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.

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.

NEW JUDGES FOR 2012 VIMEO FESTIVAL + AWARDS INCLUDE JAMES FRANCO, AZIZ ANSARI, RADIOHEAD’S COLIN GREENWOOD, AND MORE

13 Days Left to Submit to Win Up to $30,000 in Grants

NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2012 – Vimeo®, an operating business of IAC [NASDAQ: IACI], today announced its panel of judges for the 2012 Vimeo Festival + Awards. The panel consists of three judges per category across 13 categories, and includes actor and director James Franco; Parks and Recreation Star Aziz Ansari, 2012 Oscar Nominee Lucy Walker; Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood; Scott Pilgrim vs. the World director Edgar Wright; snowboard superstar Travis Rice; Thierry Mugler and UNIQLO creative director Nicola Formichetti; Shelley Page of DreamWorks Animation; Barbara London of The Museum of Modern Art; advertising legend David Droga; and many more.

"The aim of the Vimeo Festival + Awards is to become the gold standard for creative online video," said Jeremy Boxer, Director of the Vimeo Festival + Awards. “We designed the program to focus on discovering the best new talent and to give that talent a platform that will catapult their careers to the next level.  We are proud to reveal our new panel of esteemed judges."

"Vimeo created a platform that has changed the language of storytelling,” said Eliot Rausch, 2010 Vimeo Award Grand Prize Winner. “The way we share our innermost being has been flipped on its head — a true revolution of consciousness. It is indescribable, the feeling I have after winning the award, knowing my voice has been heard, that millions have been touched and maybe the world is better because of it."

“I am very glad to be back as a judge for the Vimeo awards this year,” said Lucy Walker.   “I’m very excited to see the new shortlist and the evolution of documentary as a new generation of talent comes through with new stories to tell and new ways of telling them.”

The current list of judges includes:

Action Sports

Stacy Peralta Travis Rice

Advertising

Benjamin PalmerDavid DrogaTraktor

Animation

Amid AmidiEran HilleliShelley Page

Captured

Charlie BucketSteve LazaridesBarbara London

Documentary

Eliot RauschSteve JamesLucy Walker

Experimental

Chris Beckman

Fashion

Nick KnightNicola FormichettiHumberto Leon, Opening Ceremony+Kenzo

Lyrical

Blake WhitmanPhilip BloomMaria Popova

Motion Graphics

10th Annual VES Awards
February 7, 2012 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills

 

The Visual Effects Society (VES) is the entertainment industry's only organization representing the full breadth of visual effects practitioners including artists, technologists, model makers, educators, studio leaders, supervisors, PR/marketing specialists and producers in all areas of entertainment from film, television and commercials to music videos and games. Comprised of a diverse group of more than 2,300 members in 26 countries, the VES strives to enrich and educate its own members and members of the entertainment community at large through a multitude of domestic and international events, screenings and programs.

The Visual Effects Society announced the nominees for its 10th Annual VES Awards ceremony recognizing outstanding visual effects artistry in 23 categories of film, animation, television, commercials, special venues and video games. Nominees were chosen Saturday, January 7 by distinguished panels of VES members who viewed submissions at the FotoKem screening facilities in Burbank and New York, FotoKem’s Spy in San Francisco, and other facilities in London, Sydney, Vancouver and Wellington, NZ.

“The standard of the creative work that is being considered this year is unbelievably high across all categories,” said Jeffrey A. Okun, Chair of the Visual Effects Society. “The judges faced a huge challenge because all of the work was so far above the norm. We’re honored to have the opportunity to focus the spotlight on the outstanding work that has contributed to some of the highest grossing films and broadcast projects of all time.”

As previously announced, Stan Lee will be honored with the VES 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award and Douglas Trumbull with the Georges Méliès Award.

The Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival has become the world's premier cinema event dedicated to short films. It is the second largest film festival in France after Cannes in terms of audience and professional attendance. It is at the heart of many all-year-round activities and missions conducted from La Jetée by the collective team of Sauve qui peut le court métrage. Its permanent staff of 17 all live in the Auvergne region, where a lively environment has developed around filmmaking.

In 2009, the Festival attracted 137,196 admissions and over 2,800 professional delegates.

By Filmmakers, For Filmmakers

Born out of rejection, Slamdance showcases new and emerging independent artists, filmmakers and storytellers.  We welcome films in every genre, on any topic from every country around the world. The festival program is selected from 100% blind submissions and we do not disqualify any films based on premiere status or date of completion.

This year, we are accepting films in the following categories:

Narrative Feature

Features by first time feature filmmakers* over 40 minutes in length. We consider and program from all genres and from around the world. All the films are selected from blind submissions. We are looking for filmmakers with new ideas, new ways of looking at the world, or an innovative approach to filmmaking. We are more drawn to an original voice than a high level of production. We will consider work that is not completed by the time of submission, and we consider films regardless of their premiere status.

* Films that are submitted by filmmakers that have made a previous feature will be considered for our Special Screenings.

Shorts

Non-documentary short films, under 40 minutes and from anywhere in the world, are programmed in blocks and beside narrative features. We welcome a wide variety of styles and genres: comedy, drama, horror, experimental, animation, non-narrative, music videos, underground and films that fit into multiple categories or no category at all. Please note that documentary shorts are programmed under their own category.

Documentary Feature

Competition feature-length (over 40 minutes) documentaries directed by first-time documentary filmmakers and of exceptional quality are programmed under our 100% blind submission policy. There are no premiere status or date of completion requirements. Non-fiction films under 40 minutes are considered for our short documentary competition. They will be screened before the feature documentary films. We gladly accept any type of documentary subject matter. Mockumentaries should be submitted to the narrative feature and short competitions.

Documentary Short

Competition short (under 40 minutes) documentaries directed by first-time documentary filmmakers and of exceptional quality are programmed under our 100% blind submission policy. There are no premiere status or date of completion requirements. Non-fiction films over 40 minutes are considered for our feature documentary competition. We gladly accept any type of documentary subject matter. Mockumentaries should be submitted to the narrative feature and short competitions. While no one can tell you what length to make your film, shorter films are considered more programmable due to the logistics of running a festival.

Special Screenings

Every year the Festival shows a Special Screening program comprised of several independent feature films by non-first time filmmakers. This Special Screening program is non-competitive and includes at least one underground program and sometimes films made by Slamdance alumni.