest permanentcollection of moving image artifacts. Moving Image is located at 35Avenue and 36 Street in Astoria, Queens. Subway: R or V trains (R or Gon weekends) to Steinway Street or N train to 36 Avenue. Hours:Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (beginning July 4, Fridays: 11a.m. to 7 p.m.). For further information, please visitwww.movingimage.us or call (718) 784-0077.