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Powerhouse production company Lucasfilm will present an exclusive advance screening of their highly-anticipated animated film Star Wars: The Clone Wars as part of the new Production Studio Nights at the SIGGRAPH 2008 Computer Animation Festival. Hosted by John Knoll, Visual Effects Supervisor from Industrial Light & Magic, the evening will begin with a behind-the-scenes discussion about the film's design and style with the film's Director, Dave Filoni. The advance screening of Star Wars: The Clone Wars will follow the discussion on Thursday, 14 August at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, California.

"SIGGRAPH is honored to host this special advance screening at the Festival," stated Jill Smolin, SIGGRAPH 2008 Entertainment Director. "The Star Wars films have always been stellar examples of visionary visual effects. Seeing these effects paired with computer animation, and the behind-the-scenes knowledge from Dave Filoni will be an incredible experience for fans and film professionals alike."

In addition to the Production Studio Nights, this year's Festival will also feature talks and screenings dedicated to stereoscopic 3D research, applications, and programming. In a series of talks, experts will teach the foundations of 3D, from acquisition to projection and from history to the future. Screenings of 3D shorts and clips from 3D features will be shown in a montage of creations from the past, and previews of tomorrow's achievements. In addition, the popular U2 3D will be screened in its entirety.

The Stereoscopic 3D: Research, Applications, and Programming sessions will take place Monday, 11 August through Tuesday, 12 August at the Los Angeles Convention Center. For complete details on topics and session times visit http://www.siggraph.org/s2008/attendees/caf/3d/index.php.

Additional Production Studio Nights will be hosted by Pixar Animation Studios and Sony Pictures Imageworks on Tuesday, 12 August and Wednesday, 13 August, also at the Nokia Theatre. For more information on these Production Studio Nights, visit http://www.siggraph.org/s2008/attendees/caf/studioevents/index.php.

Passes for the Computer Animation Festival are available for the entire week or on a daily basis for as little as $50. For pass and registration information, visit http://www.siggraph.org/s2008/attendees/registration/fees.php.