Bra!nCamp is a high-level, cross-media conference specifically geared to major players in children's entertainment. Attending the event are senior executives, creative forces and movers and shakers in the kids' and family entertainment industry. The event includes eight presentations over two days, along with food, fun and social events. The atmosphere is loose and relaxed, no suits, no ties. Bra!nCamp is an intimate event and attendance is limited. Speakers and attendees interact during presentations, during breaks and during social events. Linda Simensky, svp of original animation, Cartoon Network and Nancy Kanter, vp programming, Disney Channel will be speakers at this year's event. For more information and registration materials e-mail: BrainCamp@aol.com or visit www.braincamp.com.

IFP/Chicago will be holding the 12th Annual Independent Filmmakers Conference, a weekend-long event featuring panels and seminars about timely and important independent filmmaking topics presented by renowned filmmakers. A major conference highlight, IFP/Chicago's Production Fund, an in-kind donation of equipment and services valued at $85,000, is considered the biggest grant for independent filmmakers in the Midwest. The 2003 Production Fund recipient, Karen Friedberg, will showcase her completed film, THE KING OF THE TANGO, a coming-of-age tale based on Joe Meno's debut novel, TENDER AS HELLFIRE. The 2004 Production Fund deadline is September 19, 2003. The recipient for the 2004 Fund will be announced on Saturday, November 1, during the Flyover Zone Short Film Festival. For more information visit www.ifp.org.

The FilmMakers

The Toronto Animated Image Society is welcoming animators to show their animated films at our annual open screening. Everyone is welcome to show their work. Formats available will be 16mm, 35mm,Mini-DV, VHS, BETA and DVD. Beginning at 8:00 pm, the screening will take place at the NFB Mediatheque, 150 John Street. For more information call (416) 533-7889.

The Asolo Art Film Festival presents 363 films representing 31 countries. The event is dedicated to highlighting the art of cinema and increasing the cultural role of Asolo. The Asolo Art Film Festival will take place in Asolo, at the Teatro E. Duse, and Montebelluna, at the Cinema Italia Eden. The organizing body, under the artistic direction of Anna Maria Cerrato, has set the end of July for listing the definitive selection of works to be admitted to the competition. For more information contact the festival at: tel.: +39 0423 520455, fax: +39 0423 951320, e-mail: ufficiostampa@asolofilmfestival.it or Web: www.asolofilmfestival.it.

If you missed the SIGGRAPH Conference in San Diego this year, you're in luck! San Francisco SIGGRAPH is bringing some of the conference to you! San Francisco SIGGRAPH Presents: The SIGGRAPH Conference Encore and Volunteers Party When: Wednesday, September 24th, 2003 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm Where: The Art Institute of California, San Francisco 1170 Market Street (at U.N. Plaza) San Francisco, CA 94102 Main Tel. (415) 865-0198 Toll-Free Tel. (888) 493-3261 http://www.aisf.artinstitutes.edu/aboutUs_directions.asp Admission: Free (for members and non-members) RSVP - Please register at: http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=53447 Program: Join us for a SIGGRAPH Conference Encore followed by a Volunteer's Party with Screening excerpts from this year's Electronic Theater. Discover the newest cutting edge and over-the-edge computer graphics projects presented at this year's Ozone. Speakers Include: - Carlo Sequin: UCB Professor. and exhibiting sculptor - Shirley Shor: MFA candidate from SFSU in Conceptual and Information Art - Kevin Cain, Casondra Sobieralski: Digital projects in Greece and Egypt - Charles Ostman: Nanopioneer extraordinaire - Michael Mascucci: EZTV video artist And more! After the speaker presentation join us for a meet and greet time. Get Involved! If you have an interest in volunteering with the SF SIGGRAPH chapter, this is a great opportunity to find out what we're all about. Volunteering for a professional organization like SF S

The Anchorage Film Festival

California State University, Northridge, is holding a Manga/Anime Lecture series. The events are free and open to the public. Lectures will be on Wednesdays 6:00

The Mazatlan International Film Festival will take place at the historic Angela Peralta Theater, The festival is produced by Promotora La Vida es Bella and sponsored by the city of Mazatlan, Pueblo Bonito Hotels & Resorts and the government of the state of Sinaloa. The festival will feature an official competition, with an international jury of filmmakers, producer, and actors awarding prizes to Best Film (full length), Best Film (short), Best Film (animated short), Best Actress, Best Actor and Best Director. Ten films will compete for Best Film, 30 for Best Short Film and the festivities will include a video exhibition highlighting independent filmmakers, communication and video professionals. Additionally, the Vision America segment will showcase recent work from the American continent. Special prizes will be announced throughout the submissions process. Other awards presented will include: the Film and Press Award for Best Director, Town Hall Mazatlan Award for Best Artistic, Educational or Cultural Broadcasting Video, Audience Award for Best Film, the Honorary Pedro Infante Award, chosen by the Organization Committee presented to an honorable representative of the Festival spirit, in acknowledgment of his talent, work and contribution to the seventh art development, and the Best Film Script Award for the best participating script from the script workshop that will take place during the Festival. Workshops, conferences, seminars, roundtables, concerts, open-air screenings and a closing night film music performance by the Sinaloa Symphony Orchestra will round out the festivities. For more information visit www.mazatlanfilmfest.com.

ASIFA-Hollywood is currently accepting entries for the 31st Annual Annie Awards. Deadline to receive entries is Friday, October 3, 2003. Every year, ASIFA-Hollywood, the Los Angeles area-based branch of the International Animated Film Society, honors the best in film, television, game and Internet animation with the Annie Awards. The awards ceremony will take place at the Alex Theater in Glendale, California on Saturday, February 7, 2004.

The Annie Awards honor overall excellence as well as individual achievement in areas ranging from production design, character animation and effects animation to storyboarding, writing, music and voice acting. Entries submitted for consideration must be from productions that originally aired, were exhibited in an animation festival or commercially released in their country of origin between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2003.

All rules, category information and entry forms are available online at www.asifa-hollywood.org or by contacting ASIFA-Hollywood at (818) 842-8330. Final nominations will be announced by ASIFA-Hollywood in January 2004.

Founded in 1972 by ASIFA member and veteran voice talent June Foray, the Annie Awards have grown in scope and stature for the past three decades. Today, ASIFA-Hollywood supports a range of animation activities and preservation efforts through its membership. Today, there are ASIFA chapters in nearly thirty countries worldwide.