Lisa Goldman is on a mission. For the past two years, she has been on the road and on the phone, in search of the future of interactive multimedia. As director of the upcoming Interactive Media Festival, Goldman is trying to hunt down the planet's best interactive art and design to showcase at the Los Angeles Convention Center June 6-8. She and event organizers recently announced the selection of a 75-member international "Delegation of Nominators" that will select "significant examples of interactivity" in film, art, music, publishing, computers, and consumer electronics.
"We want to get to the essence of what makes good interactive multimedia," Goldman said over the phone, between stops in London and Switzerland. "We're looking at the greatest possible diversity of expression and the widest possible geographical representation."
The nominating committee list reads like a Who's Who of the world of digital art, entertainment, and commerce. Each of the nominators will choose two works for consideration. The festival, in seeking out the best in this emerging medium, has set no categories and is open to any type of material. Rather than rely on slides or videotapes in making its selections, the festival jury will evaluate each work in its native form, whether it's on a specific computer platform or at an interactive theme park. "It will be fascinating to see whether multimillion-dollar productions and projects developed on shoestring budgets end up side-by-side in the festival," said Harvie Branscomb, who is overseeing the competition part of the festival.
The Interactive Media Festival has established an Internet mailbox (info-request@media.festival.com) where developers, artists, and others can get more information on the festival and post descriptions of projects for possible consideration in the event. The festival is, in the words of its press release, "Powered by Motorola," and is a joint venture of Seybold Seminars and the public relations firm Cunningham Communications. For more info call (800) 573 1212, +1 (415) 357 0100.
ELECTRIC WORD
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