The First Annual FilmMakers' Expo will run tandem with the AFI Fest for two days at the historic ArcLight Cinemas/Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. Approximately 70 exhibitors and 10 panels & workshops are currently being scheduled for the two day event. This expo is one of the few of its kind - a unique opportunity to connect with a mix of burgeoning and experienced independent filmmakers who are looking to connect with vendors & services in the trade. It is also a "classroom," where technology, technique and the incentive to "imagine" will proffer up unique tools and profitable contacts. Animation software, unusual and underused techniques, like rotomation, and the ins-and-outs of the gaming industry and bringing games to film, are just a few of the topics that will be covered in the panels! On-line attendance registration is free at www.filmmakersexpo.com. The cost is $15.00 at the door.

C21 Media's inTELEgence is designed to bring program makers together with program financiers and broadcasters to create new partnerships and a better understanding of collaborative international television business.

The San Francisco International Film Festival, committed to celebrating the art of the moving image, has presented the best in world cinema since 1957. Now, the 15-day festival presents 200 films from 50 countries and reaches an engaged audience of nearly 95,000 with screenings in San Francisco, Berkeley and Palo Alto. The festival highlights current trends in international film and video production with an emphasis on work that has not yet secured U.S. distribution. First features by emerging filmmakers are eligible for the SKYY Prize, which includes a $10,000 cash award and was established in 1997 by the Festival and premier sponsor SKYY Vodka to recognize a director whose film exhibits a unique artistic sensibility. The Golden Gate Awards is the competitive section for documentaries, shorts, animation, experimental, youth-produced, and television works. Juries award cash prizes ranging up to $5,000 in 10 of the 14 categories. The winning short film automatically qualifies for an entry into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science

The Reel to Real International Film Festival for Youth is an annual, competitive, international event. A non-profit media arts and education society, Reel to Real is dedicated to showing the best in culturally diverse, non-stereotypical and humanistic programming for children and youth. Reel to Real International Film Festival for Youth seeks films that are imaginative, evocative, innovative, inspiring, entertaining and suitable for children, 6 and up, and youth, 13 and up. For more information, visit www.r2rfestival.org.

The 11th Annual St. Louis International Film Festival continues to bring the U.S. Plains the best in films from around the globe. The event includes screenings of films in competition and various sidebar events.

New York International Children

Metasin Productions is organizing the first Metacal Experiment. Artists can enter short films and videos; audio and silent films; animated and live- action pieces, all genres. The experiment will include live music, short films, standup comedy, visual art and dance. It is also looking for additional paintings, sculptures, drawings, individuals or groups wishing to perform original dance, comics, drummers/percussionists, bass players and Lighting designers. All events will be held at Avery Auditorium, Pitzer College, 1050 North Mills Ave, Claremont, California 91711. For more information, call Zach or Cass at (323) 223-6025 or e-mail: Cepstein@Berklee.Net.

Since 1981, the annual Black Maria Film and Video festival has been fulfilling its mission to advocate, exhibit and reward the poetic, expressive, and insightful vision of independent film and video makers. The festival is known for its national public exhibition program, which features a variety of bold contemporary works drawn from the annual collection of 50 award winning films and videos. Over 70 institutions welcome the Black Maria Festival, and each individual program is custom tailored, ensuring an accessible and meaningful experience for varied audiences at theaters, museums, colleges, libraries, film societies, microcinemas, and community organizations from coast to coast. There are no category restrictions, and the Black Maria is recognized by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as an Academy Award qualifying festival for short films (documentary, animation, and live-action).

Hosted by Alias, SIGGRAPH LA will be holding a

Wizard World Texas is a pop-culture expo featuring some of the biggest names and companies in comic books, toys, anime, manga, video games, film and television. Wizard World events are produced by Wizard Conventions Inc., a sister company of Wizard Entertainment Group, which publishes a number of magazines for the collectibles market, including INQUEST GAMER, TOYFARE, ANIME INSIDER and the comics publication WIZARD. For more information visit http://www.wizarduniverse.com/conventions/texas.cfm.