This five-day mammoth art event this year attracting 65 participating art galleries and organisations from 23 countries including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong, Pakistan, India, Japan, South Korea, Iran, Spain, Hungary, Germany, Sweden and many more. Most of the exhibitors are art galleries, but also making their presence felt this year are museums, embassies, auction houses and art organisations. Works of more than 400 artists — totalling about 2,000 pieces — will be on display this year.

An avenue to make available pure art to be appreciated by the public, you can expect to be greeted with creativity in all forms and style, such as paintings, sculptures, assemblages, installations or digital art. Artwork from the past and present, from all around the globe will be featured during this five-day long expo. By feasting your eyes with all things art, this showcase of design will definitely expose you to a greater understanding and appreciation for art from all the different eras and movements.

Get ready to journey into a world of colours so vivid and art so tangible. With a dose of creativity in the atmosphere, you are in for experience that will inspire! For details, please call 603-7728 3677 or 012-206 1345.

KLPF is Malaysia’s biggest and hottest imaging event with a combination of photography and travel elements. It is a gathering of the photography and travel fraternities with action packed programmes. This grand annual festival has won recognition as the event that promotes the art in photography, encourages interaction and extends the exploratory experiences amongst our readers, photography enthusiasts and travellers. It is an interactive, discovery and business-boosting event.

This three-day event will see a big line up of who’s who in the photographic industry presenting their latest innovations in technology and designs that will put them ahead of the game. Visitors will get to experience the latest innovations in digital cameras, printers or imaging solutions showcased by more than 80 major brand exhibitors which will show off wide variety of accessories, gadgets and services. You may also get the chance to gain knowledge from product demonstrations, product services, special guest appearances, stage shows and seminars. Besides, you will feast your eyes on the classic photo exhibitions, network with people from the photography fraternities, savour a myriad of genres at the “Photomania Slideshows”, share the exciting travel experiences by seasoned travellers at “Travelmania Talks”, shoot your way to win exciting prizes in contests or activities and many more!

Admission is totally free for the general public. For more information, don’t hestitate to email to klpf@pcp2u.my or call 603-9281 8039 and 6016-715 1703.

The competition will be split into two categories, which are “University Students category” and “Public category”. The “University Students category” runs from 15th AUG 2011 to 6th SEPT 2011, which had been closed for entries now. The “Public category”, on the other hand, started on 17th AUG 2011 and will run all week until 15th OCT 2011. In this leg, there is no time limit to the PSAs. However, all participants are required to shoot a three-minute behind the scenes video. Top two winners in this category will be announced early NOV 2011. Cash prizes await those with the best videos!

Please visit the official Facebook page for the latest updates. You may also head on to HERE or HERE for more details.

(clockwise from top-left) Aleksandr Sokurov, Cai Shangjun, Deanie Yip, Michael Fassbender

Russian director Aleksander Sokurov’s Faust won the Golden Lion prize by bested 21 other films in competition, including Tomas Alfredson’s adaptation of John le Carre’s Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy with Gary Oldman as super spy George Smiley, George Clooney’s American presidential campaign drama The Ides of March, Roman Polanski’s adaptation of Yasmina Reza’s Broadway play Carnage, Steve McQueen’s sexually charged Shame and William Friedkin’s Killer Joe.

American film director Darren Aronofsky, whose dark ballet drama Black Swan opened last year’s Venice Film Festival, was announced as the Head of the Jury for this year’s affair. Famed American actor and film director Al Pacino was presented with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award earlier on 4th SEPT 2011 for his extraordinary work as a filmmaker and his contribution to the craft, prior to the premiere of his upcoming heart-wrenching drama-documentary Wilde Salome. The award is given to filmmakers who have made their mark in the film industry across the world.

The list of winners for a few major awards in this year’s gala is after the jump:

• Golden Lion for Best Film: Aleksandr Sokurov – Faust (Russia)
• Silver Lion for Best Director: Cai Shangjun – People Mountain People Sea (China – Hong Kong)
• Special Jury Prize: Emanuele Crialese – Terraferma (Italy)
• Coppa Volpi for Best Actor: Michael Fassbender - Shame (United Kingdom)
• Coppa Volpi for Best Actress: Deanie Yip - A Simple Life (China – Hong Kong)
• Marcello Mastroianni Prize for Best New Young Performer: Shota Sometani and Fumi Nikaido – Himizu (Japan)
• Osella for Best Cinematography: Robbie Ryan - Wuthering Heights (United Kingdom)
• Osella for Best Screenplay: Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou - Alps (Greece)
• Lion of the Future “Luigi De Laurentiis” Venice Award for a Debut Film: Guido Lombardi – La-Bas (Italy)
• Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award 2011: Al Pacino (USA)
• Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement: Marco Bellocchio

Please head on to HERE for the full list of winners.

Regarded as Malaysia’s premier short film competition, it has been hailed to make a difference. The competition is a cultural initiative by BMW Malaysia to identify, cultivate and support budding talents from the Malaysian society. For all those who interested, all you need to do is just make a short film, with no more than 10 minutes, around the theme “Joy” and submit it. You might just win it and grab a cash grant of RM75,000 to produce your own short film. There are no limits on the medium you use, be it an animation, a documentary or even a homage to the classic films.

More of the BMW Shorties 2011 entry details will be made available on tomorrow, 8th SEPT 2011. A Gala Premiere of “Memoria”, the BMW Malaysia funded production by BMW Shorties 2010 winner Chen Yih Wen will be held on 16th SEPT 2011 while the ever popular BMW Shorties Judges Clinic is scheduled to be held on 1st Oct 2011.

Please head on to the official Facebook page to find out the latest info and the full competition rules of BMW Shorties 2011.

Saint Cloth Myth EX feature entirely new constructs enabling for a wide range of articulation even when figure is wearing armour parts. This incredible level of articulation allows for improved portrayal of each character’s finishing-move action poses. A complete remodeling of the action figure creating a perfect, seamless fit with the cloth parts which make it looks like walks right out of the comic or anime scene. The cape, which up until now has been portrayed with cloth, is now meticulously rendered with resin and features three wing articulation for a flow effect and enhanced posing expression.

Multiple facial expression parts also included in this new line. Gemini Saga will include a total of five interchangeable face parts. These are combined with a wealth of interchangeable hand parts to allow for freedom of posing and expression. In addition, the first release of Gemini Saga will include limited first production bonus effect parts replicating the character’s signature move “Galaxian Explosion”.

You may order your set of collection for this brand new line via HERE.

The mix of KAWS pop culture-infused approach and Hennessy’s vintage, classic appeal is really something to behold and comes together a lot better than you could have possibly imagined, with the artist’s use of his signature chomper teeth and strokes for eyes share the label with Hennessy’s trademarked grape vine and fist clinching an axe.

In addition to the limited edition bottle, the duo will create multiple digital shorts, which will be distributed throughout the year.

With a line-up of 21 bands from various country across the globe playing a diverse range of world genres this year, the festival is featuring 7 different acts per night over 3 nights not including some of the special shows on the last day. Workshops will be featured in RWMF’11 include afternoon informative sessions, ethno-musical lectures, jamming sessions and mini concerts throughout the many unique ethnic homes at the cultural village, followed by evening performances on the main stage area.

Besides, there will have The Food and Village Mart which filled with interesting local Sarawakian foods, crafts, interesting souvenir items, international food and drinks and not forgetting the famous Heineken Beer which is one of the main sponsorsre. More than 30 stalls will be available throughout the cultural village. RWMF memorabilia or souvenirs also available such as t-shirts or CD by your favourite performing artist which you can even get signed from the artist during the workshops.

Daily tickets priced at RM110 per adult and RM55 per child, aged 3 to 12, are now available online via HERE or Ticket Charge office. While a three-day pass for adults costing RM300 and RM150 for children, aged three to 12, are also available. Any enquiries please call the Ticket Charge Hotline at 603-9222 8822 or logon to the official Facebook page for details and latest updates.

The experience of a festival in the middle of a rainforest is something definitely worth attending in this part of the world.

This year, Urbanscapes 2011 will bring in a new mix – BarCamp, which served as a conference where anyone can pitch a topic instead of having a confirmed agenda and the most popular topic as determined by the attendees will be presented. There is absolutely no limit on what you can speak on, as long as all talks cannot be of a commercial nature. Simply put, anyone who is interested to share any topic at all should come prepared with a 30-45 minute session, have an awesome title, pitch it to the attendees, and get them to vote for it.

Besides, Frinjan Books Bazaar also will be introduced in this year’s festival. Frinjan is a loose collective artists and connoisseurs of art and culture with objective to organize art and cultural activities which employs art as a medium, message and motivation to call to attention important socio-political issues affecting our daily lives. Frinjan Books Bazaar in Urbanscapes 2011 will feature books which are not always available at local bookstores, readings, author appearances and slam poetry.

Tickets to the event are priced at RM40 and available at Rock Corner, Victoria Music, The Bee or you may purchase online via HERE. More info or latest updates can be obtained through the event’s official Facebook page.