The 5,777 voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences must return their completed Oscar nominations ballots to PricewaterhouseCoopers no later than 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 23.

Unlike other years, finding ideas for new short projects were scarce. This year, that has not been the case.

The World Festival of Animated Film in Zagreb is traditionally the second oldest festival in Europe. In the course of its thirty-year-old history it has systematically been following world animation production through a number of films in competition and out of competition. Built on the tradition of the Zagreb School of Animation, Animafest, the festival oriented towards auteur film, has made a reputation of being one of the most significant events in the domain of animated film.

Approved by ASIFA (International Animated Film Association) and founded by the City of Zagreb and the production studio Zagreb Film the first World Festival of Animated Film was held in June 1972, headed by Zelimir Matko, the festival's first director and its driving force who was working tirelessly for the festival until he died in 1977. Since that time, the festival has hosted many renowned makers of animated film, gaining an international reputation mainly thanks to its long-standing managing director Margit Buba Antauer. In 2005, Animafest introduced the programme of animated feature film.

Since then this biennale festival has turned into an annual event – each odd-numbered year is devoted to feature film and even-numbered one to short film. By decision of the Festival Council, made in 2007, Animafest is under a new art and organisation leadership that aims at continuing the festival tradition by developing programmes that would enable authors and professionals a more active participation at the festival. With new initiatives, such as the founding of Regional Pitching Forum for projects in Development and Animafest Fund, Animafest aspires to become an active participant in encouraging the production and distribution of animated film.

Avatar, An Education and The Hurt Locker have each received eight nominations for the Orange British Academy Film Awards in 2010.

A year ago the National Film Board of Canada gave Canadians unprecedented access to 70 years of collective experience with the launch of its online screening room, NFB.ca.

Dr. Toon explores the parasocial role of the ensemble in animation.

The Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film was founded in 1982 and is one of the biggest and most important festivals of animation film worldwide. More than 50.000 spectators and 1.500 professionals are attending the festival. Over 50,000 euros prize money in total is awarded in seven competition categories. The Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film works in close relation with fmx 2010, Europe’s biggest conference on animation, effects, games and interactive media.

The 17th International Festival of Animated Film Stuttgart / Germany (4.-9. May 2010) invites international advertising agencies, filmmakers and production companies to submit their films to our international competition Under Commission until January 29th 2010. Under Commission is the competition for commissioned animations. Prizes are awarded in the categories animated music video, commercials and TV trailer. Any animated commissioned film of the categories commercial spot, music video and TV ident including computer generated animation and combinations of life action and animation completed after October 01, 2008 may participate. There is no entry fee.

Four films will be nominated in each category. The award ceremony will be taking place during the festival (4.-9. May 2010). The Art Directors Club of Germany ADC, the Art Directors Club of Europe ADC*E and the Art Directors Club New York are cooperation partners.

More information is available at our homepage. There you can also download the submission form, rules & regulations as well as the call for entries. Online submissions can be made at Reelport.

Cartoons on the Bay and the Pulcinella Awards will take place in Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino from April 15-18, 2010.

New aspects of the festival include a new cross-media and interactive animation categories and a free branded new business area to strengthen meetings among all the delegates.

The Animation Dance Association is a unique competition, recently launched to seek out the most creative, innovative and gifted animators around the planet.

PLASTIC PAPER is an international festival of animated, illustrated and puppet film that takes place May 5-8, 2010 at the Park Theatre in Winnipeg, Canada. The festival is one component of the year-round organizational activities of the Big Smash! Film Collective. PLASTIC PAPER's programming is a mix of premieres, retrospective screenings, short films and features with special guests, workshops, multi-media presentations, installations and exhibits, artist talks, and gatherings where the artists and the audience can interact more informally.