Once again hosted by the British Empire and Commonwealth Exhibition Hall and Ramada Plaza Hotel, this year's lineup promises to be the biggest and the best so far. It all kicks off on Friday May 9 with Diamond UK Retailers Day (exclusive presentations to UK and European retailers of the major releases for the rest of this comics year) and the Orangutan Comics Film Night '08 for all early arrivals, starting 6pm at the Ramada Plaza Hotel (more details available at www.myspace.com/bicefilmnight). Saturday May 10 and Sunday May 11 feature two full days of events, including presentations on upcoming Marvel and DC releases, the world famous Hypotheticals panel hosted by Dave Gibbons, DC Portfolio reviews by editors Karen Berger, Eddie Berganza and Hank Kanalz and the Saturday evening presentation of The Eagle Awards. The awards were first presented in 1976 and are the comics industry's longest established awards. As usual, the first 1,000 people through the door on Saturday are eligible for a free goodie bag -- in previous years this has contained graphic novels, comics, posters, badges, action figures and once again the contents are a well-kept secret that are strictly first come, first served, strictly one per person. Special guests signing, sketching and/or hosting talks throughout the weekend include: Jim Shooter, Walt Simonson, Louise Simonson, Jim Starlin, Yanick Paquette, Dave Gibbons, Mike Carey, Alan Davis, Mark Buckingham and Paul Cornell. Tickets for the Bristol International Comic Expo are available online for six pounds per day for adults, or just one pound for 12 to 16 year olds under the Kids For A Quid scheme. As usual, all accompanied attendees under the age of 12 get in for free. Book now via: www.comicexpo.net/08tickets.html.

The 24th International Festival of animated film is now accepting entries for animated short films, television series, commissioned films and student films. Entry forms are now available on the festival web site. The three selection committees will gather in Annecy March 2-12, 2000 in order to choose the 5 features and 10 programs of shorts which will compose the official competition together with the 3 or 4 school and graduation film programs and the 8 TV & commissioned film programs, representing in total more that 30 hours of viewing. After honoring Japanese Animation in 1999, the festival will celebrate a century of animation, in an unprecedented tribute to all forms of the art. The festivities even include the participation of Richard Williams. The triple Oscar-winning animator, regarded by many in the industry as a modern master, will offer a three-day Animation Masterclass on the principles of animation, June 3-5, 2000. The MIFA expo (International Animated Film Market) will be open June 7-10, 2000, and feature a sizable new technologies area. The MIFA conference themes and speaker names will be available soon on the festival web site. Participation forms for the scientific conference NPAR 2000 (First International Symposium on Non Photorealistic Animation and Rendering, June 5-7, 2000) will be ready in February.

The European Union's Cartoon is holding the second Cartoon Masters event of 2000. The conference will discuss the question: animation, video games, Internet -- which tools for which markets? Organized by Mangelis and Cartoon, the forum will try to provide information on the new tools and methods that are shaping the contours of the imaging industries and to provide a group reflection area for professionals on concrete conditions for using innovative technologies. Various themed workshops will discuss sound in animation, 2D/3D integration, animating for the Net, conditions for a multi-format production and new frontiers for animation.

Milia 2001 is the foremost interactive content marketplace in the world. The Think.Tank summit will run from February 10

MIPCOM: International Film and Programme Market for TV, Video, Cable and Satellite is one of the world's largest and most prestigious television markets. MIPCOM gives companies from around the world an opportunity to complete program sales, deals, new contacts and joint ventures. From September 30 - October 1, MIPCOM Junior will focus on the growing world of children's programming. Starting October 2, MIPCOM brings together over 10,000 producers, distributors, broadcasters, Webcasters, worldwide cable and satellite operators, buyers, co-producers and investors. This year's market will feature more than 2,500 exhibiting companies from 88 countries.

Contact Information:
MIPCOM (in France)
BP572, 11 Rue Du Colonel Pierre Avia
75726 Paris Cedex 15
France

Phone: ++33 1 41 90 45 80
Fax: ++33 1 41 90 45 70

The 16th Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market allows short filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their work to an international audience of distributors, buyers and producers who are searching for new talent and content. The market offers viewing areas of more than 3,000 new titles and special screenings. The 700-page market catalogue highlights the films presented at the market. The event gives industry professionals a chance to meet and work on setting up future deals. The European Union MEDIA programme is a supporter of the market.

MIP TV is the world's premier international television program market. The six-day TV industry trade show and conference program will focus on the international television industry. The event gives buyers, sellers and programmers a chance to meet and make deals. The conference includes a vast array of panels and round-table discussions with some of the world's top professionals. Each year the event attracts over 10,000 professionals from around the world.

The second Cartoon Masters event of 2001 will tackle the topic of business plans. The event will look at how market trends, new production prospects and growing competitive pressures affect producers' business plans thus affecting the overall company. Organized by Cartoon, with the support of the Media Programme of the European Union and the French Center for Cinematography, the seminar will feature two parts - one for analyzing the business plan for an enterprise and the other for individual projects. The speakers will be producers and financial directors of European and American studios.

Wednesday, June 6

Univers d'Enfants is the rendez-vous for all manufacturers and distributors of children