MachinExpo Programming Schedule Announced

Now that the film submissions are over, we can announce the schedule of programming for the 2009 International Machinima Expo. While not as expansive as last years Expo, we feel we have an interesting line up of panels and events that will interest a wide variety of machinima enthusiasts.

The idea this year was to create a main programming schedule and then have several other events running at the same time for people who just aren’t interested in panels, awards or speeches. It’s possible to come to the Expo and spend your entire time watching over 50 films we have selected to screen at the Expo. We will have a separate theatre devoted to just screening machinima. We plan on announcing all of the screened films in the next few weeks along with the times they will be showing, so filmmakers who want to invite friends or simply watch the film themselves can plan accordingly.

Machinima Film Screenings
We will be running all of the films chosen to screen starting at midnight (12AM), Friday, November 20th at the screening Theatre on the UCS island in Second Life. As I’ve mentioned we’ll be noting the times of each film once we determine the exact order and length.

In addition to the general screeners, we will have a screening reel of machinima created by the students of UCS (University Campus Suffolk) and a surprise director’s reel (to be announced).

Main Programming Schedule

Screening of selected machinima films starts Friday night, Nov 20th.

9AM Tracy Harwood Keynote Speech
Tracy Harwood is the Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Creative Technologies and is well regarded as a machinima scholar. Her recent article “The Machinima Movement” is required reading for those interested in the current state of machinima and it’s future.

915 Awards Ceremony
“Special Achievement in Directing” -show reel. Present award (to be announced)
-5 Jury Prize awards
-1 Asian Film Prize awards
-Grand Prize Winner award
(Photo op at end)

10AM “Women in Machinima” panel. Headed by Ingrid Moon. Featuring Tari Akpokiete, Kerria Seabrooke, afterThought, Sisch, Chantal Harvey and Katy Fosk. We may
be adding an additional member and will announce when it’s confirmed.

11AM Machiniplex Premiere “Shelf Life + promo/trailer for Shelf Life 2″ Q&A with director afterwards. -(Parallell Event: Screening of “Director’s Award” films and Q&A with director at Special Location on the island. TBA)

“Which Machinima Engine is for You? presentations:

Each director will present their machinima engine of choice; giving an overview of the engine and showing examples of their work.

12PM -Iclone 4 with “Wolf and Dulci” & added help from John Martin

1230PM -Open Sim/Second Life with Katy Fosk – (Parallel Event: IClone 4 Follow up in Reallusion Pavillion)

1PM -Half Life 2/Gary’s Mod with Ian Chisholm Fosk -(Parallel Event: SL Follow up in 3rd floor Lounge)

130PM -Moviestorm with Phil Rice -(Parallel Event: Open Sim Follow up in 3rd floor Lounge)

1:50PM -The Movies, Sims2 and CJ’s GTA with Phil Rice. Q&A afterwards

2:30PM (approximate) Closing party with DJ/Musician to be announced.

Note: Screening reels will continue through Sunday night. We hope to run them all through the next week as well giving access to everyone who wants to see the films, but couldn’t make the actual Expo. We’ll confirm this as soon as we are able.