* Wednesday, October 4 – Sunday, October 8, 2000. Genzano, Italy.

* Tuesday, October 3, 2000. Cannes, France.


Entry Deadline: September 15, 2000.

Santa Monica, California-based Zeros & Ones, Inc. is looking for an ANIMATION INTERN for cutting edge Web animated series. . . Spain-based BRB International, leading TV animation studios & distributors in Europe, are looking for ARTISTIC DIRECTORS for animation feature films. . . Manhattan Beach, California-based Moon Crescent Studios, an independent film studio working on an animated feature film, is looking for a SOFTWARE DEVELOPER. . .

The deadline to register your film for competition at the 7th annual London Effects & Animation Festival (LEAF) is September 15, 2000. Europe's leading computer generated animation and special effects festival will award the best work from around the world in the following categories: Commercials (Animation); Commercials (Live-Action); Short Film; Music Video; Feature Film; Student; Titles, Idents & Stings; and Education & Simulation. This year the festival has introduced a new category: Web Animation. An independent panel comprised of industry experts will judge entries.

Since 1977, Cinanima has been promoting the international art of animation in Espinho, a city located on the Northern coast of Portugal. The 24th edition of the Festival will happen November 6-12, 2000. The Festival announced their 2000 nominees in official selection -- competition and panorama sections -- and the films competing for the Young Portuguese Director Prize. The selection jury consisted of Jordi Artigas (Spain), Paulo Cambraia (Portugal), Artur Correia (Portugal), Guy Pirotte (Belgium) and Amélia Martins (Portugal).

Based in the Northern Arts Region of England, Animha Productions is an association of artists, writers, animators and filmmakers dedicated to independent film production and animation workshops. Animha has updated their web site. View clips and find more about Animha's workshops and other projects at http://www.awn.com/animha.

- Opera Imaginaire: Twelve popular operas are brought to life through the interpretations of some of Europe's most talented animators. All styles of animation are represented, including computer animation. Films by Ken Lidster, Monique Renault, Pascal Roulin, Jonathan Hills, Jimmy Murakami, Raimund Krumme, and more!

French authorities, through INA, the Audiovisual National Institute, have pulled their support of Imagina, the foremost European visual effects event. For 19 years, Imagina has served as the testing ground for new talents and technologies in Europe. In the past few years the event has drawn over 1,300 participants and 5,000 visitors, growing to fill venues in two cities. A group has been formed to save the festival, which many professionals cite as being a wonderful meeting place to not only exchange ideas but also network and make valuable production deals.

Santa Monica-based R!OT, a digital production studio, recently finished the visual effects for a commercial promoting Tennessee's Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Digital artist Verdi Sevenhuysen helped turn Malibu Beach into the shores of Omaha Beach during D-Day. Sevenhuysen used Discreet Inferno system to alter the live-action footage to match the European topography. He also placed a series of steel tank traps onto the sandy shore. "It was a very close collaboration between director Karsten and I," said Sevenhuysen. "They didn't have the budget to shoot in France, but it didn't matter.

Australia-born Domenic DiGiorgio, a 3D animator specializing in character animation, has joined Santa Monica-based Computer Cafe as a lead character animator. Previously, DiGiorgio served as computer animation producer at Digital Animations Group, Scotland, where he created animation for television commercials and interactive games. In his two year tenure at Digital Animations, DiGiorgio’s credits include the games BRAVEHEART and OFFICIAL FORMULA 1 RACING, and commercials for Glover, Ike & Mike Hot Tamales and Lucky Duck.

The Britt Allcroft Company plc announced that as part of its global expansion, the company has changed its name to Gullane Entertainment and hired new key staff members. The company’s former managing director, William Harris, has been appointed CEO and commercial director and group entertainment president, Charles Falzon, will serve as president. The move is an opportunity for founder Britt Allcroft to hand over the operations of the company to focus on more creative endeavors.

French authorities, through INA (Audiovisual National Institute), have pulled their support of Imagina, the foremost European visual effects event. For 19 years, Imagina has served as the testing ground for new talents and technologies in Europe. In the past few years the event has drawn over 1,300 participants and 5,000 visitors. A group has been formed to save the festival. Anyone who wishes to sign the petition can on the Web.

After making big content deals with stars like Tim Burton and David Lynch, Shockwave.com has decided to change its focus from big celebrity toon deals to interactive games. Shockwave receives most of its hits in its game section. As part of the new move Shockwave has laid off 20 employees in its San Francisco and Los Angeles offices. Production on content in the works, such as programs from Oscar-winning producer/director James L. Brooks and game show host Ben Stein, will continue until the lay off becomes effective in October.

Facets Video's fantastic animation inventory has been added to the

AWN Store! Over 3,000 new videos available worldwide! From popular

Disney titles and the Peanuts to surrealist animation from Eastern

Europe, from action-packed Japanese anime to animation created with

paper cutouts, sand, clay, puppets and computer technology, the

Facets Whole Toon Catalog is now available in the AWN Store. Betty

Boop, Fritz the Cat, Tex Avery, Looney Tunes Classics and more

The X-MEN are gaining more ground in international theatres with top seat debuts in France, U.K. and Brazil. In France, the superhero saga racked up an impressive US$5.83 million in its opening weekend. Holding steady at #2, America’s summer smash, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2, amassed another $2.65 million, bringing its French cume to $23.18 million. THE PERFECT STORM sank from first to fourth, with a gross of $2.33 million, raising its French cume to $6.77 million. Falling a spot to land in sixth, GLADIATOR garnered $861,846, advancing its French cume to $29.59 million.

Nintendo announced on Friday that it would not release its next generation versions of Gameboy and next generation console unit, Gamecube, this year. This announcement marks a crucial hit for the company in the next generation console market, which was led off by the healthy debut of Sony’s PlayStation 2 in Japan. The new Sony console looks to be a hot seller for the holiday season, with Sony set to raise ¥150 billion (US$1.4 billion) by selling bonds to keep up with the demand for the PlayStation 2.

Facets Video's fantastic animation inventory has been added to the

AWN Store! Over 3,000 new videos available worldwide! From popular

Disney titles and the Peanuts to surrealist animation from Eastern

Europe, from action-packed Japanese anime to animation created with

paper cutouts, sand, clay, puppets and computer technology, the

Facets Whole Toon Catalog is now available in the AWN Store. Betty

Boop, Fritz the Cat, Tex Avery, Looney Tunes Classics and more

The 5th edition of I Castelli Animati will take place in Genzano,

Italy, October 4-8, 2000. I Castelli Animati highlights animation in

all its forms from commercials to features films. The international

competition features the following prizes: grand prize "I Castelli

Animati," special jury prize, best debut short film, best European

short film, audience prize, the Fabrizio Bellocchio prize and best

non-narrative short film. The Italian competition will give a grand

Europe’s top selling toy ACTION MAN has made it to American shelves. The entire Hasbro ACTION MAN toy line brings in US$300 million a year overseas and $1 billion in brand sales over the last five years. Various extreme sport versions of Action Man have hit the shelves along with his arch nemesis Dr. X. The figures range from $7.99 to $29.99. "Action Man has been huge overseas," said Perry Drosos, VP of U.S. marketing for ACTION MAN. "In fact, it has been the top-selling action figure line in Europe for several years. Right now, 80% of boys ages four to ten in the U.K.

* Tuesday, September 12, 2000. San Francisco, California, U.S.A.





Robin Allen will discuss his book EUROPEAN INFLUENCES ON WALT DISNEY and the images that influenced Disney artists. Dr. Allen’s research is based on interviews with the artists who created the features and short films made by Disney. The event gives a rare chance to discuss the influences on Disney films from SNOW WHITE to THE JUNGLE BOOK. For more information contact Karl Cohen at: (415) 386-1044.