MUMBAI: As part of the newly expanded format of the Computer Animation Festival, SIGGRAPH 2008 will feature three all-star Production Studio Nights hosted by industry powerhouses Pixar Animation Studios, Sony Pictures Imageworks, and Lucasfilm.

In addition to the Festival’s popular Competition and Invited Screenings, Festival Talks, and Production Sessions, each studio will host evening events at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre.

Highlights will include an exclusive advance screening of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, preceded by a conversation between visual effects supervisor John Knoll and director David Filoni, discussions with some of the industry’s most notable pioneers such as John Lasseter and Frederic Back, as well as a tribute to the late Stan Winston, renown visual effects supervisor, makeup artist and film director.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have these three production icons participate in this year’s Festival. The programs presented by each of these studios not only highlight the some of the best animated works and creators in the world, but also provide an excellent education to the general public on the industry and just what it takes to make these animations come to life," stated SIGGRAPH 2008 Conference entertainment director Jill Smolin.

The Computer Animation Festival is open to the public, with day passes available for $50.