The 2004 Bangkok International Film Festival, the official film festival endorsed by the Royal Thai Government, will feature an estimated 150 films, special events, seminars and panels, as well as a competition in 9 different categories and the presentation of the second annual Golden Kinnaree Awards, the festival's award for excellence in International Filmmaking. One of the new highlights of festival will be its focus on ASEAN Cinema. This ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations) section will feature films from the 10 South East Asian countries -- Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. This will be a competitive program with a Golden Kinnaree to be awarded for Best ASEAN Film. For additional festival information, contact the Los Angeles Festival office at tel: (310) 272-1167, TAT headquarters in Bangkok at tel: (662) 250-5500 ext. 1575-78 or visit www.bangkokfilm.org.

The 2004' China International Cartoon and Digital Art Festival is sponsored and supported by the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China. The main events of the festival will include: The China International Cartoon Competition and Awards Ceremony; screenings of Chinese and international cartoon films; forum on cartoon industry and cartoon art and the China International Cartoon Product Market from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. The competition is open to cartoons from around the world in the following categories: short films, full-length films, television series, single TV programs, special TV programs, educational, scientific or industrial films, advertising and promotional films, animated program titles or clips, Internet short films, Internet film series and student or graduating works. To commemorate the 200th birthday in 2005 of great Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, a special "Andersen Fairy Tale Award" competition will be organized during the festival. All works based on H. C. Andersen's fairy tales are welcome to this competition. For more information, visit www.cicdaf.com.

The fourth annual DIY Convention: Do It Yourself in Film, Music & Books teaches musicians, authors, filmmakers and entrepreneurs how to create, promote, protect and distribute independent film, music and books. The event will be held at the Barnsdall Art Park and the Derby nightclub. The three-day event includes the finals of the DIY Film Festival and DIY Music Festival. The 2004 DIY Convention is sponsored by BMI; Primera's Bravo CD/DVD Disc Publisher; Sound Exchange; CDBaby.com; Luck Media & Marketing; Sonicbids; Bryan Farrish Radio Promotions; Imagic; Alcasid.com and HearItAgain!.net. For more information, visit www.diyconvention.com.

Join this fantastic eight week summer program for high school, college and adult students. This will be our third and most ambitious program to date. We will be filming an entire feature length motion picture (the continued saga of Believe). Check out the picture gallery from our last two programs here.

You will join a group in a specific area of your interest and participate in the overall process of production. The five production groups are: Directors, Producers, Hair/ makeup/ wardrobe, Set Construction / Grip and Talent.

You will be learning the Art, Tools and Methods of film / video production, and each week we will have special guest lectures from industry professionals.

The FREDERICK NEWS-POST hosts the 3rd Frederick Festival of Film. The goal of the event is to promote film, video and digital independent moviemaking in the greater Frederick and mid-Atlantic region, showcasing independent filmmakers and striving to educate the audience and deepen their appreciation for the art and craft of filmmaking. In addition to screening films, filmmakers are encouraged to introduce their films and participate in lively panel discussions and audience Q & A sessions. In addition, the event runs the 72-Hour Filmmaker contest. On September 10, teams of film crews shoot, edit and deliver a movie in just 72 hours. Completed films will be screened as the Premiere Night Gala on September 17. A 72 Hour Filmmaker achievement award will be given to the team judged to have the best film. For more information, visit http://www.frederickfilm.org.

The multi-Emmy-winning writer/producer Aaron Sorkin (AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT, WEST WING, A FEW GOOD MEN) will be among the speakers at the 2004 Maui Writers Conference at the Wailea Marriott Resort. The conference, now in its 12th year, is a four-day experience for both the novice and professional writer and screenwriter. The event hosts more than 100 sessions in all aspects of writing, publishing, landing an agent, all genres of fiction and non-fiction writing, screenwriting, travel writing, children's books, cookbook writing and marketing yourself and your work. Attendees also have an opportunity to network and pitch to more than 35 agents, editors and publishers from the major houses to boutique agencies, from New York to Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.mauiwriters.com or call (808) 879-0061.

Zoie Films Festival is open to feature films, film shorts, documentaries, animations, music videos and mixed media projects utilizing innovative techniques. A media panel judges all entries and winning films are showcased online via special screenings available at high-speed Internet connections. Zoie Films utilizes the latest encryption technology to present the finest quality streaming programs. Zoie Films Festival presents certificates, prizes and awards in animation, drama, comedy, action and new media forms. Founded by Victoria Lynn Weston in 1996, Zoie Films Festival is an exclusive online film festival dedicated to the development of independent artists and exploring innovative exhibitions of their work. The early deadline is December 1, 2003. For more information, contact e-mail: info@zoiefilms.com or Web: www.ZoieFilms.com.

The 12th Annual Austin Film Festival celebrates narrative and documentary films both in long and short form. The conference that accompanies the festival features panelists from the film industry who will discuss their experiences. First place winners receive: a cash prize of $1,000 (Feature Category) or $500 (Short and Student Short Categories); reimbursement (up to $500) of one round-trip airfare to Austin to attend the 2005 AFF; hotel accommodations at an AFF hotel (up to $500); a special Winners Night Screening at the Festival; the AFF Bronze Typewriter Award; and a special Los Angeles screening of their film for industry professionals. Short Films screened in competition at the Austin Film Festival are eligible to be nominated for an Academy Award. The early deadline is June 15, 2005. For more information, visit www.austinfilmfestival.com.

The 2005 China International Cartoon and Digital Art Festival (http://www.cicdaf.com/english/index.asp) will be held in Changzhou, China, on September 28 to October 5, 2005. Last year's edition drew crowds in excess of 130,000. Since then, the city has been designated by the Central Government as one of 9 new animation production centers, and it is estimated that 150,000 visitors will attend this year's event. Also present at the show will be numerous production studios, schools, media organizations, and technology vendors and providers. To encourage outside participation, the organizing committee will grant each of the first 3 foreign participants 9 square meters of free space for a stand of their design and choosing, as well as free accommodation (hotel stay and meals) for the duration of the event. Do let us know ASAP if you are interested and we'll follow up with an official invitation and information package. Contact Information: Alexandre Rousseau T: +86 519 333 1916 (China) E: alexr@studio-chops.com

Digital Entertainment & Media Expo is a trade conference dedicated to digital entertainment. Anne Sweeney, president, Disney-ABC Television Group, and Jean-Charles Hourcade, sevp/cto, Thomson, will be among the keynote speakers from companies such as, Playboy Enterprises, TiVo Inc, XM Radio and Nielsen Media Research. This two-day event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Century City Plaza.

Other featured speakers at the event include industry leaders such as Gregg Spiridellis (ceo, Jib Jab), David Goodman (president of marketing, Infinity Broadcasting), Courtney Holt (head of new media & strategic marketing, Interscope Geffen A&M Records), Stacy Jolna (svp/gm, TV Guide Television Group), Ric Harris (head of new media, NBC Universal), Thomas Hesse (president global digital business group, SONY BMG Music Entertainment), Andrew Susman (president/ceo, Studio One Networks), Cyriac Roeding (vp, wireless, CBS Television/ Digital Media), Cuneo Paula (senior manager, corporate alliances & business development, Activision Inc.), Jay Frank (head of programming and label relations, Yahoo! Music) and Steve Lanzano (evp/gm, MPG) and many other luminaries.

The Digital Media & Entertainment Expo is sponsored by three of VNU Exposition