Conference explores the potential of High Definition technologies for the screen arts and education

Published: 23 August 2007 at 13:22

International Academics, Film-makers and Technologists descend on Cambridge to discuss how new High Definition (HD) Technologies will impact on Film, TV, Computer Games and Education.

The UK’s first major education conference on the impact of High Definition technologies has been announced. Megapixel, to be staged at Anglia Ruskin University, in Cambridge on 10 and 11 October and supported by The Film and Digital Media Exchange (FDMX), will bring together academics, broadcasters, film makers and media theorists to discuss how High Definition TV, film and computer games will change the way we work and play. Already confirmed are Lev Manovich, author and academic from the University of California, and international media artist and filmmaker Grahame Weinbren, as well as representatives from BBC HD Research, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), and Al-Jazeera. The line-up of speakers will be finalized in early September.

Most people have heard of High Definition TV, but the greater detail available in images of all kinds presents technologists and artists with many challenges.

‘Megapixel brings together many different experts who never usually get a chance to talk to each other, like artists, technologists, film-makers and academics’,

said Saint John Walker, FDMX Co-ordinator at Anglia Ruskin University and joint organiser of the conference.

‘High Definition technology raises many issues: for instance can we believe what we see is real anymore?’

Tony Jones, Director of the Cambridge Film Festival and co-founder of City Screen- The Picturehouse chain of Cinemas said:

"The Cambridge Arts Picturehouse is one of the East of England's few HD Screens. The Cinema has had HD Projection installed permanently since July 2006. This conference is an exciting development, and we're looking forward to showing some great examples of HD work."

The conference will be based at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, with screenings of HD films at the Cambridge Arts Picturehouse, which has High-Definition projecting facilities. The conference is being jointly co-ordinated by Dr. Christine White, Pathway Leader for Film, Television and Theatre Design at Anglia Ruskin University, and Saint John Walker from FDMX. Bookings will be available from www.fdmx.co.uk in September.