Kimmie Dee

AFI DigiFest will take place at the Mann Chinese 1 Theatre in Hollywood on November 4 and 5.

Now in its third year, AFI DigiFest provides a unique, behind-the-scenes look at how storytelling is adapting to an ever-widening array of new screens and platforms. The event is open to the public and admission is free.

"This has been a banner year for new media innovation," says AFI Digital Content Lab Director Suzanne Stefanac. "We're seeing forward-thinking writers, directors and producers learn to tell stories across a spectrum of screens, engaging new audiences and inventing new markets along the way. AFI DigiFest is our opportunity to shine a light on the inspiring works created during the past year."

Projects premiering at AFI DigiFest 2009 on November 4 were incubated in the AFI Digital Content Lab in coordination with MTV, NBC, Method Design, D20, EQAL, Digital Domain, Avatar Labs, TwinArt and many others. Together, the teams:

• created an engaging social network and viral marketing plan for the web series INTERVIEW PROJECT PRESENTED BY DAVIDLYNCH.COM;
• proposed an online strategy for engaging youth in a series of relevant environmental action challenges for the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation;
• developed a mobile application that provides an interactive past-to-future timeline for an ITVS cross-platform micro-series;
• conceived an interactive mentoring environment for One Economy that encourages students from low-income families to learn more about science as a career; and
• presented MOBILE STORY MAKER, a hands-on session with filmmaker L.M. Kit Carson (PARIS, TEXAS; BOTTLE ROCKET), who shot the micro-series AFRICA DIARY using a Nokia mobile phone as his camera. The series is scheduled to air on the Sundance Channel.

On November 5, the AFI Digital Content Lab has invited the creators of cutting-edge recently released or soon-to-be-released digital media productions to present their projects. The productions featured this year include:

• DISTRICT 9, a behind-the scenes look at games and an augmented reality application created by production house Trigger;
• LIVE MUSIC, 3D animation pieced together from contributions by thousands of animators from around the world, masterminded by Mass Animation's Yair Landau, former vice-chair of Sony Pictures;
• URBAN WOLF, a surveillance camera-based micro-series drama by Parisian director Laurent Touil Tartour;
• MANOBI, a mobile phone application that has helped raise the standard of living for Senegalese farmers and fishermen;
• FIRST THINGS LAST, a visual storytelling application for the iPhone created by ScrollMotion;
• ESCAPE FROM CITY 17, a meld of machinima and live action created by the Purchase Brothers for less than $500;
• NAKED SKY, a look at augmented reality.

A reception at the historic Roosevelt Hotel Ballroom will follow both day-long programs. On November 4, the reception will be followed by poolside screenings of several digital micro-series. On November 5, the reception will celebrate the market launch of Planet Illogica, an AFI Digital Content Lab 2008 project.