The 2011 Annecy International Animation Festival was so full of films, business, friends, special events, and parties this year that it was impossible to do and see everything. Here's a breakdown of a crazy week by the lake...

So what exactly have we learned at MIFA? Have we gained something meaningful? I have to admit I need more time to answer such a question, to see if an event of this kind brings along something worth the effort invested into just coming over. After all, if the animation business is about relationships / partnerships, then there needs to be a lot more work done after the event beside the initial quick flirting.

Se-ma-for Film Festival expands. Now, except from visiting 15 towns in Lodz Voivodship Se-ma-for as part of Se-ma-for Film Festival On Tour, Se-ma-for will visit also… Odessa, Ukraine. Most famous Polish animation studio will present its films to all animation lovers (both children and adults) from 1st to 3rd July 2011 as SE-MA-FOR On Tour – Oscar Animation from City of Lodz.

During screening, which will take place in U-Cinema, film such as: TANGO by Zbigniew Rybczyński (Oskar 1983), PIOTRUŚ I WILK by Suzie Templeton (Oskar 2008), MASKA by Quay Brothers,ICHTHYS and DANNY BOY by Marek Skrobecki. Before each screening Mr Zbigniew Zmudzki, producer and head of Se-ma-for studio will present puppets  and tell few words about puppet animation technique, Se-ma-for history and share his memories from Oscar awards ceremony.

Project's partners are: by City of Lodz and Polish Consulate in Odessa.

You may find a trade show to be a common gathering event that any industry has. But what I saw and experienced at MIFA is that this gathering is more than unique. How friendly and open minded everybody is, considering that most of the people are competitors one way or another. It’s actually pretty unbelievable.

The Annecy International Animation Festival just concluded its 51st edition this evening, June 11, 2011. Patrick Jean’s PIXELS Took home the Annecy Cristal as the top short film, while THE RABBI'S CAT, by Joann Sfar and Antoine Delesvaux, took the top prize for feature film.

25 hours after leaving my comfy LA bed, I’ve arrived in Annecy. The calm is in direct contrast to my second flight, from DC to Geneva. Sprawled within 5 feet of my seat were not 1 but 2 families, 6 kids total, 4 parents, 1 nanny and 1 set of grandparents. In an age of fundamental change in airline comfort, service and safety, where the indignities of modern travel begin when you undress to get through security, one thing seems perfectly clear – kids either should be confined in storage or not be allowed on planes at all.

Announcing the SoHo Gallery for Digital Art's Animation Festival 2012!

Marc Petit, Senior Vice President of Autodesk’s Media & Entertainment division, talks about how studios are meeting the challenges of economic uncertainty and workforce globalization and how his company plans to meet future need for technology tools, including adoption of Open Source standards.

My flight to Geneva leaves tomorrow morning at 7:50, an ungodly hour to begin 24+ hours of delirium shuffling through airports, getting groped by stink-eyed security drones, squeezing into airline seats designed for anorexics, all the while wondering why I’m not home asleep in bed, or watching Archer reruns while sipping a delicious Kamikazee.

The debut edition of BE THERE! CORFU ANIMATION FESTIVAL was the first animation festival to be held on this beautiful Greek Island. A large audience from throughout the island enjoyed a wide array of programs and workshops as well as the opportunity to meet Greek and international artists from the world of animation.