UCA brings Harry Potter to Anifest 2011

One of the technical wizards behind the final Harry Potter adventure will speak at Canterbury Anifest 2011 thanks to the University for the Creative Arts (UCA).

UCA Rochester has organised for Samy Fecih, who was a CGI animator on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 &2, to reveal some of the secrets behind the film's visual effects on Saturday 1 October at 12pm.

Samy, who works for Oscar-winning visual effects house Double Negative, said: "I'm really looking forward to speaking at Anifest with UCA. I'm a big animation fan myself so I'm as excited as everyone else to be there.

"My talk will be about my job animating the dragon on the latest Harry Potter movie. I will go into depth about my research, which took me to bats, camels and komodo dragons, and how we gave life to her.

"I want people to understand that being a good animator is not about knowing the best programs or being technically brilliant but more about focusing on the character: giving life to it and understanding how it moves, talks and breathes."

Canterbury Anifest, which is the south's only annual animation film festival, takes place between 30 September and 2 October at Canterbury Christ Church University's (Augustine's House).

UCA Rochester's BA (Hons) CG Arts & Animation course will also be holding an interactive workshop to reveal how your imagination is just as important as your sketching and computer skills.

The Imagineering Masterclass will run from 1.30pm-3pm on Saturday 1 October and will also feature additional input from Samy Fecih.

Phil Gomm, Senior Lecturer at UCA, said: "We're really excited to be involved with Anifest again.

"Our masterclass will offer participants a unique insight into the essential role of concept art and 2D sketching skills that go into the design and execution of computer-generated imagery.

"They'll get to meet members of the course team and get a taster of what it might be like to study a subject they love with us at UCA Rochester.

"The introduction of higher tuition fees nationally means that it's never been more important for degree courses to demonstrate the ways in which they connect with their associated industries and enrich their local communities."

Now in its fifth year, Canterbury Anifest brings animation fans from around the UK together for a weekend of fun, learning and laughter.

This year's highlights include talks from the producers of hits such as Coraline and Aardman Animation's Creature Comforts, plus comedian Phill Jupitus will be taking a look at the funny side of animation.

The festival finishes with an awards ceremony which celebrates the best of 2011 and also honours the best new talent with several awards for the industry's rising stars.

For the full programme, and more information about Anifest 2011, visit www.canterburyanifest.com.

For more information contact:

David Reilly, Press Officer, UCA
T: 01252 892939
E: dreilly@ucreative.ac.uk

Twitter: @UCA_creative