The Matita Film Festival (MFF) is a festival consisting of two competitive sections open to authors from all over the globe, plus various historical and monographic retrospectives. MFF's goal is to highlight the independent spirit, while not neglecting entertainment issues. MFF 2000 will feature various retrospectives including Yuri Norstein, Animation Made in the U.K. and Phil Mulloy. Moreover, MFF holds a strong interest in the productions of animated film schools from all over the world. Every year "Focus On" explores a different school and this year it will be CalArts. The prize awarded to the best film in competition for each category is ITL 4,000,000 (2,000 EUROS approx.). The cultural association "Ex Novo" also provides several educational activities related to animated film. The event will have meetings, seminars and workshops, directed by known professionals.

This unique event will spotlight new cutting-edge filmmaking talent from around the world, with a big focus on film schools and student filmmakers. There will be a series of screenings highlighting the work of the UK's major centers of filmmaking and a round-table discussion on "How To Promote Your Short Film To Maximum Effect." Films or videos made during or after June 1999 and up to 40 minutes in length are eligible for entry. All the films will be in competition.

The 4th Annual Short Pictures International Film Festival (SPIFF) is a biennial event that showcases the best in short film. Categories include live-action fiction, animation, documentaries, spec commercials, and digital and experimental works (15 minutes or less). Past filmmakers' works have been selected by Cannes Film Festival, Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, HBO/Cinemax, Independent Features Channel and World Animation Celebration. In 1998, Corky Quakenbush's CLOPS III won the animation category. A portion of SPIFF's proceeds are donated to either domestic or international children's charities.

The Ottawa International Animation Festival is one of the premiere festivals in the animation community. The festival offers three competitions: independent film/video, commissioned works and Internet animation. The independent competition includes categories: Independent Film/Video Under 50 Minutes, Films for Children, Graduate Film and First Film. In the commissioned competition the entries can be educational, industrial or scientific films, commercials, station/program ids, music videos, TV specials and TV series. This year Flash entries can be submitted via the festival's Web site by providing the film's URL. During pre-selection Ottawa's committee will visit each of the sites, view the films and make their selections for competition. In the competition, Ottawa will have two prizes: a Grand Prize for Best Internet Animation (selected by the International Jury) and a Public Prize for Best Internet Animation. Computers will be set up during the festival to afford attendees the opportunity to view the films and vote for their choices. People will be able to log onto the Ottawa Festival Web site from home and vote for their favorite films as well. Retrospectives include: From Scratch, A Look Into The Parameters of Film; Computer Animation in the 21st Century; Jazz in Animation; PDI: 20th Anniversary; Bermuda Shorts: Ten Years After; Yvonne Andersen; Tribute to Spike & Mike Fest; Suzanne Gervais; Paul Fierlinger; Pjotr Sapegin; Jan Lenica; George Pal; Gene Deitch; and Chinese Animation.

The 3rd Annual Golden Marble Awards will honor excellence in children's advertising. Judges include: Alice Germanetti, Sr. Partner Creative Director Ogilvy & Mather; John Barry, Creative Director J. Walter Thompson; Joe Bacal, Co-Chairman & Creative Director Griffin Bacal; Dave Shea, Sr. VP Creative Director Saatchi & Saatchi; Chris McKee, Chief Creative Officer The Geppetto Group and Doug Zarkin, VP GWhiz Youth Marketing. The Golden Marble Awards will be presented at a lunch ceremony as part of a 2-day conference on breakthrough marketing to kids entitled "Advertising to Kids." The television commercial product categories are Best Electronic/Video Game Commercial, Best Doll Commercial, Best Action Figure Commercial, Best Game Commercial, Best Creative Play Commercial, Best Toy Commercial-General, Best Breakfast Food Commercial, Best Snack Food Commercial, Best Beverage Commercial, Best Food Commercial-General, Best Clothing/Apparel/Accessories Commercial, Best Non-Food Packaged Good Commercial, Best Commercial for a Television Program, Home Video or Movie, Best Commercial for a Television Network or Programming Block and Best Entertainment Venue Commercial. Other awards include Best Cinema Advertising, Best On-line Advertising, Best Animation Company (Cel), Best Animation Company (SFX), Best Commercial Directed to Parents of Preschoolers, Best Overall Campaign and Best Public Service Advertising.

This conference, sponsored by Teen Screen KidScreen, is about effectively marketing to youth. Concurrent panels in both Kid & Teen tracks will focus on: The Importance of Branding; Media Planning & Buying; Effective Media Outlets; Effective Internet Marketing Strategies; Producing Breakthrough Creative; Creating and Executing Breakthrough Promotion and more.

Hollywood Shorts' 2nd Annual Animation Festival is holding a one-day festival to highlight animation shorts. Hollywood Shorts is a monthly short film festival that features shorts from the film festival circuit for the established Los Angeles film and television community. Submissions to the animation festival must be no longer than 20 minutes and sent in VHS/NTSC format for review. Both traditional and 3D animation is welcome. There is a US$10 entry fee and checks should be made out to "Kimberley Browning (HS)."

Tuesday, September 5

The Silicon Pulp Animation Gallery will present Atomic Sushi, a major exhibition of artworks from Japanese animated films and TV series. The exhibition will include pre-production illustrations, storyboards, original hand-painted cels and backgrounds. A comprehensive catalogue covering the history, themes and artists will also be published to coincide with the exhibition. Also, the Dendy Cinemas are holding a "Japanime Festival" from Wednesday, September 6 - Sunday, September 10 as part of the Sydney Olympic Arts Festival. Silicon Pulp will exhibit original artworks from a selection of the films screened at the festival.

Created 15 years ago, the Hiroshima Festival celebrates peace through the art of animation. This year's event will feature special programs on the work of Tadahito Mochinaga; Turkish animation; a screening of LOTUS LATERN; and a retrospective of Feodor Khitruk. Seminars on the creation of animation will be led by world-renowned artists B