Dubailand, a member of Tatweer, today announced it has formed a strategic alliance with U.K.-based HIT Entertainment, one of the world’s leading independent children’s entertainment producers and rights owners.

They will work together to develop a diverse portfolio of family entertainment projects in Global Village at Dubailand, a 3 billion-square-foot development that includes theme parks, eco-tourism projects, shopping malls, restaurants and residential units in United Arab Emirates.

The conversation moved to the expansion of animation in the region, especially China. Ed said he was reluctant to get into China, because of the government hoops that doing business there entails.

With the event filled with press from all over the globe, the nominees were given the star treatment. On the way to the screening, I asked I Met the Walrus producer Jerry Levitan what went through his mind when he heard that his film was nominated.

Talking to Even Pigeons Go to Heaven producer Simon Vanesse, we learned that he began his career in IT. He mentioned that being one of the few producers who speaks English at BUF has helped him get on big American production. Most of the time he works as a visual effects producer, having worked on The Prestige.

While the films were screening for the studio artists, we were treated to a backstage look at the making of Sony’s Oscar-nominated animated feature Surf’s Up. VFX supervisor Rob Bredow gave us a nice overview of creating the beautiful waves and mockumentary style of the film.

Entertainment Rights announced today it has appointed 3DBA as its key sales partner to turn its brands into themed attractions.

George of the Jungle and Casper are currently being showcased at major trade shows throughout the world and a number of deals are expected to be announced soon.

ER is the U.K.'s leading global media group, specializing in the ownership and management of children's and family programming, characters and brands.

Here is the last photo gallery from the San Francisco leg of the Oscar Showcase tour. We closed out the event at PDI/DreamWorks, where the Q&A audience asked some new questions and the nominees had a chance to chat with the studio’s artists.

Skywalker Ranch is an awesome experience and in this photo gallery you’ll understand why.

During our visit at Pixar we shot a great deal of wonderful pics with Pixar characters and employees, including Brad Bird and Ed Catmull.

Here’s the first photo gallery from the 2008 Oscar Showcase tour. Witness the nominees posing for pics with the many wonders on display inside the doors of the premiere visual effects studio.