Zagreb Film Festival

October 14th-21st 2012

Zagreb, Croatia

The tenth Zagreb Film Festival will be taking place from 14-21 October 2012. The screenings and events will be taking place in several venues in Zagreb: in cinemas Europa, Tuškanac, Grič and Dokukino Croatia and in Zagreb Dance Center which will be turned into an attractive cinema during the festival week. A part of the program will also be shown in the Museum of Contemporary Art in Novi Zagreb. By spreading across the Sava River, Zagreb Film Festival will merge with the city more than ever and will remain the biggest and most important film festival for the people and visitors of Zagreb. Some 90 films will be shown in seven programs. On average, the festival screenings are seen by around 30,000 viewers.

The main competition program of the festival will present new first or second films of international directors: eleven long feature films, ten short feature films and some fifteen documentary films. The films will be competing for Golden Pram Awards in their respective categories. Besides its international program, the festival will also present Checkers, the national short film competition program. It will include a dozen of films made by new Croatian authors in order to boost and promote Croatian film production.

Every year, Zagreb Film Festival presents a few additional programs the purpose of which is often educational. These programs are realized in cooperation with Croatian and foreign selectors and international festivals and institutes. Some of such previously presented programs include Red Westerns and Wheel (in cooperation with Rotterdam International Film Festival), Film: Protest, Film as Propaganda (selector: Daniel Rafaelić), Bunker (selector: Bernd Buder, Berlinale)... and many others.

Also, in order to help promote Croatian authors and short film production, for the third year in a row we are cooperating with relevant short film festivals (last year it was Tampere Film Festival). In addition to film programs, the festival features numerous presentations of festivals and institutes, book promotions, lectures, photo exhibitions and – in cooperation with Croatian Film Association – Palunko Screenwriters' Workshop.

From our very origin humanity has been striving to unravel and unveil the grand design, the very scheme by which this vast Universe, and all within it, works, and the ingenuity by which it all begun, as well as where it is all evolving to. In this pursuit, as history has shown, we have wasted a lot of time seeing ourselves as unique, the center of it all, the ones around whom everything revolves.

This “making of” book takes an in-depth look at the concept and production art of DreamWorks’ upcoming animated feature, Madagascar 3.

I challenge students to expose themselves, not physically but spiritually. I call upon them to “take the condom off their head”, have an unsafe idea, for life is too short and precious for following in someone else’s steps, make your own path through an untapped space.

Pratt Institute, currently celebrating its 125th anniversary year, will be showcasing a host of talent at Pratt Show 2012, which will take place from May 7-10.

Annecy International Animated Film Festival and Market

June 4th-9th

Annecy, France

Check out the latest animated gems, find out about current and future trends, meet up with your favourite film directors and up-and-coming talents, track down new associates and partners... in the fun and friendly atmosphere of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

 There are 5 theatres in and around Annecy screening Festival films from 10am to 11pm. The programme includes films in the official selection and screenings which don't need to be reserved.Each evening at 10pm, there is also a screening on the giant screen on the Pâquier lawn (opposite Bonlieu, free access). Established animators and budding creatives, film directors and producers, teachers and students, designers or artists, long-standing fans or newcomers to the art... everyone can be found at the Festival.

The Festival is paying tribute to Ireland this year.

It is perhaps too early to say that there is a particular style of Irish animation cinema. Influenced by the USA, but especially by Europe, these creations are still in their infancy. However, you will discover the diversity of this animation through TV commissions, graduation and independent films, as well as some prize gems from the archives.

The Cartoon Art Museum celebrates five decades of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes with “Avengers Assemble!” an exhibition featuring some of the most iconic characters in comic book history, including Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man, The Wasp, Hawkeye, Black Widow and The Incredible Hulk.

We've got a nifty collection of model sheets from Aardman's and Sony's new feature, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, which hits the theatres in the US today.

To many the “system” is the symbol of oppression, the foe to resist in almost any cause. To us, not understanding something is a challenge that motivates and inspires, it ignites our imagination, makes us restless until, if fortunate, we arrive at an answer, a climax, whether right or not.

On Tuesday, May 15, the Cartoon Art Museum welcomes Howard Chaykin and Steve Leialoha for a special presentation on the origins of the "Star Wars" comic book and their experiences in creating the official Marvel Comics adaptation of the film.