AnimfxNZ

CALABASAS, Calif. and WELLINGTON, New Zealand – October 8, 2008 – The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), and AnimfxNZ, the world’s leading conference for digital animation, effects, animation and games, have announced that the 2008 Into the Pixel art exhibition will make it’s first trip south of the equator this November. The collection of fine art from the video game industry will be on exhibit during the AnimfxNZ show, November 14-16, 2008. During the show, the organizers will hold a silent auction for four of the most popular pieces in the collection with proceeds going to charity.

“The Into the Pixel collection is true art and it gives us an opportunity to show the AnimfxNZ audience of filmmakers, effects artists, and international game designers some of the high-level creativity present in the games discipline,” said Joseph Olin. “We hope to take the collection to additional events and galleries around the world to share and educate everyone on the art of interactive entertainment.”

“Into the Pixel is a true collection of masterpieces that would be at home in any fine art gallery around the world,” said Jos Ruffell, Chairman of the New Zealand Games, Animation and Visual Effects Trust (NZGAV), the organizing body behind Animfx. “AnimfxNZ is an international showcase of the best and brightest in animation, games, visual effects and digital animation, and having Into the Pixel there for the attendees to experience will help create a true environment of creativity at the conference.”

Under the theme, “Where Creative Convergence Begins,” AnimfxNZ is bringing together leaders from the four major creative digital mediums to share ideas and further the creation of digital entertainment. AnimfxNZ will take place November 14-16th, in Wellington New Zealand and present a line-up of keynotes and panels that feature the brightest minds in digital media today.

About AnimfxNZ

AnimfxNZ was founded in 2006, to provide a global platform for the creative content community to exchange ideas across the various disciplines of digital media. Since its inception, the conference has presented leading speakers on the topics of animation, digital entertainment, digital effects and games, and has served as the crossroads of collaboration for creative media convergence. The 2008 conference is organized under the theme, “Where Creative Convergence Begins,” and is focused on the current and future states of creative digital content creation, worldwide.

About The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences® (AIAS) was founded in 1996 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of the interactive arts. The Academy's mission is to promote and advance common interests in the worldwide interactive entertainment community; recognize outstanding achievements in the interactive arts and sciences; and conduct an annual awards show (Interactive Achievement Awards®) to enhance awareness of the interactive art form. The Academy also strives to provide a voice for individuals in the interactive entertainment community. In 2002 the Academy created the D.I.C.E. Summit® (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain), a once yearly conference dedicated to exploring approaches to the creative process and artistic expression as they uniquely apply to the development of interactive entertainment. The Academy has more than 12,000 members, with the board comprised of senior executives from the major videogame companies including Bioware/Pandemic, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony and Ubisoft. More information on AIAS and the D.I.C.E. Summit can be found at: www.interactive.org and www.dicesummit.org

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CONTACTS:

Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Geri Gordon Miller

818-876-0826 x202

geri@interactive.org

Sean Kauppinen

International Digital Entertainment Agency

+1-415-299-2156

sean@ide-agency.com