b.TWEEN the internationalFestival of Future Entertainment 2005, which celebrates interactive creativeprojects on TV, mobile, the web, DVD and video games, has announced this year'sconfirmed speakers and festival events.

The festival, which runs14-18 February at Doncaster college in the UK, comprises a three-daycross-platform development lab and a two-day conference.

The development lab is acompetitive event featuring six UK production companies that will be takenthrough a development programme with industry mentors led by Frank Boyd - former Head of Creative Development BBC.

The winners will receivecash prizes, concept development assistance, as well as the chance of takingtheir project to pilot stage.

The team of mentors includesChris O'Hanlon (interactive global brand consultant), Thom Saunders (Fat CowMotel - the world's first cross platform drama) and Bruce Vandenburg.

Aboard of interactive content commissioners (Channel 4, BBC and NESTA) willoffer constructive criticism as developed ideas are pitched in front ofconference delegates. The closing date for applications to participate in thedevelopment lab is Friday 21 January. Applications should be sent to www.btween.co.uk/

The conference - whichfocuses on the new products and strategies that are shaping digitalentertainment - features participation from many of the industry's leadingplayers:

Bruce Vandenburg - the manbehind the strategic branding of Celador productions such as Who Wants To BeA Millionaire - is one of the confirmed speakers for this year's festival.

Brooke Burgess, Canadiancreator of award winning Broken Saints will be telling his story of webcomic to riches. Brooke, who has beenworking in videogame production and design for nearly five years, decided tomove onto a 'web-based' production. This online narrative, a story of fourprotagonists answering a 'spiritual call-to-arms' went on to win awards at theSundance Film Festival.

Bruno Felix, Director of Submarine,Dutch cross media production company, will premier his work on Tulse Luper'sJourney, an online multiplayer game that is part of the Peter Greenaway'sfeature film trilogy.