The Art Institute of Phoenix is holding an exhibition of its winter 2001 graduate portfolios. Artwork presented will be from students in the computer animation, graphic design, multimedia, video production and Website administration departments. The event will be held at the Sheraton Crescent Hotel from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm.

I-CON is a science-fiction, fantasy and comics show. The anime program will feature dubbing workshops, guest speakers and panel discussions. This event is a student run festival and one of the largest in the northeast United States.

Fantasm 2001 is a leading multimedia science-fiction, fantasy, horror, art, film and gaming convention. Foundation Imaging's computer animation wizard, Mojo, will be on hand to discuss his work on the TV series BABYLON 5, STAR TREK: VOYAGER and STARSHIP TROOPERS. Visitors can bring their demo tapes and questions on how to break into the computer animation business.

The 8th Edition of the Festival Synthesis is a festival dedicated to CG movies and animations. Last year the event had 10,000 visitors. This year's Synthesis will feature a retrospective on the work of ILM. The event will also include screenings, discussions, company presentations and product demos.

Side Effects Software will present the X-MEN work completed by C.O.R.E. Digital on Thursday, May 10, 2001 at 6 pm at University of Toronto's Hart House. Nordin Rahhali, who served as a technical director on X-MEN, will discuss C.O.R.E.'s work on the film, including early challenges and Houdini's role in overcoming them. Side Effects will also present new Houdini capabilities, including its artist-friendly interface, customizable panels and vector expressions and the integrated Houdini scripting language. An hors d'oeuvre reception will begin at 6:30 pm and the presentation will follow in the second floor Debates Room at Hart House, located at 7 Hart House Circle, Toronto. Please RSVP to rsvp@sidefx.com or call (416) 504-9876 for more information.

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The Dusty Film Festival Awards is an annual ceremony to celebrate the top-graduating seniors in film, video and computer animation at the School of Visual Arts. This year the event will be held at the Zeigfeld Theater. Approximately 1200 people will attend the event, including many people soon to be looking for employment in creative fields. This year, the festival includes three days of continuous screenings (May 14-16) leading up to the special activities on May 17.

Join the Vancouver Film School (VFS) for a presentation of their 3D, classical and Maya programs; see award-winning student work; bring your portfolio for review and meet the roadshow team. The evenings will include refreshments and prizes. The VFS roadshow team will be in Dallas on July 16 at the Sheraton Suites Market Center Hotel from 6-9pm; in
Austin on July 17 at the Sheraton Austin Hotel and Conference Center from 6-9pm; in
Houston on July 18 at the Sheraton Brookhollow Hotel from 6-9pm; and in
Denver on July 20 at the Westin Tabor Center Hotel from 6-9pm. RSVP to rebecca@vfs.com or call 1-800-661-4101

The Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry is holding its first Puppet Short Film and Video Festival. See some of your favorites, some oldies, some you've never heard of and have some lovely Japanese food too! Admission is free. The event will run from 7:00 pm to approximately 9:30 pm. Material is not suitable for children. If you are interested in submitting a short for next year, please contact the organizers.

The AWGUA Freak Show will take place at the Orpheum Theatre, 842 South Broadway, Los Angeles, on Monday, 9:30 am - 6:00 pm. The Fun House party will begin at 7:00 pm. The AWGUA conference seminars will be held at the Westin Bonaventure, 404 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, Monday through Wednesday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Featured speakers include: Duncan Brinsmead and Jos Stam, Alias|Wavefront, presenting the "Two-Headed Genius" and other acts of scientific research; and Square Pictures, highlighting their first film, "Final Fantasy: the Spirits Within." Other highlights include: Twelve seminar sessions relating to Maya workflows, techniques and instruction; The 'Ask the experts' room, where attendees have one-on-one access to A|W employees, while practicing techniques learned from the seminars; and The Midway, the annual AWGUA vendor fair showing the latest developments in technologies, from motion capture solutions to Web content delivery.

The Vancouver Film School (VFS) is holding a three hour presentation that includes detailed descriptions of their classical, 3D and Maya programs. Student works will be shown and portfolios will be reviewed. The presentation will be held at the Sheraton Pasadena Hotel, 303 East Cordova Street, Pasadena, on Saturday, August 11 from 2-4pm. The event will include refreshments and prizes. RSVP to rebecca@vfs.com or call 1-800-661-4101