SIGGRAPH 2012 Highlights from Los Angeles

The SIGGRAPH 2012 Exhibition continued the tradition of being a top draw with attendees.

Los Angeles – SIGGRAPH 2012, the world's premier conference on computer graphics and interactive techniques, welcomed 21,212 artists, research scientists, gaming experts and developers, filmmakers, students, and academics from 83 countries around the globe to Los Angeles this week. In addition, 161 industry organizations exhibited at SIGGRAPH 2012 representing 44,750 sq. ft. of exhibit space – approximately a 5,000 sq. ft. increase over 2011.  A total of 19 countries where represented on the show floor. 

SIGGRAPH 2012 Chair Rebecca
Strzelec addresses the media.

“As SIGGRAPH 2012 draws to a close, I’m incredibly proud of the body of work that represents thousands of hours of effort from hundreds of volunteers,” said Rebecca Strzelec, SIGGRAPH 2012 Conference Chair from Penn State Altoona.

She continued, “SIGGRAPH is not about a location – it is about the kindred spirit of our community and being able to provide cutting-edge content across many different fields.  In that sense, SIGGRAPH 2012 was a resounding success whether you are an artist, a scientist, a game developer, or a student… we featured incredible content that will continue to inspire everyone into 2013 and beyond.”

In all, more than 1,200 speakers and contributors participated in the conference through a variety of talks, sessions, panels, papers, presentations, tutorials, and screenings.

Highlights from SIGGRAPH 2012 included:

• Keynote Jane McGonigal Says Playing Games Can Improve Health and Lengthen Lives:

Jane McGonigal, director of game research and development at the Institute for the Future (IFTF) treated the audience to a lively discourse on how games are transforming the way we lead our real lives, and how they can be used to increase our resilience and well-being.

McGonigal’s research has shown that scientific studies suggest playing games can and have helped those with autism, ADHD, PTSD and even cancer. She has created the game SuperBetter, which helps players achieve health goals or recover from illness or injury by increasing their personal resilience.

A lively discussion panel during the Business Symposium.

• The second annual SIGGRAPH Business Symposium was held on Sunday, featuring keynote speakers Carl Rosendahl, founder of Pacific Data Images, venture capitalist, and co-director of Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center-Silicon Valley, and John Textor, chairman and CEO of Digital Domain Media Group. The objective of the event was to help shape the future direction of the computer graphics industry.

Noisy Boy from "Real Steel" appeared
at the Computer Animation Festival.

• The Computer Animation Festival presented the world's most innovative, accomplished, and amazing creators of digital gaming, film, and video. A total of 91 films were shown during the Festival. In addition to film screenings, the Festival included interactive sessions and exclusive learning opportunities to gain industry secrets and advice from some of the most successful professionals in the field. 

SIGGRAPH 2012 Computer Animation Festival award winners include:
•  Best in Show Award: Réflexion, Directed by Yoshimichi Tamura, PlanKtoon; France

• Jury Award: How To Eat Your Apple, Directed by Erick Oh, Independent; USA and South Korea

• Best Student Project Prize: Estefan, Directed by Jeff Call, Brigham Young University; USA

• Best Student Project Prize Runner-Up: Globosome, Directed by Sascha Geddert, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg; Germany

• Best Student Project Prize Runner-Up: Herr Hoppe und der Atommüll, Directed by Jan Lachauer and Thorsten Löffler, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg; Germany

• Well-Told Fable Prize: Rosette, Directed by: Romain Borrel, Gaël Falzowski, Benjamin Rabaste, and Vincent Tonelli, Supinfocom Arles; France

The Technical Papers Fast Forward was once again a packed house.

• Technical Papers, the premier global forum for presenting groundbreaking research from today's leading experts. The SIGGRAPH 2012 Technical Papers program featured 94 Technical Papers, selected among 412 submissions. The Technical Papers detailed new advances across many fronts, including 3D display technology, photographic prints for HDR images, textile design, and more.

Entrance to the SIGGRAPH Art Gallery: In Search of the Miraculous

• The SIGGRAPH 2012 Art Gallery: In Search of the Miraculous presented exceptional digital and technologically mediated artworks that explored the existence of wonderment, mystery, and awe in today’s world of mediating technologies and abundant data. From nearly 400 submissions, the Art
Gallery jury selected 12 pieces to be featured.

Download photos from SIGGRAPH 2012 at http://www.siggraph.org/photos

Join Us in Anahiem in 2013
SIGGRAPH 2013, the 40th International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, will be held 21-25 July 2013 at the Anaheim Convention Center in California

Editor's Note: Special thanks to John Fujii, SIGGRAPH 1996 Conference Chair, who served as the official photographer for SIGGRAPH 2012.