BFX contest launches

Hosted by Bournemouth University’s NCCA and the Arts University Bournemouth, BFX has again partnered with media accountants Kingston Smith and its Creative Vision Award to offer charities the
opportunity to win an industry-quality animation worth an estimated £150,000. The animations are created entirely by the talented students selected to compete in the competition. More than 150 charities applied, with Refuge and Create Arts being selected as the recipients of the final films. Meanwhile 40 students working in teams of five were chosen from over 100 applicants as the 2016 competitors. During their seven-week residency, which runs from 11 July to 26 August, these fortunate students  will be working directly with mentors from MPC, Animal Logic,


Frame store, Blue-Zoo, Outpost VFX and Aardman, as well as Jerry Hibbert, Paul Campion and academics from both BU and AUB. All students are housed free of charge on the University campus, receive a stipend to help with living costs, and have access to a dedicated BFX studio with a full complement of industry-standard tools and hardware. As well as benefitting from the competition experience itself, the competitors and their films will be in the running for a number of awards,to be announced during the BFX Festival taking place at the Bournemouth International Center from 10 to 16 October.Nick Brooks, head of not-for-profitat Kingston Smith and a member of the judging panel, comments: “We are delighted with the response to our second annual Creative Vision Award with over 150 entries received. The feedback from last year’s winners has been extremely
positive, and we are thrilled with the meaningful impact that this initiative has had. We’re making a difference, and we’re intensely proud of this, which is why Kingston Smith is
committed to making this an ongoing award to support the sector and enable more charities to benefit from the medium of film.” Peter Truckel, director of the VFX Hub adds, “The BFX Competition is a unique residential event designed to identify and support the next generation of talent in the VFX and animation industry. The level of industry involvement really helps the teams produce work of an amazing standard and gives them a real taste of working in a high-pressure, commercial environment. Last year I managed to secure a four-year sponsorship deal with media accounts Kingston
Smith; [its] involvement now means that the films created during the competition answer briefs designed to create brand content for national charities.” As well as hosting the BFX Competition Awards, October’s BFX Festival, which is now entering its fourth year, features a packed program of content from the world of visual effects, animation and games. Confirmed talks this year include Stars Wars: The Force Awakens from ILM, The Jungle Book from MPC, Ice Age: Collision Course from Blue Sky, Independence Day: Resurgence from Cine site and Star Citizen from Cloud Imperium Games, with new content being continually lined up by organisers. The festival, which attracts more than 1,000 delegates,also features a Pro day run in collaboration with software developer The Foundry, aimed at visual effects and animation professionals where the latest techniques and emerging workflows will be discussed, and a family weekend featuring a host of family-friendly events andactivities. Festival director Sofronis Efstathiou explains:
“Every year BFX just keeps growing. We have involvement from the biggest studios in the world; superstars of the visual effects industry who want to be a part of the festival, share their work and give insights into some of the biggest and best movies and games. There will be something for everyone, from hands-on experiences for children right the way through to visual effects professionals.”