LONDON — Creative software developer Foundry has unveiled its plans for SIGGRAPH 2018, where its industry-leading software will be showcased alongside presentations from some of the most talented names in the VFX and animation industry. Foundry’s exhibitor sessions will include a demonstration of Athera, the innovative cloud-based technology for VFX artists, while its hotly-anticipated All Stars event offers a star-studded line-up on the copmany’s return to SIGGRAPH.

“SIGGRAPH is a key event in the calendar where we get to celebrate the achievements of our customers. We have a fantastic line-up for All Stars this year and we are proud to be showcasing the work of visionaries in their fields. These artists and technologists continue to push the boundaries of what is possible with our tools and we can’t wait to see the results presented at the event,” commented Foundry CEO Craig Rodgerson. “Throughout the week we will be hosting a number of talks and demos, and we’re looking forward to meeting and hearing from our customers. SIGGRAPH is a great opportunity to showcase how our tools are being used by the best in the industry.”

Foundry Exhibitor Sessions –Monday, August 13-14

Foundry will host a number of exhibitor sessions at the show:

The Foundry Educators Summit (Monday, August 13, 12-2PM) is a must-attend event for educators looking to set their students on the path to success in the VFX industries. Speakers include Framestore and Weta Digital. Foundry’s Look Development & Lighting Meetup (Monday 13th August, 4-6pm) will include a sneak-peek of the Foundry roadmap for Mari and Katana, plus speakers from 3Delight, Weta Digital and Image Engine Design.

The Breaking Into the Global VFX Industry event (Tuesday, August 14, 10-12PM) will see film and animation professionals from the likes of MPC, Method Studios, Blue Sky Studios and more, offering advice on the key skills required for students to break into the VFX industry. Innovation in Modeling (Tuesday, August 14, 1-3PM) will see leading artists from around the world showcase how Modo’s fast, innovative modeling workflows can be harnessed with unique and amazing results. Kanova, Foundry’s latest research into VR and desktop sculpting, will be demonstrated during the session. There will also be a session on Making the Cloud Work for Your VFX Pipeline (Tuesday, August 14, 4-6PM), looking at the projects already being undertaken using Athera, the new cloud platform for VFX studios and freelancers released earlier this year.

“Foundry looks to be delivering a stand-out event presence in 2018 and I can’t wait to see some of the amazing customer showcases it has planned,” SIGGRAPH 2018 conference chair Roy C. Anthony commented. “Powerful, creative tools such as those from Foundry, unlock the creative vision of artists and SIGGRAPH is the time to highlight their impressive work.”

Foundry All Stars — Sunday, August 12

The Foundry All Stars event celebrates the talented teams working on some of the biggest blockbuster films, TV shows and commercials of the year, including presentations from MPC, Digital Domain, Steelhead Studios, DNEG, Weta Digital, Method Studios, Rodeo FX, Animal Logic, Steelhead Studios and Atomic Fiction.

This year Foundry is featuring a “Women in Technology” spotlight series, with presentations from Janelle Croshaw Ralla (2nd Unit Visual Effects Supervisor, Captain Marvel, Marvel Studios), Kelsey Hurley (Technical Supervisor, Walt Disney Animation Studios) and Renee Tam (Lightspeed Lead, Pixar) at the event.

Foundry Booth — Tuesday, August 14 through Thursday, August 16

Over the course of three days, Foundry will be showcasing its industry-leading software at the Foundry booth. The booth will feature numerous customer presentations, skill-up seminars and product presentations. Foundry will be located at Booth 1125 during SIGGRAPH 2018. More information on Foundry’s SIGGRAPH activity can be found on the official page at foundry.com/siggraph2018.

Source: Foundry