Date: 28 & 29 September 2024
Location: Kalaivanar Arangam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
The Visual Effects-Game-Animation Society (VEGAS) hosted the much-anticipated VEGAS Fest 2024, a two-day extravaganza that brought together the brightest minds in the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) industries. The event, which saw an impressive turnout of over 3,000 attendees on its inaugural day, served as a melting pot of ideas, innovation, and collaboration.
The event commenced with a warm welcome by VEGAS President Bejoy Arputharaj, followed by a ceremonial lamp lighting led by distinguished guests, including:
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Dr. L. Murugan, also graced the occasion, lauding VEGAS for bridging the gap between industry leaders and young talent.
Masterclasses and Technical Insights
The first session, Masterclass by MPC: Behind-the-Scenes Visual Effects from Leo, offered a captivating glimpse into the VFX brilliance of Thalapathy Vijay’s action-packed film. Delivered by Technicolor Group Creative Director Rajarajan Ramakrishnan, the session unravelled the art of crafting electrifying cinematic moments.
Game-Changing Innovations
The session titled Eizo’s Role in Revolutionising Gaming, VFX, and Animation Studios showcased how Eizo’s advanced displays redefine precision and color accuracy. Rohan Chahande, Eizo’s Managing Director and CEO, demonstrated the transformative potential of their flagship monitors for creatives and gamers alike.
Exploring AR, VR, and Gaming
A panel discussion on Building the Future: Leveraging Gaming, AR & VR for Enhanced Experiences delved into the innovative storytelling opportunities these technologies offer. Industry experts like Chennai Games CEO Mohan Doss, Madras Mindworks Co-founder Satya Priyan, and Cavin Infotech's Jainaressh BC shared insights, moderated by Hero Vired’s Program Director Ajay Kumar.
Government Collaborations and Business Opportunities
Sessions such as Key Advantages for the AVGC Sector in Fostering Government Collaboration and Business Opportunities in the UK for the Creative Sector highlighted the importance of partnerships and international markets for industry growth. Experts including Toonz Media Group CEO P. Jayakumar and British Deputy High Commission representatives provided valuable perspectives.
Behind-the-Scenes Magic
From the creation of the mystical Shambala Sequence in Kalki 2898 AD by DNEG to a technical breakdown of Leo’s CG car chase by PhantomFX, attendees gained unparalleled insights into the making of cinematic masterpieces.
Celebrating Women Pioneers
A panel on Women Pioneers in the AVGC Industry celebrated trailblazers like Kiran Prasad (ILM) and Pavitra Sridhar (Bigfatphoenix Interactive), who emphasized the role of emotional balance and passion in achieving success.
Engaging Workshops and Discussions
The day also featured interactive sessions such as Animating Everyday Objects with Stop Motion, where filmmaker Praveen Chrispugg encouraged young animators to bring life to ordinary items through storytelling.
A Platform for Networking and Learning
VEGAS Fest 2024 provided a unique opportunity for attendees to engage with industry leaders, learn from masterclasses, and explore cutting-edge technologies. The event concluded with a focus on the importance of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in nurturing future talent in the AVGC-XR sector.
A Platform for Growth and Innovation
VEGAS President Bejoy Arputharaj expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming response, stating:
"With over 6,400 footfall, VEGAS Fest 2024 brought together the best minds in the AVGC-XR industry, fostering collaboration, innovation, and opportunities for young talent and professionals. This is just the beginning of our journey toward global leadership." The second day’s agenda spanned masterclasses, case studies, technical showcases, and panel discussions, offering attendees a comprehensive look at the industry’s present and future.
Keynote Address
The fest opened with a keynote on Intelligent Data Infrastructure for Media & Entertainment by Ramneek Sethi, Solutions Engineering Manager at NetApp. The session explored integrated data services for game development and media workflows.
VFX Insights
Pixstone Images’ CG Head Persie Jalgaonwala delivered a session on Exploring the Future of VFX, emphasizing the importance of understanding client needs while executing projects.
Gaming Expertise
Highbrow Interactive’s Co-founder Prashanth Krishnan engaged attendees with a session titled Gaming Demystified: Everything You Need to Know to Launch Successful Games, providing invaluable tips for budding developers.
Masterclass on RRR
National award-winning VFX veteran Srinivas Mohan captivated audiences with his session, RRR: The Evolution from Concept to Cinematic Masterpiece, sharing insights into storytelling and the transformative role of artificial intelligence in AVGC-XR.
Industry Exposure through Internships
The panel on Internships and Apprenticeships: Pathways to Real-World Experience highlighted the importance of hands-on learning, featuring experts like Stephen Mascarenhas and Rajan E, moderated by Arul Moorthy.
Technology and Creativity
Dr. M. Manivannan of IIT Madras explored Haptics and Experiential Technologies for AR/VR, emphasizing India’s potential to lead the world in AVGC-XR innovation.
VFX Beyond Films
R.K. Chand, Creative Production Executive at The Mill, showcased how VFX is revolutionizing advertising with larger-than-life creations in the session Beyond the Movie Screen.
Success Stories
The inspiring session Weloadin: Achieving 130 Million Game Downloads by CEO Mario Royston offered practical advice to aspiring game developers.
Workflow Analysis of Ayalaan
PhantomFX CG head Anish Sreedhar and creative head Mohinder Subramaniam shared how they completed this ambitious project. The session also gave the audience sneak peeks of the movie.
AI Transforming AVGC
A panel discussion on How AI is Transforming the AVGC Sector brought together industry leaders including M. Manivannan, Royston, Rajesh Balaji, Alagarsamy Mayan and Vetrivell V to discuss innovation and collaboration, highlighting the pivotal role of AI in shaping the future of storytelling.
Chhota Bheem’s Journey
Green Gold Animation’s team shared the success story of Chhota Bheem, revealing the creative process behind one of India’s most iconic animated characters.
Thangalaan’s VFX Breakdown
A deep dive into the visual effects of Thangalaan by Hybrid Studio’s R. Senthil Kumar provided a behind-the-scenes look at how script-to-screen transformations are achieved.
Workshops and Special Features
From discussions on Power and Possibilities with Game Engines to exploring Digital Humans and Generative AI, the festival offered something for everyone. Participants gained hands-on insights into cutting-edge tools, workflows, and technologies shaping the AVGC-XR industry.
Closing Ceremony and Competitions
The festival concluded with an engaging closing ceremony, featuring a prize distribution for competitions in photography, showreel creation, and short films.
VEGAS Fest 2024 provided an unmatched platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration, solidifying its role in advancing India’s AVGC-XR sector.