The San Luis Obispo Festival and its George Sidney Independent Film Competition showcases art in independent filmmaking. The competition features categories for features, documentaries, animation and shorts (films less than 60 minutes). An award of US$500 is given in each category for first place, and second and third place winners receive an award of merit.

The CMJ FilmFest coincides with the CMJ Music Marathon and MusicFest and highlights the synergy between the moving image and music. The film festival showcases independent films that creatively and effectively use music in film. Awards are given to best feature or documentary, best short and best use of music in film. The event is sponsored and organized by the ChangeMusic Network.

The 43rd International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film helps shed light on two overlooked areas of film production -- animation and documentaries. The festival has become known for featuring many hybrid films called "animadocs." Besides the competition, the event holds special programs and retrospectives. Gold and Silver Dove prizes, with cash awards, will be handed out.

Objectif Image Saint Gely presents the 15th annual Saint Gely Short Film Festival. The festival's categories are documentary, fictional-dramatic, animation and experimental. Past festival chairmen have been Jean Pierre Mocky in 1998 and Claude Pinoteau in 1999.

The National Film Board of Canada is holding an open house of their new facilities. The event gives the public a chance to meet the filmmakers and staff. The NFB will feature screenings, studio tours and receptions on Monday from 2-6 pm and on Tuesday from 10 am - 5 pm. Screening facilities will be available for visitors to screen their own work as well.

The 4th Annual Short Pictures International Film Festival (SPIFF) is a biennial event that showcases the best in short film. Categories include live-action fiction, animation, documentaries, spec commercials, and digital and experimental works (15 minutes or less). Past filmmakers' works have been selected by Cannes Film Festival, Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, HBO/Cinemax, Independent Features Channel and World Animation Celebration. In 1998, Corky Quakenbush's CLOPS III won the animation category. A portion of SPIFF's proceeds are donated to either domestic or international children's charities.

Tuesday, September 5

The Chicago Underground Film Festival is designed to showcase the defiantly independent filmmaker. The festival's mission is to promote films and videos that dissent radically in form, technique or content from the "indie" mainstream presenting works that challenge and transcend commercial expectations. The festival will award cash prizes to films and videos selected by the jury as best in these categories: Feature, Short, Documentary, Animation, Experimental, Audience Choice and "made in Chicago." The Chicago Underground Film Fund has been established to provide completion funds for films that are in keeping with the festival's defiantly independent and deliberately scandalous spirit. Recipients are awarded grants of US$500-$2,000 in cash and services. The festival screening committee will select the films and videos. Notification of entries making the festival will be before July 1, 2000. Screening dates and times will be announced by July 15.

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.

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.