Press Release from DECODE Enterprises

Toronto, London 13 May 2009. Leading kids and family entertainment specialist DECODE Enterprises, the distribution subsidiary of DHX Media Ltd., has scored further deals in Asia for KID VS KAT (52x11' / 26x22'), an animated series produced by Studio B Productions in association with YTV Canada and Jetix Europe.

Press Release from McDonald's

OAK BROOK, Ill., May 13 -- McDonald's and Twentieth Century Fox today announced their new global partnership surrounding the studio's highly anticipated calendar of blockbuster movies through 2010. The multi-faceted partnership offers something for everyone, including never-before-seen technology and animation; innovative Happy Meal toy collections; and restaurant promotions in thousands of restaurants worldwide.

May 12 to 20 is your chance to vote online for your favourite short among the finalists of the 5th NFB Short Film Competition -- Cannes 2009. Just go to www.nfb.ca/cannes or www.youtube.com/nfb.

Press Release from fmx/09

Press Release from Moi j'aime la television and Helion Pictures

Paris/London 12 May 2009. Award-winning independent producers Moi j'aime la television (MJTV) and Helion Pictures are making a trilogy of feature-length films based on their hit long-running television half hour comedy series GENIE IN THE HOUSE.

ANIMA'09 -- 5th Cordoba International Animation Festival
Cordoba, Argentina
October 8-10, 2009
Deadline: July 17, 2009

ANIMA'09 will take place in the city of Cordoba, Argentina, from October 8 through 10, 2009. The festival is organized by the Centro Experimental de Animacion and the Secretaria de Extension Universitaria, National University of Cordoba.

This fifth edition of the ANIMA will be dedicated to exploring the concept of Identity Traits. Therefore, we open the following:

SIGGRAPH announces the selection of award nominees for the SIGGRAPH 2009 Computer Animation Festival to be held in New Orleans this August. Nominees were chosen from 770 submissions from around the globe, presented by both professional studios and students alike. In all, more than 140 films will be shown during the Computer Animation Festival. The award winners will be announced during the conference.

The hugely successful PINKY AND PERKY SHOW is continuing to pull in the viewers with repeats of the first series scheduled across the BBC in the coming months.

The show is scheduled in special double-bill slots on Sundays on the CBBC Channel at 7.35 that will run until 5th July. The pesky pair are also scheduled Monday to Friday at 3.10pm on CBBC, from 5th May until 29th May, as well as being featured on Transmission Impossible with Ed and Oucho on BBC 2, which starts on Saturday 16th May. The first series is also now available on DVD.

The winners from this year's South Beach Animation Festival are:

Abstract, Avant-garde, Experimental
EL RELOJERO (THE CLOCKMAKER'S REVELATION)
Director Paula Froehle, Mexico

After Dark
EX-ERGO
Director Yolyanko William, Cuba

Comedy
FOT-THE NEXT BIG THING
Director Alex Dron, New Zealand

Honorable Mention -- GERALD'S LAST DAY
Director Justin Rasch, Shel Rasch, USA

Educational
THROUGH THE VIRTUAL CELL

Masterclass with Pixar Artists
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
June 13-14, 2009

VanArts is proud to present a two-day intensive Masterclass in Montreal with Story Artist Matthew Luhn and Animator Andrew Gordon from PIXAR Animation Studios! This is a one-time special event to be held in Montreal.

MARY & MAX won the AniMovi prize at Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film, which concluded Sunday in Germany. Italian production MUTO won the Grand Prix. The complete list of winners is as follows:

International Competition

Grand Prix
State of Baden-Wuerttemberg and City of Stuttgart Grand Award of Animated Film with a cash prize of 15,000 Euros
MUTO
by Blu Italy 2008
Production: Mercurio Film SRL
World Sale: Mercurio Film SRL

International Promotion Award

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science is holding a series of screenings starting May 18th celebrating the films of 1939 titled "Hollywood's Greatest Year." Below is a list of the features and the animated shorts that will be playing with them.

STAGECOACH - June 1 - THE FILM FAN (Porky Pig)
WUTHERING HEIGHTS - June 8 - THE POINTER (nominee) (Mickey & Pluto)
GUNGA DIN - June 12 - THUGS WITH DIRTY MUGS (Tex Avery)
DARK VICTORY - June 15 - DANGEROUS DAN MCFOO (Tex Avery)
LOVE AFFAIR - June 22 - DETOURING AMERICA (nominee) (Tex Avery)

Weta Digital is planning a branch dedicated to advanced computer graphics research called Transfx, reports VARIETY. VFXWorld reported in April that Sebastian Sylwan had joined Weta as head of research and development, and now he will oversee the new arm, which hopes to bridge the gap between R&D and production. Previously, Sylwan worked for Autodesk as senior industry manager for film and TV.

Following yesterday's news that Bradley Cooper is in line for the title character, Box Office Mojo is reporting that GREEN LANTERN has been pushed to 2011. Originally Warner Bros. had set Dec. 17, 2010 for its release, but now fans will have to wait until June 17, 2011. It is unclear whether this move will affect the start of shooting, which was set for September in Australia. Martin Campbell is directing the film.

Electronic Arts Inc. announced that its EA Redwood Shores Studio has been renamed and rebranded Visceral Games. The newly named studio will focus on developing action games with state-of-the-art technology, visuals, audio, and gameplay. The studio is currently working on the highly anticipated games, DANTE’S INFERNO and DEAD SPACE: EXTRACTION, as well as two other unannounced titles.

Press Release from Chorion

London, 5 May 2009: OLIVIA, the hit new pre-school animated series from leading family entertainment producer and distributor Chorion, is continuing its international rollout with more major broadcasters signing TV rights to the show.

Press Release from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

PRODUCTION WEEKLY reports that Dwayne Johnson has been cast in Disney's live-action redo of 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, under helmer McG.

The studio reportedly hopes to make the film this year in Australia, and has put the project in fast-track.

The synopsis is as follows:

Press Release from MTV

NEW YORK, May 4 -- The hit films "Twilight" and "Slumdog Millionaire" get ready to battle it out as MTV: Music Television announces this year's final nominees for the "2009 MTV MOVIE AWARDS." Pitting Hollywood vampires against the Mumbai slums, the movies' rabid fans proved their loyalty as they sent both flicks to the head of the cinematic pack with each film receiving nominations in six award categories including "BEST MOVIE," "BEST KISS" and "BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE MALE."

Press Release from Entity FX

Santa Monica, CA (April 30, 2009) -- Film, television and commercial visual effects company Entity FX has landed a 2009 Sports Emmy Award for its work on the television series SPORT SCIENCE. The award marks Entity FX's second Emmy accolade for the show, which is produced by BASE Productions and airs on Fox Sports Network (FSN).