__ Press Release___

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In response to a successful expanded format
in 2008, the SIGGRAPH 2009 Computer Animation Festival will again be
open to the public and feature a comprehensive collection of juried
and invited screenings that will showcase the most recent advances in
computer-generated imagery. In addition, the Festival will feature
presentations and panels that focus on the art, science, and
technology that are used to create the latest advances in production
and projection of digital cinema and visualizations. The festival is
also expanding its general call for submissions to include Visual
Music and Real-Time Rendering.

Submissions for Real-Time Rendering are encouraged to highlight work
produced interactively using real-time game engines that push the
boundaries of what users and viewers have come to expect in all fields
where real-time rendering is used: games, medicine, astrophysics, and
more. The Visual Music focus aims to present work that spans visual
music culture from the academic vision of Visual Music to the more
urban pop culture vision of music combined with visuals such as music
video. Live or captured DJ performances will be considered as well.
Artworks that combine music and images into a captivating
multi-sensory experience are encouraged. Deadline for all submissions
is 4 March 2009 (22:00 UTC/GMT).

"SIGGRAPH continues to be the place to showcase the latest technical
achievements and innovations in animations and computer graphics,"
stated Carlye Archibeque, SIGGRAPH 2009 Computer Animation Festival
Executive Producer from Sony Pictures Imageworks. "Real time engines
and visuals that interact with music are creating some of the most
amazing graphics available today. Incorporating a larger focus on
music and real-time rendering in animation will make the Festival a
truly comprehensive example of the computer graphics industry and
provide a stage for some of the world's best work."

Expected to be one of the highlights of the Computer Animation
Festival, the Evening Theater (ET), will run Monday through Thursday,
showcasing a cross section of the "best of" juried and invited films.
In order to allow attendees flexibility in their schedule, the times
when the juried and the invited best of screenings will alternate each
night. The films will be chosen based on the voting of a jury of
industry experts. "We are excited to add a new twist to the
competition screenings based on feedback from the past year that
combines the flexibility of the programming with the need of the
attendees to have a designated screening that showcases the best of
the best," Archibeque added.

Juried content will be featured during the daily screenings with
attendees able to choose from several time choices based on their
schedule preference. The daytime Competition and

Invited Screenings will be genre-focused based on the film category
(narrative animation, real time, research, etc). Plus, a special "Jury
Chair" Reel will be showcased that will feature the favorite pieces of
the 2009 Jury Chair, Miles Perkins from Industrial Light & Magic.

In addition, this year, the Computer Animation Festival has a special
invited focus on Multicultural Representations and Visualizations as
part of its Invited Content program. The goal is to include works of
all genres of animation, games, visual effects, and storytelling that
display a multicultural vision. SIGGRAPH welcomes input for works to
include in this program, contact Carlye Archibeque directly with
suggestions. Curation for this focus will continue through late spring
2009.

Plus, creative, scientific and technical presentations, and
discussions on the process of creating films, behind-the-scenes
developments, virtual tools, production-related art, and related
subjects will be offered as presentations and panels throughout the
Computer Animation Festival. Retrospectives and documentaries about
computer graphics visionaries and their tools will also be featured.

Detailed information on submission categories and important deadlines
for film submissions can be found at
http://www.siggraph.org/s2009/submissions/caf_films/index.php. For
information regarding how to submit for Real-Time Rendering pieces
visit http://www.siggraph.org/s2009/submissions/caf_real-time/index.php.

For complete information on SIGGRAPH 2009 or to download a copy of the
SIGGRAPH 2009 Preview Video visit www.siggraph.org/s2009.

About SIGGRAPH

SIGGRAPH 2009 will bring an anticipated 20,000 computer graphics and
interactive technology professionals from six continents to New
Orleans, Louisiana, USA for the industry's most respected technical
and creative programs focusing on research, science, art, animation,
music, gaming, interactivity, education, and the web from Monday, 3
August through Friday, 7 August 2009 at the Ernest N. Morial
Convention Center. SIGGRAPH 2009 includes a three-day exhibition of
products and services from the computer graphics and interactive
marketplace from 4-6 August 2009. More than 200 international
exhibiting companies are expected. More details are available at
www.siggraph.org/s2009.