NFFTY: Seattle’s young adult film expo

Photo courtesy of www.wrapup.imbee.com

To all film enthusiasts: Clear your schedules on April 27-28; you are going to the Future of Film Expo!

Future of Film Expo is part of the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY) 2012 and a truly incredible experience for all film lovers. It features exhibitor booths, speakers, workshops, panels, demonstrations and lounges. Exhibitors include top film schools such as Loyola Marymount University, Florida State University and Digital Domain Institute, as well as others such as Canon, Panasonic, the Screen Actors Guild, etc.

While many may be full of passion for movie-making, it can oftentimes be frustrating not knowing how and where to find the right supporting resources. If you are one of them, School’d: A Film Education Panel on April 28, 11:15 a.m. is a panel you cannot miss.

Speakers on the panel—Andrew Syder, Professor at Florida State University, Rich Fortinberry, Chair of BFA Film Program, Brooks Institute and three other experts—will talk about what it takes to get into the best film schools and what you can learn beyond the classroom in the age of DIY filmmaking.

With the increasing prevalence of 3-D movies like Avatar and Titanic 3-D, another exciting workshop is definitely “2-D to 3-D Conversion: We’ll Make a Convert Out of You.”

In 2011, 19 out of the 48 3-D movies released were converted from 2-D, while most of the remaining stereo-captured movies feature shots benefited from post-processing and conversion. Benoit Doidic, part of the team behind Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon and Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, will help us learn to separate the myths from the facts concerning 3-D conversion in the 60-minute workshop on April 27, 2:30 p.m.

He will discuss the key tools and techniques used in the proper of conversion of a feature film and more importantly, how to differentiate good 3-D from bad 3-D.

On the same day at 4:00 p.m., Pulitzer Prize winner and director Vincent Laforet will also be giving a keynote presentation  discussing the emerging technologies for telling stories and platforms for the next generation of filmmakers.

Laforet is deemed a pioneer for his innovative tilt-shift and aerial photography and in the field of HD-capable DSLR cameras. His forward-thinking approach to image making and storytelling made him a three-time winner at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.

One of the best things about the Expo (other than free admission) is that it caters for everyone from film industry executives to young filmmakers to film fans.  If you are the latter and find the above-mentioned workshops too heavy, staff at the Expo has something planned for you, too.

Film 101 workshops that are held daily at 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. will teach participants the basics of framing shots, visual storytelling and practical filmmaking for any budget. So when your budding filmmaker friend is attending a panel, don’t start texting in the corner of the nearby Starbucks. Instead, drop by the Film 101 booth!

Future of Film Expo is a new addition to NFFTY, which is the flagship program of The Talented Youth, a non-profit arts organization founded in 2007.

Each spring in Seattle, Washington, NFFTY showcases films by the best young directors of age 22 and under. It is the world’s largest youth film festival.

NFFTY aims at enabling, nurturing, promoting and encouraging the next generation of filmmakers to inspire, lead and entertain the world with their stories.

“The Future of Film Expo gives exhibitors the unparalleled opportunity to meet and interact with the best young filmmakers from around the world. This event will truly represent the future of film in all aspects,” commented Jesse Harris, Founder/Executive Director of NFFTY.

Other hands-on Expo workshops and panels include: Keynote Panel: Behind the Scenes of Independent Film, Maxon/Cinema 4-D Product Showcase, Talk Shop: Using the Right Technology for Your Story, Queer Exposure: LGBT people in the film industry, and so much more.

For those who are aspiring to go into the film industry, Future of Films Expo is not only an amazing setting to gain experience with the latest technology, but a great networking opportunity to meet film schools and people who have been there, done that.

Future of Film Expo is taking place April 27-28, 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. Admission is free and you can find more information at http://www.nffty.org/expo.