Golden Kuker-Sofia

3rd International Animation Film Festival

June 11th-17th, Bulgaria

One of the most important cultural events in Bulgaria, the International Animation Film Festival "Golden Kuker" - took its first steps in the National Palace of Culture in October 2010 in Sofia, Bulgaria. It was vividly reflected in the media and was recognized by the film critics as very successful. More than 200 films from 29 countries entered the competition in 2010 and more than 340 films from 51 countries in 2011 (among which were authors of films nominated for an “Oscar” and films of artists awarded at international festivals category "A"). IAFF “Golden Kuker” is the first festival of animation in Bulgaria since the beginning of the new century. It is organized by BAICAA (Bulgarian Association of Independent Cartoon Animation Artists "Proyko Proykov” - a non-profit organization), chaired by Mrs. Nadezhda Slavova (cartoon artist, filmmaker and author of numerous animation films).

The Festival exists to disprove the common opinion that animation is only for kids by screening a myriad of attention-engaging, intelligent films from the most exotic countries in the world, showcasing different animation techniques, showing that animation is for everyone. The supporting events such as workshops, master-classes, lectures, round tables and presentations, provide a rare opportunity to meet world renowned animation professionals, make contacts and present/watch the latest animation creations from all around the world.

The programme of the festival includes: Competition programme covering several categories (feature films /over 50 min/, super-short films /up to 1 min/, short films /up to 10 min/, short films /10-50 min/, Bulgarian films, student films, films made for kids, commissioned films, eco-animation films /2012 festival edition/).

Animation & Imagination Art Benefit & Sale - A benefit for Thank You Walt Disney, Inc. a 5019(c)3; an original one-of-a-kind collection of graphite, colored pencil, pen & ink, and other media depicting images inspired by Walt Disney and his legacy. Held at Buttonwood Art Space. 3013 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64108. 816-285-9040.

Featured artists to appear at the Opening Reception on June 1st from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm include Tony Anselmo - the official voice of “Donald Duck”, Bret Iwan - the official voice of “Mickey Mouse” and many other nationally known artists from studios such as Disney®, LucasFilm®, Marvel® and more. In tribute, national and local artists at Buttonwood have combined to bring you art works showcasing line art, cartoons, highly colorful works and pieces inspired by imagination and will donate 50% of net sales to benefit the TYWD organization; All works by the artists will be for sale; The Opening will also feature live music, caricature artists and appetizers

The exhibit and sale will run from June 1 – July 27

This art show is a tribute to Walt Disney and his artistic influence on local artists and his roots in the Kansas City area. The "Thank You Walt Disney" charitable organization is preserving Walt's first studio at Troost & 31st Street; Free parking available on west side of Main Street in the Rehabilitation Center Parking Lot or the Fairfield Inn lot; Casual Dress; Kathy Drungilas: 816-285-9040; Kathy@ButtonwoodArtSpace.com ; http://www.buttonwoodartspace.com/ ; http://www.thankyouwaltdisney.org/

We are now accepting entries for our 15th edition, which will run from 24 - 28 April 2012. KICFF is looking for high quality shorts, long shorts, features and documentaries to be screened in our main section and numerous side bars of Norway's largest festival for films for children and youth. Read our guidelines below and fill in our online entry form.

Kristiansand International Children’s Film Festival (KICFF) is an annual festival established to promote film and video for children aged 3 - 14. For teenagers we promote films in the Youth Programme (14+).

PROGRAMMES
The Main Programme is devoted to new feature films for children for theatrical and video release. Titles are selected on artistic merit. The sidebars will consist of several short film programmes, Panorama, Youth Programme (14+), documentaries and long shorts. Special attention will be paid to new films from the Nordic countries, but traditionally, all parts of the world are represented.

The festival has a screening club for professionals.

The Festival management makes the selection for the Festival.

AWARDS
FILM&KINO’s Children’s Film Award: An international jury awards the best film in the Main Programme with NOK 75.000 as well as a diploma, to support Norwegian distribution for the film. Presented by FILM & KINO.

The Ludi Award:Audience award for best film in the Main Programme, including a statuette and a diploma.

The ECFA Award: A professional jury awards the best film in the Main Programme with a ECFA diploma and the winner is nominated to comepe for Best European Children’s Film of the year (announced at the 2013 Berlinale Generation).

The Don Quijote Award : An international jury awards the most outstanding film in the Youth Programme (14+). The award is presented by The International Federation of Film Societies FICC.

 

THE ENTRY FORM MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE FOLLOWING:

- A DVD screener or digital file (link to e.g. Vimeo, ftp access or Dropbox)

- A synopsis of the film, maximum 50 words.

- A digital photo from the film. 300 dpi. (please upload via web form)

- A listing of the film's participation and Awards received at other Film festivals.

- The festival accepts 35 mm prints, Video (Beta SP PAL or DigiBeta), DCP, Blu-Ray Disck and digital file (Prores 4.2.2 / 4.2.2HQ) as screening formats. English subtitles are required.

ENTRIES MUST BE SENT BEFORE FEBRUARY 1st 2012

Address for DVDs and other material (please contact us if you want to send your screener with courier rather than regular mail)

Kristiansand International Children’s Film Festival,
Kristiansand Kino
P.O. Box 356
4663 Kristiansand
Norway

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Programme coordinator: Even Thunes Jensen,
Tel: + 47 3810 4320 / + 47 9592 4433 Fax: + 47 3810 4201

Animation is a specific imaging technique that is increasingly applied within a wide range of audiovisual forms of expression, such as cartoons, music videos, special effects for movies, motion graphics on TV, visual art, performances, games, web design and mobile telephone applications.

Animation is much deeper embedded in the fabric of society than most of us are aware of; we all get into contact with it in our daily lives. Many people are potentially interested in animation, but they find it hard to place this form of visual art in a context. Animation combines elements of many forms of art: painting, sculpture, photography, film, music, etc. Few artists have to be as versatile as an animation director. The label 'animation film' covers a wide variety of productions ranging from vulnerable artistic films to commercial box office hits. The medium lends itself to the most diverging subjects and appeals to both younger and older audiences, regardless of sex, educational level or cultural background.

The Holland Animation Film Festival provides an (inter)national platform for this special art form. The festival, which was founded in 1985, takes place over a period of five days at several locations in the city of Utrecht, the Netherlands. The festival started as a biennial festival and became a yearly event in 2009 so it can offer an even more up-to-date programme and really monitor developments as they unfold. In 2012 the festival dates move from the beginning of November to the end of March to fit even better in the international festival calendar.

The festival highlights the latest developments and new talent, shows theme programmes and retrospectives, and organizes activities like talk shows, master classes and lectures. Main programme sections are The Cutting Edge and the competitions. The Cutting Edge presents the often exciting and pioneering interplay between film, fine art, games and the internet. HAFF organizes international competitions for animated shorts, feature films, applied animation (animation films produced in commission) and animation for internet. HAFF organises also a European competition for student films and there’s an audience award for the best Dutch animation. Attendance figures confirm that screening animation in competition is an attractive format. The competition programmes are screened in the largest theatres, often drawing a capacity crowd.

Buttonwood Art Space in Kansas City, Missouri is proud to present "Animation & Imagination"; an original one-of-a-kind collection of line art, cartoon cells, fine art in all media depicting images inspired by Walt Disney, his legacy and his influence on generations of artists. We seek artwork in all media that is original, colorful and reveals how you were influenced by Disney, but not material that might be trade marked or infringe on artistic copyrights owned by others.

The event will run June 1st through July 27, 2012 with a VIP and First Friday Reception on June 1st. All artwork submitted must be original, remain for the duration of the show and be for sale. Juried entries will be sold at commission level of 50% to artist/50% to Thank You Walt Disney organization. Buttonwood Art Space will forego any commission for this benefit. Application deadline is April 21, 2012. to apply, please upload images and information at www.ButtonwoodArtSpace.com

Featured artists include Tony Anselmo (the official voice of "Donald Duck"), Brent Iwan (the official voice of "Mickey Mouse"), and many other nationally known artists from studios such as Disney®, LucasFilm®, Marvel®, Pixar®, and more. Thank You Walt Disney, Inc. is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation and is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. Donations of artworks are also accepted - please contact Kathy at the email below. Buttonwood Art Space is located at 3013 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64108. Contact Kathy@ButtonwoodArtSpace.com, www.ButtonwoodArtSpace.com or 816-285-9040 for more information.

The 2012 Byron Bay International Film Festival

FINAL ENTRY DEADLINE: 28/10/2011

REGULAR ENTRY DEADLINE: 28/09/2011

6th Byron Bay International Film Festival March 2nd to 11th 2012

For 10 days, the always beautiful Byron Bay will be the setting of the 2012 BBFF. The first place in Australia to see the sun, Byron Bay provides an exotically stunning backdrop for the festival, with world-class beaches only a short stroll from the venue. This is a one of a kind film festival and it's hard to imagine a better place for filmmakers to have the opportunity to present their work.

The world of animation and experimental film continues to expand. With the unstoppable evolution of technology new doors are continuing to open for the visually innovative. Embracing this progression, BBFF is an exciting avenue to showcase animated and experimental films in a world class environment. No longer among the fringe dwelling genres, they are now a significant part of the festivals broad program and are embraced by judges and audiences alike.

The BBFF's Best Animated Film Award could be where you are headed if your film is 2D, 3D, Flash, Stop motion, Claymation, Traditional or Machinima. Or does your film test the boundaries of conventional film making, or even trample all over them as it runs past without so much as a "how do you do?" Then maybe you could be in the running for the Best Experimental Film Award. You might even be up for both!

Byron Bay and the surrounding area is a place that holds certain ideals close to its heart: creativity and the arts; human rights, diversity and multiculturalism; the natural environment and environmental issues; indigenous culture; innovation; spirituality and healing; conscious thinking and positive living; music; humour; and surfing. We endeavour to show a range of films that reflect an understanding of these ideals. But that doesn't mean we are limited to these themes.

BBFF believes strongly in providing support for the independent filmmaker. Whether this is your first attempt at gaining exposure in film industry or you have been chipping away at it for many years, we want to give you a chance to make your mark. The films we showcase are viewed by a diverse, intelligent and most importantly open audience. While the judging panel has included some highly respected and well connect members of the Australian film industry. Including representative of top Australian distribution companies including Lionsgate, Dendy Films, Paramount Pictures, the ABC, World Movies Channel, Rialto Distribution, Accent Film, Palace Films and many more.  

There is a broad range of awards including Best Film, Documentary, Short Film, Drama, Cinematography, Surf Film, Environmental Film, Music Video, Best Young Australian Filmmaker (open to Australian Director’s and Producer’s under 25) among others. There is also a special award for best local film.  Filmmakers are encouraged to use the paperless entry system Withoutabox and further details can be found at www.bbff.com.au

Filmmaker Andy Mullins whose acclaimed short film Minnie Loves Junior had its Australian Premiere in Byron said “We have travelled all over the world with Minnie Loves Junior, and the program at Byron Bay was one of the best I have seen, let alone had the privilege of being a part of”.

The Byron Bay International Film Festival is open to films of all lengths and all genres. Films in competition must have been completed after Jan 1st 2009.  

 

Cartoons on the Bay

March 22cnd-24th Rapallo, Italy

Cartoons on the Bay 2012 will be held from March 22nd to 25th. The 16th Edition of the Festival will take place in Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino. The guest country will be India and the main theme of the year will be Sport in cartoons, to celebrate 2012 London Olympic Games.

The first day of work will be devoted to a series of meetings in which the the major animation companies will attend and a retrospective of the best products of featured and animated films in recent years.

In view of the London Olympics, the festival will focus on cartoons and sports with the celebration of the second edition of the Premio & Sport Cartoons produced in collaboration with the Circolo Sportivo della Rai. Among the novelties of the birth of the new Harlequin Award dedicated to the best cartoon taken from comic book (which is added to the Harlequin Award dedicated to cartoon and cartoon and videogames and books) and Pulcinella Award dedicated to Live Action sitcom and series for children not in animation.

With the birth of the Pulcinella Awards, we also wanted include today's growing attention to hybrid products made of flesh and blood actors and animation support.

Roberto Genovesi, artistic director of Cartoons on the Bay-concludes the process of transforming the festival that today can be considered a full member of the European reference point for cross-media animation.

THE 84TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS

FEDRUARY 26TH AT 7:00

   Each January, the entertainment community and film fans around the world turn their attention to the Academy Awards. Interest and anticipation builds to a fevered pitch leading up to the Oscar telecast in February, when hundreds of millions of movie lovers tune in to watch the glamorous ceremony and learn who will receive the highest honors in filmmaking.

    The Oscars reward the previous year’s greatest cinema achievements as determined by some of the world’s most accomplished motion picture artists and professionals. The Academy’s roughly 6,000 members vote for the Oscars using secret ballots, which are tabulated by the international auditing firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers. The auditors maintain absolute secrecy until the moment the show’s presenters open the envelopes and reveal the winners on live television.

The next Anima, the Brussels International Animation Film Festival, will take place in Flagey from February 17 to 26, 2012.

Over one hundred and fifty films in the international competition (shorts and features, commercials, music videos), retrospectives, exhibitions, lessons, workshops for the kids, the Futurama professional days, round-table discussions, numerous guests and concerts make Brussels an international appointment not to be ignored. It's also the place to find out about Belgian animation with a national competition and screenings in panorama. Add to that a very "Animated Night" full of films, a special animation Cosplay show, and Anima easily confirms itself a "must" for the thirty five thousand spectators that flock to Flagey, the prestigious cultural centre of Belgium's capital city.

Anima 2012 Competition:

Awards for Best FeatureAwards for Best Shorts FilmsAwards for Best Advertising FilmAwards for Best Music VideoNomination for the Cartoon d'Or

   Patton Oswalt, who was recently nominated by the Chicago, Toronto and Los Angeles Film Critics’ Associations for his performance in the film Young Adult starring opposite Charlize Theron, will host this year’s 39th Annual Annie Awards on Saturday, February 4, 2012, at UCLA’s Royce Hall. "The Annies are where the real weirdos hang, and it's a visual feast just to have a drink with them,” says Oswalt, irreverent as always. “I can't wait.” Celebrating the best in animation, this annual black-tie evening will begin with a pre-reception at 5 p.m. followed by the Annie Awards ceremony at 7 p.m. and an after-party celebration immediately following the ceremony. All events will be held at Royce Hall.

Patton will be joined on stage by a lively mix of animation luminaries, celebrity presenters and comedic talent including animation legend June Foray and Judy Greer, JK Simmons, James Hong, Jib Jab founders Greg and Evan Spiridellis, Nika Futterman, Ty Burrell, Kelly Stables, Tara Strong, Daran Norris, Dee Bradley Baker and Logan Grove.