On June 12, 2011 I turn 65. Thought I would have been killed long before this.

Years ago a bank manager asked, with a sneer, if I had a goal.

I told him my goal was that if I lived to be 100 I wanted to be in my own home with people around me who love me. "I do not want to be ekeing out an existence in a home for senior citizens being spoon fed and sponge bathed by people who don't give a damn whether I live or drop dead." I told him.

Grim Natwick, the creator Betty Boop and principal animator on the character of Snow White for Walt Disney, celebrated his 90th birthday in Toronto with me at a special ANIMAFEASTIVAL EVENT I held in his honour in 1980.

He celebrated his 100th birthday in Hollywood with practically everyone who matter in attendance in 1990. He lived all his life in his own home and was as sharp the day he died as any of us could wish to be.

A few years before that the Academy threw a tribute to Grim. I went out for it. Afterwards he pulled out the bottles of hard liquor. We drank. We got drunk beyond madness. Grim lectured. I listened. I learned more in that one night than I had in all the years before that put together.

65 is one of those numbers.

Grim is my mentor. Chuck Jones called him the Merlin of Animation.

I decided to celebrate my 65th birthsday by honoring the man who animated me.

I have put together a short program of five of the best short films involving Grim's work or characters.

As well, for those who would like copies I have a cd of the talk Grim gave in 1980 and a dvd of the talk Grim gave at ANIMAFEASTIVAL 1982 with special guests Tisse David, Shamus Culhane and Frank Nissen.

THE CINEFORUM is listed in THE LONELY PLANET GUIDE as number 4 of places to see in Ontario. A lot of people around the world think very highly of what happens here.

ANIMACAMPUS TALLINN 2011

November 15-19, 2011 / Tallinn, Estonia

CALL FOR TALENTS

Deadline for application: September 5, 2011.

 

AnimaCampus Tallinn is a brand new networking platform and training event for up-and-coming young filmmakers working in the field of animation. The five-day creative summit takes place in parallel with the Animation Film Festival Animated Dreams, the sub-festival of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. 

In the frame of several lectures, presentations, discussions, screenings and workshops international animation experts share their experience in making cinéma d'auteur animation films as well as commercial productions. A mix of animation art and industry. A mix of traditional animation techniques and new media technologies. AnimaCampus Tallinn provides young professionals from East and West the opportunity to learn from top animation experts and build international networks in  inspiring European Capital of Culture atmosphere.

PROGRAMME

The programme of AnimaCampus Tallinn consists of the following activities:

Inspiration talks:

• Lectures, presentations and panel discussions to address the breaking issues in the animation history and today. * Open to all participants, guests and public.

 

Hands-on trainings:

• Practical workshops, case studies and meeting-the-expert sessions in different fields of work promoting direct interaction between young and experienced professionals. * Open to participants and guests.

Mentoring and guidance:

• Specialized master classes. * Open only to participants.

• Individual project consultations. * Open only to participants.

 

Networking and entertainment:

• Film screenings at the Animation Film Festival Animated Dreams. 

• Excursions to Estonian animation studios and Museum of Puppets.

• Match-making sessions.

• Social events and concerts in the evenings.

REGIONS IN FOCUS

In 2011 AnimaCampus Tallinn is setting its focus on the following regions: Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland), Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), South Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan) and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan). Emerging animation filmmakers from the above mentioned countries are eligible to apply through the open call for entries. However, motivated applicants from the other European countries wishing to explore the animation scene in those regions are also encouraged to send their application.

Animated Dreams, the oldest and biggest Estonian animation film festival, offers Estonian animators a chance to display the state of their art as well as promotes high-quality international animation culture. From its beginnings as an offshoot of Black Nights Film Festival back in 1999, the event has evolved into a small independent festival. The festival consists of the short animation competitive programme and several special programmes. Traditions include lectures by foreign guests, meetings and workshops.

The short film competition is open to films of any genre and animation technique.

Eligible films must be:

a) short and medium-length (-45 min) animated films;
b) premiered after 1 January, 2010;
c) screened in 35 mm, HDCAM, DigiBeta, or Blu-ray;
d) with English subtitles, if not in English.

Deadline for application is August 15, 2011.
By this date online entry form must be completed (http://vp.eventival.eu/poff/15/films) filmography of director, stills of the film, synopsis of the film) on CD and a preview copy (DVD) with English subtitles should be sent to our office.

The competition selection will be announced to the applicants by October 1, 2011.

Golden Network Asia Limited has confirmed during the 10 day Marche du Film in Cannes, France that Malaysian-made Feature Animation – “SeeFood” has successfully signed multiple distribution deals worldwide, worth over USD 2 Million.

The ninth Fantoche will be held in the town of Baden from September 6 to 11, 2011. The international show of animation film has become one of the world's most prominent animation festivals and is the only cultural event in Switzerland that is devoted exclusively to the full array of animation techniques, content and media

Fantoche is both a public festival and a meeting place for national and international experts. With its varied programme, it offers excellent entertainment for both young and old, with new things to discover and extravagance for animated-film fans and discussion and presentation forums for industry professionals from Switzerland and abroad.

Fantoche is just as refreshing, full of relish and lively as the indomitable scene, of which it is a part. It is infectious and creates an appetite for more. That’s why the previously biannual festival is becoming an annual event from this edition onwards.

Fantoche tracks down trends. With its international and Swiss short film competitions it searches for artistically daring ideas, young talent and the most prominent innovations worldwide. From the growing number of feature films produced, Fantoche selectively picks outstanding new releases and for the younger animated-film fans the latest children’s films are there to be gazed at.

At the same time Fantoche digs deeper and looks at individual aspects, themes or styles of animated film.

Fantoche looks beyond limits by building bridges to related art forms and dedicates itself to the use of animation in communication and entertainment media. In 2011 it will again venture into interactive realms and will be putting on show one of the arguably most creative interfaces between animation and computer games with an exhibition of independent games.

LATEST ANIMATION FILMS WANTED

Calling all film-makers – the “International Competition 2011” is open!

Fantoche is looking for the very best and most interesting short animated films from around the world. We are on the lookout for daring ideas, new pictures, surprising stories and ambitious projects by both newcomers and established film-makers.

The closing date for entries is 31 May 2011. The “International Competition” is open to films made applying all animation techniques, including a combination of live action and animation, lasting a maximum of forty minutes and completed after 31 March 2010. Films made by Swiss film-makers will also automatically be entered in the selection for the “Swiss Competition”.

Awaiting the films in the competition are seven prizes, worth a total of CHF 26'500, which will be awarded at the festival in September by a international jury of five members and by the public.

The 16th FMX Conference on Animation, Games, Effects and Interactive Media ended yesterday achieving remarkable successes!

Cartoon Forum Polska

Where projects come to life…13-16 September 2011, Sopot (Poland)

The Cartoon Forum is neither a fair nor a festival, but rather a European co-production forum for TV and new platforms animation.

750 delegates each year, including 240 buyers60 animation projects to be pitched A unique networking place: sightseeing tours, Welcome and Farewell DinnersEfficiency of the formula: +430 series financed since 1990

The 22nd Cartoon Forum will take place from 13-16 September 2011 in Sopot, Poland, a modern and lively seaside city near the historical city of Gdańsk.

The European Forum for Co-productions of Animated TV series, Cartoon Forum

Every year, since 1990, over 700 professionals, including 250 potential investors, 350 producers, 60 journalists and 40 public funding bodies attend the Cartoon Forum.

The 250 “buyers” include over 100 broadcasters and 150 investors who have the advantage of getting a sneak preview of the latest animation projects for television from the European Union countries.

The Cartoon Forum is neither a fair nor a festival, but rather a co-production forum, where European producers can negotiate financing for new animation projects. The Forum combines trailer presentations, working sessions and business meetings with opportunities for socialising and sightseeing: the relaxed setting of the Cartoon Forum has become an intrinsic element for the whole European animation industry.

The purpose of the Cartoon Forum is to foster co-productions and accelerate financial arrangements. The Cartoon Forum allows co-productions to be finalised, pre-buys agreed, negotiation of distribution agreements, options discussed on every type of right, and licensing of secondary rights.

Over 300 projects, with a total budget of more than 1.000 million EUR, presented at the Cartoon Forum have secured their financing and are now in production or already broadcasted worldwide.

About eDIT 14 Filmmaker’s Festival

As a filmmakers’ platform the eDIT Filmmaker's Festival promotes the exchange of information about innovations and the tips and tricks of filmmaking.

International filmmakers use their most recent productions to discuss filmmaking in the digital era.

The festival programme consists of workshops, presentations, screenings and fringe events. Central themes are camerawork, animation, visual effects, editing and production.

The social highlight of the event is the opening gala, during which outstanding filmmakers are presented with Festival Honors.

The event for up-coming talent, eDIT: eDucation, provides information on work and careers in the film and media industry.

eDward – The Young Filmmaker’s Award is directed at filmmakers under the age of 30.

Best of Film Festival presents a selection of award-winning films from international festivals.

The Festival Party offers excellent entertainment and opportunities for networking.

The website filmmakersfestival.de provides a thematic platform for exchanging ideas on filmmaking in the digital era. The online magazine presents interviews and contributions that go beyond the scope of the festival.

Program

The heart of the Filmmaker’s Festival as an international platform for filmmaking in the digital era is the programme itself: international experts present outstanding productions and the latest developments in film production.

Screenings, detailed making-ofs, presentations, workshops and discussion panels deliver knowledge transfer of the highest quality.

Central themes are camerawork, animation, visual effects and editing and production for various media.

30 October – 1 November 2011

motion is our annual event. Hundreds of brilliant minds – pros in the film, broadcast, and game industries – all coming together to share unique ideas that revolutionize the industry, change the way they look at their work and serve as inspiration for one another.

It all starts off with motionfest (10.9.11) – our pre-conference event where you’ll experience a full-day of rapid-fire tips, tricks, and technique sessions.

Then at motion, (10.10.11-10.11.11) we’ll take you on a mind-bending two day ride – what we refer to as the 'TED talks' of our industry. motion speakers are the top creative thinkers and innovators in motion graphics, animation, and vfx. A concept borrowed from TED, each speaker is on stage for 20 minutes giving the talk of their life on subjects they’re passionate about. Talks that revolutionize the industry. Talks that revitalize the creative muse.

The audience becomes a integral player in the motion experience. Utilizing the latest technology, participants are encouraged to join in the open discussions provided after each segment. It’s their turn to share their expertise and insight in this process of innovation.

Night time is all about reconnecting with peers and meeting new friends – on neutral turf. It’s a remarkable opportunity to actually get to know your competition. Sure – you’ve met on the ‘battlefield’, pitching to win the next major project. But as so many past attendees have told us – it wasn’t until motion that they were actually able to meet and interact with their peers and get to know them – as people. Did we mention there will be drinks? Party on!

Want to attend two great events, but your company only has the budget for one? We’ve got the solution!

Immediately following motion, join us for The Adobe Post Show October 12-14th – 2.5 days of Adobe Production Premium workflow sessions designed specifically for pros in the film, broadcast, and game industries.

motion is a unique experience where you not only reconnect with peers – you reconnect with the reason you got into this business to begin with.

Se-ma-for Film Festival ( international festival of stop motion animation techniques) takes place in Lodz / Poland/ on 22nd-25th September 2011 and in Lugano /Switzerland/ on 21st-23rd October 2011.
The Festival Organizers are: Se-ma-for Film Foundation based in Lodz /Poland/ and its Swiss representative based in Lugano /Switzerland/.
Se-Ma-For Film Festival (international festival of puppet animation and other three-dimensional stop-motion animation techniques)  is the second worldwide and the only European festival dedicated to stop-motion, especially puppet and three-dimensional animation. Festival consists of three main elements:
- competition screenings of international competition for best stop-motion animation,
- Polish animation industry competition
- special screenings (thematic, historical, monographic) presenting variety and endless possibilities of stop-motion animation techniques.
Broad and multidimensional programme of Se-ma-for Film Festival includes: workshops, exhibitions, meetings with artists, seminar, concerts, performances, presentations of equipment and software for animated films production. Moreover, one of Festival’s aims is to create an international forum devoted to the issues of stop-motion animation and children cinema.

We'd like to invite all artistic schools, film schools, production companies, film institutions and individual artists, as well as  other institutions and persons entitled, to submit films.