DOTMOV Festival 2004, a competitive digital film festival was launched last November, is now inviting submissions from throughout the world. The festival's aim is to discover talented creators and provide them with an opportunity to show their work. The deadline is September 20th 2004.

For the first time this year, all selected works will be shown on a web site so that everybody from all over the world can participate and enjoy the festival. By inviting international creators who are active in the forefront of design as judges, this festival promises to deliver the future of digital film and new possibilities to the world.

For further information: www.shift.jp.org/mov

Shift 2005 Calendar Competition presented by Shift is coming soon, followed by its successful result of the past two years. Submission starts on August 1st 2004.

Shift has been trying to offer artists many platforms to showcase their works online. Shift calendar competition, which was held in 2003 and 2004 successively, push the boundaries between online and offline taking a "calendar" as its media. Entry is invited from all over the world and selected works will be distributed through the world as a calendar. From this year, selected works will also be exhibited and sold at PRINT'EM web site for a year with supports by PRINT'EM, a graphic print out center operated by Mitsubishi Paper Mills Limited. Also it will be exhibited at a gallery cafe Soso in January, 2005. The deadline is 10th October 2004

For further information: www.shift.jp.org/2005

A brief questionaire with Taketo Oguchi & Naoko Fukushi

Name: Taketo Oguchi
Date of birth: 17/04/1968
Nationality: Japanese
Profession: chief editor/art director for Shift

Name: Naoko Fukushi
Date of birth: 1981
Nationality: Japanese
Profession: Editor/Translator
Sins: depression
Addictions: chocolate
Passions: aromatic bath
Food: chocolate
Color: clear sea and sky
Politics: shift
Next project: revolution
Got popular with: petite

What is Shift?
Shift is an online magazine which delivers information from Japan to the world and vise versa, covering the topic on cultural information such as art, fashion, music and multimedia.

A platform for designers? A competition reservoir?
Although we are not specially involved in organising competitions, as a distributor of information which can be a designers' resource, we set off two different competitions to provide designers the opportunity to show their work. (Film: DOTMOV Festival, Graphic: Calendar Competition)

Where do you work on your designs and concepts?
We keep the design simple. The layout which set off artworks is important to us.

Do you discuss the content of Shift with other artists and editors?
Yes, sometimes we do. Most contents is decided internally but people sending an e-mail to propose their ideas and we sometimes go along with it. Most contributors are working outside of Shift so we always keep communicating with them and discussing on the topic for each issue.

How do you start your day?
Walking through the park which leads to my office and order a cup of coffee at a cafe on the ground floor of the building. Then I start with checking e-mail.

Does music inspire you in your work? What are you listening to right now?
Of course, I'm inspired by music. I do DJing at Soso Cafe, a cafe cum event space which Shift produce. I can't work without music. I listen to various music but electronica and classic is my favourite these days.

As a designer you work with graphics and visual day in day out. What books do you read?
We receive many sample books, e-mail or designer's portfolio from publishing companies, creative studios, or artists from all over the world so I look through them. Come to think of reading, my friend has started private library called "Think Garden" and I sometimes read their recommended books. This library is going to move into Soso Cafe in October so I'll have more opportunity to read their books. Also, we are going to share the art books or portfolios which is delivered to Shift from the world with "Think Garden" so that we can share these resource with people in Sapporo.

Where do you get your news from? A network? A bee community?
We receive massive information or press release via e-mail / post so we pick some out and put into selected ones in Shift. Information from contributors or friends are also important.

Have you ever thought of doing a Shift in print form? Is it easier to produce an online magazine then a print magazine?
Never. I have an experience of editing in print magazine but online magazine is much effective in its cost and workload. It's also easy to amend or update the latest information. However, based on my previous experience, we think we need to set a deadline to update the good quality contents on a monthly basis. Actually, for Shift, the difference from print magazine is only the cost for print and distribution. What characterise Shift as an online magazine is to have Blog as a daily journal to which contributors can post information anytime. http://www.shift.jp.org/blog/
You can always check the latest information there.

What other online magazines do you study regularly?
Nothing specially.

What is the future of online magazines?
I'm looking forward to seeing the world created by young generation who grew with mobile phone and internet. I'm excited to see what is created by them and how the world is going on.

Which project has given you the most satisfaction?
http://www.shift.jp.org/cw/
We held a fashion show inviting fashion designers who were communicating online. It was fun to see them live and the show was very successful. We'd like to do such a project again when there's an opportunity.

http://www.shift.jp.org/mov/
DOTMOV, audio & visual festival which launched last year is now on the way. Entries will close soon (September 20th). If you are interested, please hurry up to join this festival!

Where is Shift in 2 years from now?
Shift is reaching it´s 100 issue soon (March, 2005). Some revolution might happen on that issue. Please see what's going on expectantly.