The 2004 DIY Book Festival celebrates the success of independent authors and publishers. The DIY Book Festival will consider self-published or independent publisher non-fiction, fiction, children's books, how-to, photography/art, comics, 'zines, fan fiction, poetry and e-books released after Jan. 1, 2002. All entries must be in English and have been self-published or issued by an independent house that has published less than 50 works since the entry cut-off point. The grand prize for the 2004 DIYBF Author of the Year is $1,000 cash and a flight to Los Angeles for the awards ceremony. Genre category winners will receive a combination of books, software and cash awards, including a review in the DIYReporter.com and free admission to the DIY Convention events. Award winners will be honored at a ceremony held on October 2, 2004 in conjunction with the 2004 DIY Book Festival, now in its third year. For more information, contact JM Northern Media LLC, attn: DIY Book Festival at: 7095 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 864, Hollywood, California 90028-8903 or tel.: (323) 665-8068.

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 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.

The Midwest Animators Conference features speakers and presentations on a wide variety of topics of interest to animators. The conference is aimed at animators, animation students and studios. Attendees are encouraged to bring work to screen. Events include an opening night networking party and Sunday screening and brunch. Saturday lunch is included with registration. Visit our website for registration information and to register online. The event is sponsored by ASIFA Central, the Midwest Chapter of the International Animated Film Association, the Chicago Chapter of Women In Animation and CATNAP, Chicago Area Toon Novices and Professionals. The Conference takes place at the DoubleTree Guest Suites Hotel in Downers Grove, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Hotel accomodations are not included with registration and must be made seperately.

The Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival, now in it's 57th year, is the longest running festival of its kind in Canada. Over the years, the festival has garnered an esteemed reputation as one of the country's top film and video festivals; a reputation that attracts outstanding entries and personalities from across Canada. Established in 1947 as the Yorkton Film Council, the first festival was held in 1950, making it Canada's first Short Film & Video Festival. The very first Golden Sheaf Award was introduced in 1958 and was presented to the most outstanding film entry in the festival. The Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival has undergone many changes since the first festival and is now celebrating more than 56 years of great shorts and currently presents Golden Sheaf Awards in 17 genre categories, 10 craft awards categories, cash and specialty awards. The festival is held every spring and includes: Canada's Golden Sheaf Awards, mini cinema, workshops and social events. For more information contact the festival at 49 Smith Street East, Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada S3N 0H4; tel.: (306) 782-7077; fax: (306) 782-1550; e-mail: info@yorktonshortfilm.org; or Web: www.yorktonshortfilm.org.

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

More than 500 professionals from the entertainment, music, video, new media and film industries along with people working in related fields, are expected to attend the 2005 Global Entertainment and Media Summit (GEMS) at Tripeg Studios from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.

The goal of the 2005 Global Entertainment and Media Summit is to create new opportunities, foster collaboration, facilitate change in the industry by providing a productive forum to share ideas and new distribution concepts and bring together visionary leaders from the music, film and media industries. GEMS will feature seminars, workshops, clinics and keynote presentations by industry visionaries and leaders who are helping to shape and create the future of the entertainment industries. A few of the featured speakers at the event will include Michael Butler, producer of the musical HAIR, Lee Abrams, vp of programming, XM Satellite Radio and Lloyd Kaufman, Troma Ent. and author of MAKE YOUR OWN DAMN MOVIE.

Admission is $40 per person until Oct. 13 and $60 at the door. Along with the workshops, the two full days of networking with industry professionals and accomplished industry leaders also includes entertainment sprinkled throughout the event from live musicians, fashion shows, game show mania and stand up comedy. Attendees will also be able to showcase their music or video at one of the GEMS viewing stations.

Tripeg Studios is located at 2155 State Street. The studios phone number is (203) 603.9386. To learn more about Tripeg Studios, visit www.tripegstudios.com. For more the event or to register online, visit www.gemsconnecticut.com or call (860) 518-1761.

The Guangzhou International Animation & Comic Exhibition is an official stage for the animation and cartoon industry to establish industry connections, strengthen the industry, standardize the protection of intellectual properties and popularize healthy animation and comic culture. The event will combine an exhibition, trade show and competition. For fans, the event will feature showcases of hot properties, workshops and Cosplay. For more information, visit www.toprepute.com.cn.