DancesWithFilms is a competitive event featuring a line-up of more than a dozen full-length narrative films and sixteen narrative shorts. DWF's mission is to open a venue for new and upcoming filmmakers to present their work without the fear of politics overshadowing their screen time. The criteria for entries are: 1. Is the person attached able to raise financing (even small sums) at any point based solely on the "name"? 2. Is the person attached able to open doors that might otherwise stay closed? (They do not exclude "working" persons in the industry.) The film must have been completed no later then January 1998.

DervioToons is organized by a committee made up of experts in the field and public authorities, with the collaboration of ISCA (Institute for the Study and the Diffusion of Animation Film). The event operates according to the rules of ISCA and ASIFA. The festival's official languages are Italian and English. Awards will be given in the following categories: Best Short Film, Best Director, Best Subject, Best Script, Best Setting, Best Animation, Best Sound Track, Best Dubbing, Best Original Character. Special prizes will be awarded by the jury to films distinguishing themselves in a particular way. In addition, the audience will pick their favorite.

The Ottawa International Animation Festival is one of the premiere festivals in the animation community. The festival offers three competitions: independent film/video, commissioned works and Internet animation. The independent competition includes categories: Independent Film/Video Under 50 Minutes, Films for Children, Graduate Film and First Film. In the commissioned competition the entries can be educational, industrial or scientific films, commercials, station/program ids, music videos, TV specials and TV series. This year Flash entries can be submitted via the festival's Web site by providing the film's URL. During pre-selection Ottawa's committee will visit each of the sites, view the films and make their selections for competition. In the competition, Ottawa will have two prizes: a Grand Prize for Best Internet Animation (selected by the International Jury) and a Public Prize for Best Internet Animation. Computers will be set up during the festival to afford attendees the opportunity to view the films and vote for their choices. People will be able to log onto the Ottawa Festival Web site from home and vote for their favorite films as well. Retrospectives include: From Scratch, A Look Into The Parameters of Film; Computer Animation in the 21st Century; Jazz in Animation; PDI: 20th Anniversary; Bermuda Shorts: Ten Years After; Yvonne Andersen; Tribute to Spike & Mike Fest; Suzanne Gervais; Paul Fierlinger; Pjotr Sapegin; Jan Lenica; George Pal; Gene Deitch; and Chinese Animation.

The Matita Film Festival (MFF) is a festival consisting of two competitive sections open to authors from all over the globe, plus various historical and monographic retrospectives. MFF's goal is to highlight the independent spirit, while not neglecting entertainment issues. MFF 2000 will feature various retrospectives including Yuri Norstein, Animation Made in the U.K. and Phil Mulloy. Moreover, MFF holds a strong interest in the productions of animated film schools from all over the world. Every year "Focus On" explores a different school and this year it will be CalArts. The prize awarded to the best film in competition for each category is ITL 4,000,000 (2,000 EUROS approx.). The cultural association "Ex Novo" also provides several educational activities related to animated film. The event will have meetings, seminars and workshops, directed by known professionals.

The 8th International Short Film Festival Curtas Metragens celebrates works in animation, documentaries and fiction. All works submitted must be under 60 minutes in length. The festival gives grand prize awards in each of the three categories and honourable mentions that are selected by the jury. Awards are also given to best Portuguese film and young Portuguese filmmaker. An audience prize will be given by the votes of the attendees.

The First Annual Queer Short Movie Awards presented by PlanetOut (www.planetout.com) and IFILM (www.ifilm.com) highlights films and videos by, for, about, or of-interest to gay, lesbian, bi or transgender audiences. Cash awards include: one Grand Prize of US$10,000 and five First Prize awards of $1000 in each of the following categories: drama, comedy, documentary, animation and experimental. Twenty-five finalists will be showcased on PlanetOut throughout the month of June for an Audience Awards competition. The awards will be announced and presented at a special Queer Short Movie Awards ceremony and program at Outfest: The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.

MadCat International Women's Film Festival features independent and experimental works by women from around the world. MadCat is committed to showcasing women film and videomakers who challenge the use of sound and image and explore notions of visual storytelling. This year Madcat is embarking on its first touring festival with two programs of short films: Lost In Translation and Interior Worlds. All lengths and genres will be considered. Formats: Preview: 1/2" NTSC (VHS) standard preferred; Exhibition: 16mm, Super 8 film, VHS and 3/4". Entry Fees range from US$10.00 to $30.00 per entry (pay whatever you can afford!). No fee is requested for international entrants.

The Second Annual Ajijic Festival de Cine is inviting both students as well as professionals to submit their entries in the categories of animation, documentaries, independent and studio produced feature films, short subjects and screenplays. "The emphasis of this festival as it was with our inaugural effort last year, will be the celebration, discovery and recognition of talent from around the world," said James E. Lloyd, Chairman of the Festival's Board of Directors. For initial consideration by the Festival Jury, works must be received by July 15, 2000 and should be submitted on NTSC VHS video. Entries selected for inclusion in the festival will be screened in either 35mm or NTSC VHS video. Entry forms in English, Espa

Hollywood Shorts' 2nd Annual Animation Festival is holding a one-day festival to highlight animation shorts. Hollywood Shorts is a monthly short film festival that features shorts from the film festival circuit for the established Los Angeles film and television community. Submissions to the animation festival must be no longer than 20 minutes and sent in VHS/NTSC format for review. Both traditional and 3D animation is welcome. There is a US$10 entry fee and checks should be made out to "Kimberley Browning (HS)."

Tuesday, September 5