The International Make-Up Artist Trade Show (IMATS) took place in Sydney in September bringing world-class makeup talent to Australia for the first time in the show’s 12-year history. Over 2000 visitors, trade and consumers, flocked to the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre held on September 12th and 13th , surpassing organisers’ expectations. The inaugural event brought together leading makeup suppliers and distributors, many of whom demonstrated their products capability on the show floor with models adorned in special effects makeup. Visitors browsed at stalls, watched live demonstrations and attended educational seminars run by leading luminaries of film, celebrity and editorial makeup.

The star-studded roll call of keynote speakers included Rae Morris (pictured), the makeup director of Australia’s Fashion Week, a four-time winner of Australia’s Makeup Artist of the Year award and the author of Makeup: The Ultimate Guide and New-York based beauty artist Lisa Garner; whose work graces the pages of consumer magazines and Hollywood celebrities.

From film, Academy Award winner, Howard Berger, Britain’s BAFTA-winning makeup effects designer, Neill Gorton and special makeup effects artist, Gino Acevedo, shared their experiences from films including The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe; The Da Vinci Code and Men in Black, respectively.

IMATS Sydney is sponsored by U.S. based Make-Up Artist magazine, which covers professional makeup artistry in film, fashion, TV and theatre. It was launched in 1996 by Emmy award-winning makeup artist, Michael Key, and is circulated internationally. In addition to IMATS Sydney, Make-Up Artist magazine hosts four other annual trade shows: IMATS London, held in January; IMATS Vancouver, B.C., held in April; IMATS Los Angeles, held in June; and IMATS Toronto, held in November.

For more information on IMATS internationally, visit www.imatsshow.com