The films in competition for Independent Short, Applied Animation and Student Films in Belgium and The Netherlands were selected by festival organizers Erik van Drunen, Mette Peters and Gerben Schermer. The selection list is now available on the festival Web site. The selection can be viewed by film title, director, production company, country and competition category.

* Wednesday, October 11, 2000. San Francisco, California, U.S.A.

* Wednesday, November 8 – Sunday, November 12, 2000. Ajijic, Mexico.

Paramount Home Video and Nickelodeon are releasing the first feature length adventure based on the hit series BLUE’S CLUES entitled, BLUE’S BIG MUSICAL MOVIE. The direct-to-video release will be available on VHS and DVD October 3, 2000. The film is geared toward teaching young children the fundamentals of music including notes, rhythm and tempo. The DVD will include special features such as "Backstage at BLUE’S CLUES – A Sneak Peak for Parents," two musical videos by Ray Charles and a "Who am I?" menu guessing game.

* Thursday, October 12 – Sunday, October 22, 2000. Montreal, Canada.

TOPIX/Mad Dog has just finished a new Alka-Seltzer ad for the Mexican market. Combining live-action and 3D animation, the 20-second spot, "Termita," features a hungry termite, who cures his upset stomach with Alka-Seltzer. TOPIX/Mad Dog’s animation director Richard Rosenman said, "Our priorities were to illustrate the termite eating wood, plastic, becoming ill, and, of course, being cured by a dose of Alka-Seltzer.

* Saturday, October 28, 2000. Hollywood, California, U.S.A.

* Wednesday, September 27, 2000. Burbank, California, U.S.A.

* Saturday, November 4 – Sunday, November 5, 2000. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Foresight Marketing & Design Ltd., a marketing and consulting firm in Eastern Canada, has recently created a new division, Foresight Animation Studio. The toon house offers traditional animation and graphics as well as other creative services like Website design. Animation director Roger Foucault (also the creative director of Foresight's marketing firm) brings full traditional and classical animation training skills to the studio and hopes to see their company establish long-term business relationships with others. For more information contact Foresight at: P.O.