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.

Live Improvised Animation Performance in Immersive Planetarium Dome Theater

Spontaneous Fantasia at the Glendale Community College Planetarium is a showcase for the combined efforts of a visual artist, performance artist, animator, musical composer, and Technical Academy Award winner. All happen to be the same person: J.Walt Adamczyk, he of the multiple talents and Scrabble-worthy last name, puts together an hour of improvised 3D animation and music through interactive CG techniques, accompanied by his own original score.

Adamczyk creates live animated scenes which include alien landscapes, strange oceanic ballets, surreal gardens, psychedelic swirls.

The show is suitable for all ages, though tots might find it too intense.

March 28-29
April 11-12
April 25-26
May 9-10
May 23-24

Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 6:30 p.m.
Adults:$10, Kids: $6

GCC Planetarium
1500 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale, California 91208

Info and reservations: (626) 688-0778

www.spontaneousfantasia.com

Animatu is an animation festival dedicated to digital. The festival holds an international Short competition, with some categories open only for Portuguese schools, Workshops and talks will also be held, among other activities. There are no entry fees. Categories: 3D/2D digital, Machinima, Motion Graphics and Mobile Phone Animation.

The Academy of Machinima Arts & Sciences will hold the Machinima Film Festival, which celebrates films made within a realtime virtual 3D environment (i.e. 3D game engine). The early submission deadline is August 1, 2003 and the final deadline is September 15, 2003. Last year

At the Exploratorium's McBean Theater, free, public invited, lots of free parking. Everybody with an animated film is invited to bring it and it will be shown (16mm, VHS tape & DVD). Just show up with it. Questions? Email karlcohen@earthlink.net The program will include: Don Albrecht, a former Disney animator, will have an outrageous surprise or two (Walt wouldn't approve of his new work), Jett Atwood's TEA FOR TWO, based on a pencil test made at Sheridan College. She finished this film on her own a year and a half later. Signe Baumane's BIRTH, is a powerful emotional work about one woman's experience. Charlie Canfield is bringing excerpts of his animation for the Emmy nominated A SPAN IN TIME. The award ceremony is May 9. Nick Fox-Gieg, THE ORANGE, Suddenly, a humble citrus fruit is granted absolute power over the universe. From a story by Benjamin Rosenbaum. Gene Hamm will delight us with CHINESE MEDICINE, PUNCTURE PERFECT (made for his comedy act) and his disturbing THE TRUTH ABOUT CUT FLOWERS? Andy Kaiser's FRIENDLY FIRE, a puppet film from Germany with music written and performed by Nik Phelps. A surprise by Michel Langan. Chris Perry's THE INCIDENT AT TOWER 37, a tale about limited natural resources by a teacher from Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass. It will be shown at SIGGRAPH 2009. Michael Stevenson, PIGEON PILFER. It's about a man who is tormented by stares from pigeons as he tries to figure out what they're after. San Francisco State's Animation program is presenting student music synch projects. Plus lots of other surprises from independent animators and college students. The show is always a lot of fun and well attended, so arrive early for a good seat.

The 4th Bitfilm Festival for digital film and new media shows films that use digital technology in a creative and innovative way. There are five categories:

Digital Features
Films of min. 90 minutes which use 3D animation and digital effects as an artistic means.

Bit Shorts
Short films, music videos and ads which use 3D animation and digital effects as an artistic means.

Flash
Linear films and interactive works made with Macromedia Flash.

Machinima
Films that are animated in real time using game environments.

Micromovies
Films of max. 60 seconds 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. Entry deadline: July 1, 2003. There is no entry fee.

More information and submissions under http://www.bitfilm-festival.org/index_e.html

backup stands for films and videos reflecting, defining and readjusting the boundaries and prospects of film and its diverse segments by creatively experimenting with different ways of production and expression. That is why backup is looking for film works that refuse to be categorized by genres, topics and other traditional criteria -- experiments in the format of moving picture. A new addition to this year's 11th backup festival is a competition for international debut features. With this award and the systematic development of media partnerships backup wants to promote the potential of young filmmakers and support their talent. As in the past 10 years, backup wants to encourage a discourse about films, formats and festivals reflecting the current developments and wants to find and support artistic works and exceptional approaches to the medium film. Since its 10th anniversary in 2008 the date of the backup_festival has been changed and will now be held from May 21-24, 2009 because the early summer weather in Weimar, Germany offers the possibility of celebrating the festival as a larger and more vibrant open-air event.

Digital Days is an interactive High Definition Digital showcase and forum featuring screenings, presentations and seminars. The audience onsite and connected virtually to our Quicktime Live Webcast and Video Chats, provides an interactive dialogue between filmmakers, industry professionals, students and the public. Presentations of theatrical features, HD natural history films and cutting-edge rock music videos provide a stimulating full-sensory experience. Explore from outer space to inner space from Antarctica to the oceans

The Portland Indy Animation Festival 2004 is now accepting competitive and non-competitive entries. The Festival celebrates independent animators around the world, the more independent and original, the better. Submissions can include all aspects of animation including 3D, 2D, machinima, stop motion, filmed puppetry (in all its forms), animated trailers for works in progress and interpretations of the art of animation. Format of submissions (which are final) must be provided on one of the following: DVD, SVCD, VCD, VHS (PAL/SECAM/NTSC), miniDV, SWF (Flash) or mpeg2. Entries need to be received by 23rd July 2004. The Festival will take place at several venues 11th - 14th August 2004 in Portland, Oregon, USA. Entries submitted for the competition will be evaluated by judges and the audience. There will be awards handed out to those present on the last day of the festival. Further details and entry forms for the Portland Indy Animation Festival 2004 are available at http://pdxanimation.com (there is no entry fee).

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.