Stop-motion, 3D, claymation, Flash or flip book. If it's animated, you could win $2,500. Beginning in September 2008, Super U and TAC.tv (a.k.a Tetes a claques) will be presenting quarterly animation contests. A jury, including TAC.tv creator Michel Beaudet will be awarding a prize for the best of the best at the end of August 2009. The winning film in the first round will get $2,500, be featured on www.TAC.tv and have the chance for broadcast on Super Channel. Contest entries are being accepted until October 30, 2008 so check out the contest today. For more information, head to http://www.superu.ca/contests/view/42. TAC.TV is former ad man Michel Beaudet's original Canadian production of Web-based short, animated clips. Through a unique combination of claymation and video that superimposes live action on dolls and clay, the absurdly funny storylines feature a wide cast of unforgettable characters. Since its launch in mid-August 2006, the website www.tac.tv has garnered 520 million page-views and attracts more than a million fans each month. Super U.ca is the online venue to watch the latest Canadian short films. Viewers enjoy high quality content, qualified by the viewers themselves. Filmmakers enjoy on-site contests and exposure to broadcasters like Super U's partner Super Channel, Canada's national pay television network. As Super U grows, filmmakers will share in the advertising revenues generated on the site.

The Toronto International Film Festival is one of the premiere film festivals in the world. The event features many debuts of films that will go on to be box-office and critical successes. This major industry event is a place where studios test their films and seek out independent features.

Programs in 2008 include Wavelengths, Sprockets Family Zone and Midnight Madness.

The Telluride Film Festival is one of the premiere independent film festivals in the U.S. The event is open to professional and nonprofessional filmmakers working in all aesthetic disciplines; documentary, narrative, animation, experimental, etc. Features and shorts, of all styles and lengths are eligible for consideration, provided that they are new works and will remain unseen by the public until the event. Selected short films will play either with a feature or as part of specially selected programs. For complete information, visit www.telluridefilmfestival.org/.

Animated films include animated documentaries CHUCK JONES: MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD from John Canemaker and WALTZ WITH BASHIR from Ari Folman.

IFA is one of the largest consumer electronics trade shows in the world. It combines innovation and the technology of tomorrow with business sales and entertainment. According to published statistics, more than 1,200 companies from 32 countries exhibited at IFA 2007, covering a net space of more than 103,000 square meters. More than 6,600 press attended IFA 2007, including 1,371 international journalists from 62 countries. Sales at the 2007 show totaled 2.75 billion Euros. The number of trade visitors attending the show in 2007 jumped 7.5% to 101,358. The overall number of attendees jumped 5% to a total of 223,000 -- making IFA nearly 60% larger than the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held each year in Las Vegas. For more information, visit http://www.ifa-berlin.com.

The first-ever Video Game Showdown will pit the most skilled POKEMON DIAMOND and POKEMON PEARL players from the United States and Japan in a battle to determine the ultimate champion. The Pokemon Video Game Showdown will take place August 16 in Orlando, Florida and will feature 32 of the most talented players from each nation.

To win a seat in the Pokemon Video Game Showdown, players must compete and win at one of two Qualifier Tournaments taking place in Los Angeles and New York on July 12 and July 19, respectively. A total of 256 players in each city will battle for 16 paid trips for two to Orlando to compete in the Pokemon Video Game Showdown. To enter for a chance to play in the Qualifier Tournaments, players must register and complete a Pokemon online quiz at http://showdown.pokemon.com.

More information, including prizes, tournament locations, times, and rules, can be found by visiting http://showdown.pokemon.com.

The Scriptapalooza Screenwriting Competition was founded in 1998, and has generated heat, publicity and a reputation that demands respect. Scriptapalooza, Inc., along with its various divisions, was created to nurture talent and create opportunities. Storytellers come from all over the world and from all walks of life, because of the simple fact that everyone has a story. Scriptapalooza's goal: to seek out that storyteller and honor their script with a grand prize of $10,000. Each year dozens of production companies and literary representatives sign on as participants to read our winners, resulting in many scripts being optioned, sold or bought outright. The early deadline is Jan. 7, 2008, the first deadline is March 5 and the final deadline is April 15. For more information, visit www.scriptapalooza.com.

TASI Viewers Choice Awards (3 Categories):

Professional Short Films (TRT 10 minutes)
Student Short Films
Professional Ad Commercials

Films shortlisted by professionals and awards decided by live audience vote.

DVD format -- no entry fee
Content created after April 2007.

BlueCat Screenplay Competition offers entrants written feedback on their scripts. All screenplays entered by Dec. 1 will receive feedback by Jan. 1. Screenplays submitted by Jan. 2 will receive their analysis by Feb. 1. All early-bird submissions will be eligible for resubmission prior to the March 3 deadline for a reduced entry fee of $35. Since 1998, the BlueCat Screenplay Competition's mission of developing the undiscovered screenwriter continues to reach more writers every year, with BlueCat having the largest cash prize for a screenplay contest offering feedback to all writers. The winner will receive $10,000, with the four finalists receiving $1,500. Quarter-finalists will be announced July 1, 2008. Semi-finalists will be announced Aug. 1, and five finalists will be announced Aug. 8. The winner will be announced Aug. 15. For more information, visit www.bluecatscreenplay.com or www.myspace.com/bluecatscreenplay.

Hiroshima International Animation Film Festival is a biannual event celebrating the best in animated film. Created in 1985, the festival celebrates love and peace through the art of animation, under the endorsement of ASIFA and according to its rules. The festival includes competitions, special programs, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, etc. The festival will begin accepting entries Feb. 1, 2008. Imogen Sutton, Producer/Director of Richard Williams' THE ANIMATOR'S SURVIVAL KIT - ANIMATED will be presenting the DVD box-set and the animated logo which, is being shown in the "Best of the World" program at the festival. For more information, visit www.urban.ne.jp/home/hiroanim/.

The call for entries for the Malescorto International Short Film Festival, the festival in Val Grande National Park, is open.

This year the competition is divided into three categories with eight money prizes from 500 to 2,500 Euros.

Short film types accepted include fiction, live action, animation and documentary.

Entry deadline: June 30 2008

For info and entry form: www.malescorto.it