Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) will bring a diverse slate of programming to MIPCOM, including the animated series ASTRO BOY and CYBORG 009, as well as STEPHEN KING'S KINGDOM HOSPITAL, JOAN OF ARCADIA, MISSING and RESIDENTS, the hit Chilean telenovela, MACHOS, according to SPTI distribution evp Peter Iacono. The SPTI booth will be at top of the Palais at M5.01.

Universal's THE RUNDOWN, which may prove to be The Rock's breakout starring vehicle, scored a whopping $18.5M in its debut for the weekend ended Sept. 28, 2003. Topping the box office chart also gives Rhythm & Hues some vfx bragging rights as well. Disney's Diane Lane romancer, UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN, debuted in second place with $9.7M.

CINAR, which always takes a big animated presence at MIPCOM, comes with two new combo live-action/animated series as well as a CALLILOU feature-length movie.

The Indigo Group will venture to Cannes with four new projects in tow for MIPCOM. The new projects include TOBY THE PRINCE OF WHALES, TINGUARO, BRADY’S BEASTS and FREDDIE THE FROG.

Sunwoo USA and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) are offering WILD ANIMAL BABIES, a 26 half-hour animated and live-action series with interactive elements to screen at MIPCOM Jr.

Kaydara has included NXN alienbrain asset management functionality to MOTIONBUILDER 5 Professional Edition, the latest version of its powerful realtime 3D character animation software that is currently shipping. The integrated support of NXN alienbrain allows MOTIONBUILDER 5 users to operate in a secure, version-controlled environment without having to leave their application.

HOLLYWOOD CARTOONS Book Signing & Screening
Burbank, California, USA
September 27, 2003

A Short History of Polish Animation Exhibition
New York, New York, USA
October 23 - November 2, 2003

Talespinners 2
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
October 24, 2003
Deadline: October 24, 2003

9D8µTState University Art Museum Short Film and Video Festival
Tempe, Arizona, USA
April 2004
Deadline: February 13, 2004

Sponsored by the Arizona State University Art Museum, the Arizona State University Art Museum Short Film and Video Festival highlights the best in short subjects. The event is free to enter and no paper work is needed. The screening of the films will take place at the museum with the exact date announced later in the year. For more information visit asuartmuseum.asu.edu/filmfest/.

rhinofx created the effects on LOGICAL ENGINEERING, the :30 GMC spot that aired nationally in August. Working with Jim Sonzero of RSA USA, Los Angeles, California, and Lowe, New York, the rhinofx team was headed by senior inferno artist/partner Vico Sharabani.

DECODE Entertainment has further consolidated its presence in the U.K. kid’s market, signing its first deal with CiTV to broadcast WHAT ABOUT MIMI? in its 2003 fall schedule.

AMD has announced the grand prize winner in the AMD Athlon 64 processor High-Tech Treasure Hunt. Marty Rice of Cleveland, Ohio, won the grand prize of an AMD Athlon 64 processor-based desktop system and $6,400 cash. The virtual geocaching contest asked participants to find 64 global locations that have significance to 64-bit computing, AMD or technology. More than 10,000 people entered the contest between August 25 and September 15.

Chalk up another horror dominance of the box office chart. UNDERWORLD, the vampire/werewolf flick from Screen Gems (with vfx from FrameStore CFC and Luma Pictures), debuted in the top spot for the weekend ended Sept.21, 2003 with $21.7M.

Embassy Suites Hotels and Warner Home Video have announced a licensing promotion entitled, "Fall Family Suite Retreat," featuring a plush toy of Scooby-Doo. The promotional toy is available with advance reservations on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights now through December 7, 2003, at more than 165 participating hotels.

Carlton International has struck multiple feature, TV and home entertainment deals for its children’s animated classic, THE LAST UNICORN. First, Carlton has signed a deal with movie production company Continent Film Ltd for a live-action re-make. In addition, the film has been licensed for broadcast to Roadshow Television in Australia. Video deals have been signed with NVC Felix Film in Poland and Goldvision in France and French-speaking territories.

Following the demise of Egmont Imagination earlier this year, the company's former U.K. managing director, Tatiana Kober, has launched Bejuba! Entertainment, based in Toronto with an office in Los Angeles. The company will specialize in financing, exploitation and distribution of intellectual property rights across all key markets and platforms.

Newark, New Jersey-based Digital Production Solutions (DPS), the animation unit of IDT Media, continues its buying spree, having signed a letter of intent to acquire a controlling interest in Mainframe Entertainment, Inc., a leading Canadian creator of computer animation for TV and direct-to-video products.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO, Robert Rodriguez's homage to Sergio Leone, topped the box office chart for the weekend ended Sept. 14, 2003. The Sony movie (with vfx by Hybride Technologies) scored with $23.4M. Ridley Scott's MATCHSTICK MEN, debuted in second (with vfx by Sony Pictures Imageworks), picking up a more modest $13M for Warner Bros. In third place, was another debut, the indie horror film CABIN FEVER (with vfx by K.N.B. EFX Group).

In a further sign of its aggressive commitment to computer animation, Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studios are prepping a feature based on the laidback children's book THE IGUANA BROTHERS: A TALE OF TWO LIZARDS, the trades reported and the studio confirmed. Written by Tony Johnson and illustrated by Mark Teague, IGUANA concerns two brothers in Mexico (Dom and Tom) that will try almost anything, including going vegetarian and acting like dinosaurs.