DIGIFEST IS ON THE MOVE FOR 2004
Toronto, Ontario: The Design Exchange (DX) is pleased to announce the
dates and partners for the third annual digifest, Canada

Squeeze Productions and The Toronto Animated Image Society present the Animators' Pub. The event offers an opportunity to meet friends and colleagues in the animation scene for conversation and some drinks. All animators are welcome and admission is free. The gathering will take place the The Bishop and the Belcher Pub, Queen Vic Room, basement, 361 Queen Street West, Toronto from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. For more information, e-mail: Tais@bellnet.ca or visit http://www.awn.com/tais.

The Toronto Animated Image Society will be hosting its annual Holiday Party. Everyone is invited to come and celebrate the season. Organizers are asking everyone to bring food and drink to share. TAIS Animators' Co-op is located at 37 Hanna Avenue, Suite 231, Toronto. Enter the building by door 5A, south side of building and walk up to the second floor. The party will run from 6:00 to 9:30 pm and admission is free. For more information, e-mail: Tais@bellnet.ca or visit http://www.awn.com/tais.

Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for children presents the best of international and Canadian films for children and youth aged 4-18 including shorts, features, documentaries, live-action and animation. Sprockets is a competitive festival and is pleased to host a number of guests including filmmakers, programmers and buyers each year. Sprockets promotes contacts between industry professionals to assist in the development of the role cinema plays in the education and enrichment of young people. Sprockets Awards include two audience awards: one for favorite feature and one for favorite animation, and three young people's jury awards, two for feature films and one for short films. There is no fee to submit work. The festival also screens work created by students grades 3 through 12. Submissionsare viewed by a panel of experts and finalists have their films screened during Sprockets. For more information, visit http://www.bell.ca/sprockets.

The 2004 World of Comedy International Film Festival celebrates its second year at Toronto

The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF 04) is North America's oldest and largest animation festival. The festival is broken up into four umbrella categories. The first is for animated feature films. The New Media Competition covers Animation Short Made for the Internet, Internet series, interactive animation and "Machinima," films made with video game software. Commissioned Films Competition covers educational, scientific or industrial film, advertising film, station-program identification, music video, television special, television pilot, television series for adults and television series for children. Independent Short Films Competition covers narrative short film under 35 minutes, non-narrative short film under 35 minutes, first film and films made for children. The changes for 2004 include an expanded range of new media categories -- growing from one generic to four sub-categories -- and additional TV categories. Traditionally shown out of competition as a program enhancement, the feature film category was first introduced at the last OIAF held in 2002, and is expected to draw even more entries this time around. Overall, a record 1,700 entries were received for OIAF 02, the most entries ever received by any international animation festival. Approximately 100 more films, selected from an anticipated 1,500+ entries, will be shown during the festival's showcase programs. The International Short Showcase, the International TV Showcase, the Canadian Short Showcase, the Canadian TV Showcase and the first-ever Kids Animation Showcase will comprise this out-of-competition series. Founded in 1976, and held biennially ever since, the OIAF attracts international animators, producers, broadcasters, and enthusiasts to Ottawa to view films entered in and out of competition, and attend special screenings and workshops that ponder the current state and future of animation. For more information, visit www.animationfestival.ca or www.awn.com/ottawa, e-mail info@animationfestival.ca or call (613) 232-8769.

Sheridan College Faculty member Tony Tarantini will be running long-term workshop(s) called "The heArt of Animation Workshops" at TAIS. These workshops are designed to assist animators in planning and creating an animated film. Tony worked for many years at Nelvana Animation, where, from generating conceptual art to directing, he has a keen insight into the process of making animated films. This information meeting is open to anyone who is interested in taking these workshops or just feels curious about them. Tony Tarantini will be doing the presentation which will include a breakdown of the proposed workshop, samples of work expected to be generated and various films produced by local independent filmmakers. The event will take place at 7:30 pm at the TAIS Centre, 37 Hanna Ave, Suite 231, Toronto.

All members are urged to attend TAIS' March General Members Meeting. Tons of programming and very important TAIS security issues will be discussed. Refreshments will be served. The meeting will begin at 7:30 pm at the TAIS Centre, 37 Hanna Ave, Suite 231, Toronto.

The TAIS Annual General Meeting (AGM) will feature reports from TAIS president and treasurer. Members will elect a new Board of Directors. The meeting will begin at 7:00 pm at the TAIS Centre, 37 Hanna Ave, Suite 231, Toronto.

At 6:30 pm, Peter Lynch, a non-conformist in both style and content, will screen his highly-acclaimed cult classic, PROJECT GRIZZLY. Recognized internationally by film critics, and even parodied this year on an episode THE SIMPSONS, PROJECT GRIZZLY is one of the NFB's most popular films. NFB Master Classes are a special industry event. Invitees, members and interested public are encouraged to reserve their seating in advance. Admission is free of charge. For more information contact NFB Mediatheque at 150 John St., Toronto, tel.: (416) 973-3012, or Web: www.nfb.ca/mediatheque.