Acacia Research Group is holding the third annual Emerging 3D Applications & Opportunities conference. Industry leaders and Acacia analysts will discuss the most important issues facing the 3D segment in 2004 and beyond such as, what new entertainment applications are on the horizon, and what opportunities exist in the industrial, manufacturing, military, and government sectors. This executive forum will give attendees the opportunity to learn about some of the advances in new 3D applications and technology being developed for handhelds, cell phones, and the Web -- applications that could very well invigorate the 3D software industry and significantly expand opportunities for toolmakers, content developers, graphics chip makers, consumer and industrial device makers, operators, and others. For more information visit www.acaciarg.com/products/events/emrg3d2004/index.htm.

Annual Conference of Digital Media/Animation for educators from all higher education institutes and professional training organizations, publishers and other related companies in China to discuss topics of education and training programs, textbooks, industry trends, police, theory and technology of the field.

Organizers:
Beijing Normal University Institute of Digital Media
Beijing University Department Digital Arts
Tsinghua University SJC New Media Center
Beijing Film Academy School of Animation
Beijing Broadcast Institute School of Animation
Zhejiang University National Key Lab of CG
ACM SIGGRAPH Beijing Chapter

MacWorld Conference & Expo is the most comprehensive Macintosh OS event. For 19 years, event has brought together the Mac-user community to learn from the extensive conference programs, network with peers, hear about the leading solutions, test-drive the newest products and services, demo the latest applications, gain recognition, purchase technologies designed to improve your business and your life, party and socialize. At MacWorld Conference & Expo, attendees benefit from the largest, independent Macintosh education and training program in the world, featuring six compelling curriculums for whatever your interests and skill levels. The conference starts on Jan. 5 with the expo following on Jan. 6. For more information, visit http://www.macworldexpo.com.

Maya is the next stage in 3D animation and effects software. This course will provide an introduction to using Maya to create computer animations. Students will be given a comprehensive introduction to the various components of the Maya software package; including Modeling, Animating, Rendering, and Lighting. An introduction to Maya's MEL scripting language will also be given. Academy Award winning Maya 3D animation and effects software is at the forefront of technological innovation. Its development has been inspired by the film and video artists, computer game developers and design professionals who use it daily to create engaging digital imagery, animation and visual effects. Are you ready?... SEEING IS BELIEVING Dates: Wednesdays 6:00-9:00pm, 1/14-3/17 Location: San Diego Supercomputer Center, UCSD Campus Instructor: Steve Cutchin Ph.D. Price: $1295 For more information, visit www.dac.ucsd.edu or call (858) 622-5740. mmweiss@ucsd.edu

The 2004 Sundance Film Festival is the premiere independent film festival in the U.S. This year, the festival is introducing the inaugural Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking. International short films under 30 minutes in length are eligible for the prize, to be selected by the Short Film Jury. Films must have less than 50% U.S. financing to qualify as an international submission. Founded by Robert Redford in 1981, Sundance Institute is dedicated to the development of artists of independent vision and the exhibition of their new work. Since its inception, the Institute has grown into an internationally recognized resource for filmmakers and other artists. Sundance Institute conducts national and international labs for filmmakers, screenwriters, composers, writers and theater artists. The annual Sundance Film Festival, a major program of Sundance Institute, is held each January. The 2004 Sundance Film Festival will be held January 15-25 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sundance, Utah. Below is a list of the various submission deadlines:

International Short Films: August 15, 2003
U.S. Short Films & Sundance Online Film Festival: September 12, 2003
U.S. and International Features: October 3, 2003

For more information contact the Institute at 8857 West Olympic Blvd., Suite 200, Beverly Hills, CA 90211-3605, tel: (310) 360-1981, e-mail: programming@sundance.org, or Web: www.sundance.org.

The 2004 Bangkok International Film Festival, the official film festival endorsed by the Royal Thai Government, will feature an estimated 150 films, special events, seminars and panels, as well as a competition in 9 different categories and the presentation of the second annual Golden Kinnaree Awards, the festival's award for excellence in International Filmmaking. One of the new highlights of festival will be its focus on ASEAN Cinema. This ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations) section will feature films from the 10 South East Asian countries -- Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. This will be a competitive program with a Golden Kinnaree to be awarded for Best ASEAN Film. For additional festival information, contact the Los Angeles Festival office at tel: (310) 272-1167, TAT headquarters in Bangkok at tel: (662) 250-5500 ext. 1575-78 or visit www.bangkokfilm.org.

Astonishingly, this year Women In Animation is 10 years old. The L.A. Chapter wants not only to commemorate this important anniversary, but to help steer the organization into its second decade. So it is calling it January General Meeting:

Artists Helping Artists (AHA!) and THE CREATIVE LINE magazine will be holding an AHA! artists gatherings. This AHA gathering is free. The meeting is a safe space where artists, musicians, writers, arts educators and community arts leaders can make new contacts and share and align their creative visions and projects. It

The annual Afternoon of Remembrance, co-sponsored by the Animation Guild, ASIFA Hollywood and Women in Animation, is a non-denominational celebration of departed friends from our animation community. This year's Afternoon of Remembrance will honor Kennard Betts, Virginia Bogart, Mildred Bourne, Jameson Brewer, David Brown, Helen Cromelin, Joe Denton, Jules Engel, Lillian Evans, Fred Freiberger, Lilliane Girard, Jane Gonzales, Margaret Hale, Lee Halpern, Loretta High, Chris Ishii, Bill Keil, Phyllis Larson, Jim Logan, Bob Matz, Lea McDonald, Kevin Oakley, Dale Oliver, Joan Orbison, Louis Patton, John Perry, Margaret Peters, Virgil Raddatz, Maurice Rapf, Patricia Rey, Nelda Ridley, Zack Schwartz, Dea Shirley, William Southwood, Gary Sperling, Louis Tate, Carl Urbano, Lionel Wilson, and Irene Wyman. The Afternoon of Remembrance will take place on Saturday, January 31, 2004, at the Hollywood Heritage Museum (Lasky-DeMille Barn), 2100 N. Highland (across from Hollywood Bowl), in Hollywood, CA. Food and refreshments will be served at 2 pm, with memoriams starting at 3 pm. The Afternoon of Remembrance is free of charge and is open to all; no RSVPs necessary.

The Game Initiative will be holding a mini-conference for students and professionals who are eager to enter the gaming industry. The event is designed for artists, programmers and designers. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with industry insiders, including top recruiter Mary-Margaret.com, hiring managers as well as industry vets. Speakers include Chris Down of dwango studios, Jon Grande of Microsoft Game Studios, John Feil of Microsoft, Michael McHale of Konami Digital Ent., Robin McShaffry of Mary-Margaret.com, Mitzi McGilvray of Tapwave, John Mundy of Namco Hometek, Cory Ondrejka of Linden Lab, Christopher V. Sherman of The Game Initiative and Mike Swanson of LucasArts Ent. The cost in $35 in advance or $45 at the door. The event takes place from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm at 600 Townsend Building located in the South Market Area at the corner of 7th and Townsend Streets. For more information, visit www.thegameinitiative.com.