BrainCamp is the only high-level, cross-media conference specifically geared to major players in children's entertainment. BrainCamp is a chance to relax with peers and explore all sides of our industry, gather ideas, and recharge your batteries. BraincCamp attracts senior executives, creative forces and movers and shakers in the kids' and family entertainment industry. There are eight presentations over two days, along with food, fun and social events. The atmosphere is loose and relaxed, no suits, no ties. BrainCamp is an intimate event; attendance is limited. There are no "panels," there is no stage separating speakers from attendees. Speakers and attendees interact during presentations, during breaks and during social events. For more information, visit www.braincamp.com.

The Academy of Machinima Arts & Sciences (AMAS) has opened the call for submissions for the 2008 Machinima Film Festival, which will be held Saturday, November 1, 2008, at Eyebeam, a multi-disciplinary art and technology center in New York City. Filmmakers interested in submitting their work for the 2008 Machinima Awards ("The Mackies") should do so by Friday, Sept. 12. As in years past, the 2008 Machinima Festival will feature panel discussions with prominent machinima filmmakers from around the world discussing this new form of cinema which often uses popular video games like HALO 3, WORLD OF WARCRAFT and THE SIMS as source material for entirely new and often subversive works. The main highlight of the 2008 Machinima Festival is the awards ceremony honoring the best new machinima movies produced in 17 categories, beginning at 8 p.m. This year also sees the introduction of new award categories, notably "Best Long Format" recognizing the increasing number of feature-length productions, and "Best Game Studio Machinima" honoring realtime cutscenes and cinematics found in today's next-generation titles. Hailed as the "Sundance for the Video Game Set" by MTV News, the Machinima Festival evolved from its humble beginnings as an adjunct to QuakeCon in Mesquite, Texas in 2002, into the field's definitive celebration and showcase. The event, which is organized and produced by AMAS, consistently draws hundreds of machinima professionals, enthusiasts and critics, who gather to explore the works of modern innovators, network and discuss the future of the industry. Detailed submission requirements and instructions can be found online at www.festival.machinima.org. Interested parties may also contact AMAS at: ress@machinima.org. WHERE: Eyebeam, 540 W. 21st Street, (between 10th and 11th Avenues), New York, New York, 10011 USA. WHEN: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. (Awards Ceremony at 8 p.m.) PHONE: (212) 937-6580

The Bitfilm Festival for digital film and new media shows films that use digital technology in a creative and innovative way. There are six categories: * 3D Space: Computer generated 3D animations. * FX Mix: Digitally composed hybrids, mixing live-action, effects and animation. * 64K Demos: Audiovisual programs that work with a PC's processor and videocard. * Flash: Linear films and interactive works made with Macromedia Flash. * Machinima: Films that are animated in realtime using game environments. * Micromovies: Films of max. three minutes that are custom-made for mobile devices like cell phones, PDAs, etc. There will be a total of 45,000 Euros in prize money awarded. There is no entry fee. More information and submissions can be found at www.bitfilm-festival.org.

The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF 05) 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 videogame 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. 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.

Now in its third year, the Mexico International Film Festival is committed to bringing the best independent cinema from around the world to Mexico in an effort to maintain and enrich the country’s film culture. The festival is held in the serene and beautiful town of Rosarito, situated on the Baja coast, where the sun shines all year with cooling sea breezes, glorious clear skies, and the crystal azure Pacific as a backdrop.

THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM animated short, a stop-motion adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's classic short story, directed by animation veteran Marc Lougee and exec produced by animation and vfx icon Ray Harryhausen, is slated to screen over the TriCity Comic Con weekend, October 11, 2008. The 3rd Annual Tri-City Independent Fan Film Festival takes place Oct. 11, 2008 in conjunction with Tri-City Comic Con (TC3). The creation of TC3 is for the promotion of art, media, literature, gaming, and imagination, especially in the Science Fiction, Fantasy and Comic genres. We support the education of the general public in these areas by hosting events, fan-run conventions, and bringing guest professionals to the community and into the local schools to educate and encourage future artists and artisans. The event includes appearances by comic book artists, media guests, exhibitor hall and dealers room, independent film festival and assorted gaming events. Event to be held at Red Lion Inn, 2525 North 20th Avenue, Pasco, Washington, 99301 Telephone: (509) 547-0701 Website: redlion.rdln.com

The American International Toy Fair is the largest toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere. More than 1,500 manufacturers, distributors, importers and sales agents from 30 countries showcase their toy and entertainment products. From classic toys to interactive entertainment and everything in between, it has it all. Products include action figures and dolls, games and puzzles, bicycles, tricycles and ride-ons, radio-controlled vehicles, infant and preschool toys, cars, trucks and trains, puppets and plush, computer software and videogames, playground and sporting equipment, Halloween and Christmas items, books, stationery, party supplies, and much more. More information can be found at www.toyassociation.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Toy_Fair.

The Cries for Peace competition invites you to enter your pictures or short film for the chance of winning an Award and recognition for your work. The competition aims to collect positive expressions of peace. Selected images collected will be showcased as part of the London Week of Peace 2008 and the winner will be chosen by a public vote August 15-September 9, 2008. The competition aims to be a positive response to the far too many unfortunate stories in the media about young people and crime, particularly violent crime leading to fatalities.

Entry is free. Films should be no longer than 90 seconds. Films shot on cell phones and digital cameras are welcome. The winner will be revealed at the Peace Awards Dinner on September 18.

Cascade ACM SIGGRAPH, Oregon and Southwest Washington's local SIGGRAPH chapter, today announced that celebrated professor of anatomy and locomotion, Dr. Stuart Sumida will lecture on the utilization of animal and human biology within digital effects processes. Dr. Sumida's lecture, entitled, "From Stones and Bones to Balloons and Toons, Articulating the Anatomical Sciences with Animation and Digital Effects," will include examples from his past film projects to highlight the use of various artist tools, and show the importance of biological process and sizing details in digital effects creation.The event will take place at the Portland Community College (PCC), Cascade Campus on Tuesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. A biology professor at California State University San Bernardino, Dr. Sumida has been an anatomical consultant on more than 30 feature films for companies such as Walt Disney Feature Animation, DreamWorks, Warner Brothers, Rhythm & Hues, SONY Pictures Imageworks and Pixar. He began his career working on BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and THE LION KING, and continued with MULAN, the live action versions of 101 and 102 DALMATIANS, TARZAN, HARRY POTTER, LILO AND STITCH, SHREK II, MADAGASCAR, CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, SURF'S UP, and RATATOUILLE, among others. Currently, Dr. Sumida is acting as the anatomical consultant on KUNG FU PANDA (DreamWorks) and BOLT (Walt Disney Feature Animation). Dr. Sumida received his Ph.D. from UCLA in 1987, having previously taught in the Department of Anatomy and the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago. He is a comparative anatomist and paleontologist who specializes in the biomechanics and evolution of locomotion. He is the author of three books and numerous scientific papers, and his paleontological research has taken him throughout North America and Europe with the support of many museums, the National Geographic Society and NATO. The evening will begin with a networking and social hour beginning at 6 p.m. in the lobby of the PCC Cascade Moriarty Arts Building (www.pcc.edu/pcc/dmal/cascademap.htm).Light refreshments will be served. Dr. Sumida's lecture will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to RSVP to cascadesiggraph@gmail.com for planning purposes. The PCC Cascade campus is close to downtown Portland, and parking is available across the street in the PCC parking lot for a small fee. Free parking passes will be available only to respondents who RSVP and request a parking pass by noon, March 24. A map and directions to the PCC Cascade Campus is available at: http://www.pcc.edu/pcc/dma/cascademap.htm. This and other Cascade ACM SIGGRAPH meetings are free to Cascade Chapter members, with a $5 fee at the door for non-members. Annual local chapter membership may be purchased at the door for $25 ($18 for students). For more information on Cascade ACM SIGGRAPH and membership registration, please visit the Cascade ACM SIGGRAPH website at www.cascade.siggraph.org/.

The 2nd World Film Festival is the annual festival held from 15 - 24 October 2004 at EGV Metropolis Bangkok Thailand. More than 80 films worldwide is participating and the competition is for the Harvest of talents awards in Best Picture, Best Script, Best Art Direction, Special Jury Prize Award and People Choice. Pls. visit www.worldfilmbkk.com