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Created in 1999 by co-founders Janet Owen and Jim Keller, the Festival originated in response to the phenomenon of communications, technology, and distribution innovations merging together to create global networks and tools, including the Internet. In tandem with this phenomenon there arose the crucial need to support digital media artists with an infrastructure - ranging from physical spaces in which to create and exhibit, to public education programs, to forums for maintaining alternative discourse in an increasingly homogenous global community.

The need was made apparent by the overwhelming number of diverse projects being created by artists, media-makers and technologists as they explored the potential of the avalanche of new communications and digital technologies.

Entering its third year, AIM continues its success in fostering the climate necessary to the cross-fertilization characteristic of this dynamic field by encouraging innovative projects, positioning them within a specific critical frame, and thus amplifying the level of our digital cultural discourse.

AIM, unlike traditional film festivals, galleries and media venues that organize around a specific media or genre, is organized around a nuclear concept, which changes annually. The only criteria for submission is that works be 'time-based', and the festival defines time-based broadly to include films, videos, digital videos, hand-drawn and digital animation, interactive computer games, sound pieces, digital media, CD-ROMs, DVDs, websites, Internet projects, installations and performances ­ as well as the various emerging hybrids that elude such categorization.

Representing a genuine outreach to encourage participation from all artistic quarters, submission to AIM is free while all events are open to the public with free admission.

AIM I and II

AIM has grown exponentially since the inaugural festival in January 2000. Run on a shoestring and a great deal of commitment, AIM I received over 200 submissions from around the world. AIM II, 2001, structured around the theme of "The Vanishing Author?" was an unparalleled success and received well over 600 entries from 27 countries throughout the world.

A highly regarded panel of professionals in the field selected works from this incredible pool of innovative, diverse and distinctive projects and AIM II presented three days of screenings, performances, a symposium, and an exhibition presented in collaboration with the Santa Monica Museum of Art. The festival also comprised a pilot Education Program conducted in both elementary and middle schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Additionally AIM has toured to a number of local, national and international institutions, including the Helen Lindhurst Fine Arts Gallery; the College Art Association, Chicago, The California Institute for the Arts, and Tsinghua University, Beijing. Arrangements are currently being finalized for AIM's 2002 touring schedule, that will include the

American Center, Paris; the Beijing Film Academy, People's Republic of China; the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; the Hong Kong Art Center; the National University of Singapore, and SubStation, Singapore.

AIM III: Luna Park

In pursuance of its intent, and encouraged by both its success and community support, AIM is now expanding its programming capabilities. As an organization, AIM, will address several of its programs but not all within the same year. The Festival's open-entry call has become a Biennial event, and will therefore next occur for AIM IV, 2003.

In the alternate years the AIM organization will present a more apportioned program - consisting of lecture series, symposia, performances, curated events as well as an international student competition of digital projects. This will serve to expand and strengthen the educative, research and theoretical aspects of AIM. The education programs continue to occur annually.

Consequently, AIM III, titled Luna Park, is presented in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Los Angeles, and comprises a series of dynamic lectures; a two-day symposium; invitational and open-entry exhibitions, a touring program; and the ongoing education program. These will be augmented by critical inquiries into the nexus of digital art practice and culture, and the trajectories of globalization.

USC School of Fine Arts

Watt Hall Rm.103, University Park, Los Angeles CA 90089-0292, USA

Tel: 213.740.ARTS /// Fax: 213 740 8938 /// aim@usc.edu