The new event, which is called Digital Arts Festival UK, will include a three-day conference and the Bafta Interactive Awards, as well as incorporating elements from the London-based exhibition Computer Arts Live. The festival is jointly organised by Copenhagen 3D Festival founder Jimmy Hassel and Future Publishing, which owns Computer Arts Live.
Leaf, which is partnered with the Digital Media World conference, is now in its ninth year but has attracted considerable criticism over the past couple of years, creating an opening for competitors. The aggressive move by Hassel seems to have been met with support from the industry with companies such as DreamWorks SKG, Sony Computer Entertainment, The Mill, Framestore-CFC and others signing up to support the event.
Despite this, Leaf has fought back by relocating to the Business Design Centre in Islington, London and has widened its remit to include a web, games and technology focus as well as its traditional base of animation and effects.
The new festival was launched last Wednesday (29 May) at a party held at Bafta which attracted around 200 people. The gathering, which included short videos and presentations by those working in the industry, is set to become a regular three-monthly event, according to DreamWorks' Shelley Page, who is part of the advisory board.
She said the intention was to make the festival 'industry-led rather than organiser-led' and that events would be held throughout the year, not just at the time of the festival.
Another member of the advisory board is Mill TV head Dave Throssell who said he was very impressed with Hassel's organisational abilities and enthusiasm for the industry. 'An added dimension is that he likes being around computer people and not many people do. And he keeps telling us how good we are. I hope it's a roaring success,' he said.
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