We love computer games. Hundreds of man-hours are wasted every day playing them. Our children no longer hold boring ol' storybooks in their imaginations; they dream of virtual one-on-one warfare with grumpy space aliens or demons from the Pit. The gaming industry is bigger than movies. And most of them require animation. How do we break off a piece of that pie? Join WIA on Thursday, July 17 for the next Women In Animation General Meeting: "You've Played 'Em, Now Make 'Em: Careers In Game Development." A panel of creators from large and small game developers (including Lance Powell of Electronic Arts and Tim Trzepacz of softegg.com) what it takes to develop a game from first concept to final release, and what skill sets these companies looking for. Join them at the DreamWorks campus (1000 Flower Street, Glendale, California) on Thursday, July 17, 2008. Schmoozing and networking begins at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting proper starts at 7. Finger food and soft drinks should be available. RSVP early; they are expecting a lot of interest in this event. To RSVP, call the hotline at 310-535-3838 or email LAchapterrsvps@aol.com before Tuesday, July 15. Non-members are asked for a $10 donation; members are free.

Presented by the Chicago International Children's Film Festival, the intensive two-week YCC program gives children 7-14 a forum to discuss and analyze movies. They learn how to "read" a movie's message and critique it based on writing, editing, cinematography and sound. Then, these budding Roger Eberts put their knowledge into action by conducting on-camera critics' panels with their peers and writing scripts, performing and making their own mini-movies. The camp features two separate sessions, one for kids 7-10 and one for 11-14-year-olds, both of which will be held daily at Facets Multi-Media (1517 W. Fullerton Avenue). With support from the Illinois Film Office, the Best Buy Children's Foundation and the Elizabeth Morse Genius Trust, almost 75% of the children attending the camp receive full scholarships. For more information or to arrange interviews, contact Kathleen Beckman at (773) 281-9075 or Kidsfest@facets.org.

, Illinois, USA
June 21

The Chicago International Children's Film Festival is now accepting applications for Young Chicago Critics, the premiere film criticism and production summer camp for Chicago kids 7-14. Due to overwhelming response from previous summers, it has now expanded its acclaimed program to two sessions to accommodate a full 150 children. This year's camp takes place at Facets Multi-Media (1517 W. Fullerton) June 20 - 29 and July 9 - 18. For eight production-packed days, Young Chicago Critics gives students the filmmaking experience necessary to write, produce and make their own films, offering them hours of hands-on instruction in filmmaking. Designed for kids with little or no experience in making movies, Young Chicago Critics equips students with the skills and confidence needed to produce a well-told story with moving images, as they work with fellow team members to create their own mini-movie. Young Chicago Critics closes with a graduation ceremony for friends and family. Graduating critics will receive a diploma, which qualifies them to participate in the Chicago International Children's Film Festival's Children's Jury in August. Each YCC graduate receives a copy of their finished video, which will be submitted to film festivals worldwide, as well as a complementary membership to the Facets Future Filmmakers film club that includes: free movie previews, free kids rentals at Facets, Festival discounts and access to workshops. Three lucky YCC participants ages 12-14 will also go on to attend the acclaimed Giffoni Film Festival in Italy, as members of Giffoni's Free To Fly jury. The cost of the YCC program is $325 per child and the deadline for application is April 6. Early registration is advised as registration is on a first- come, first-served basis. For more information about the Young Chicago Critics Program, contact Kathleen Beckman at (773) 281-9075, email kidsfest@facets.org or log onto www.facets.org/ycc to download an application.

The Chicago International Children

Yuri Norstein is coming to Georgetown University. Norstein will talk about his life and work, in a program called "Animation & Me." The event is being sponsored by the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies. The event is free to the public and will take place from noon to 2 pm.

Yuri Norstein will be presenting videos of his work, discussing his current projects and answering questions from the audience. The event will be in Russian and admission is US$10. The proceeds will go toward the completion of his work-in-progress THE OVERCOAT. The event will take place from 7 - 9 pm.

Zagreb: 16th World Festival of Animated Films is an ASIFA sanctioned competitive festival. The festival was formed in 1969 to encouraging creativity, which eschews pre-set patterns and ideas/notions/conceptions, and finds new ways of exploring the possibilities of film animation. It is accepting all animation works completed in 2002 or after. Awards with cash prizes will be given as follows: grand prize, best first production, best student film, plus five special prizes and three special distinctions. For more information, visit http://www.animafest.hr.

Zagreb is perhaps the hidden gem that has survived through some terribly tough times and blows. Borivoj "Bordo" Dovnikovic supplies us with a history and look at Zagreb today. >Click here!

Zagreb: 17th World Festival of Animated Films is an ASIFA sanctioned competitive festival. The festival was formed in 1969 to encouraging creativity, which eschews pre-set patterns and ideas/notions/conceptions, and finds new ways of exploring the possibilities of film animation. Awards with cash prizes will be given as follows: grand prize, best first production, best student film, plus five special prizes and three special distinctions. For more information, visit www.animafest.hr.

Zagreb is perhaps the hidden gem that has survived through some terribly tough times and blows. Borivoj "Bordo" Dovnikovic supplies us with a history and look at Zagreb today. Click here!

Zagreb: 18th World Festival of Animated Films is an ASIFA sanctioned competitive festival. The festival was formed in 1969 to encouraging creativity, which eschews pre-set patterns and ideas/notions/conceptions, and finds new ways of exploring the possibilities of film animation. Awards with cash prizes will be given as follows: grand prize, best first production, best student film, plus five special prizes and three special distinctions.

Deadline for films made in 2004 and 2005 is Dec. 15 2005. Deadline for films finished in January 2006 is Feb. 15, 2006. For more information, visit www.animafest.hr.