AWN Headline News

JAKKS Pacific Inc. announced a worldwide licensing agreement with HIT Ent. to market and distribute JAKKS Pacific's new TeleStory interactive books based on HIT's popular THOMAS & FRIENDS, BARNEY, THE WIGGLES and BOB THE BUILDER properties. The TeleStory system connects directly into a standard TV using Plug & Read technology and serves as a fun, introductory reading guide for preschool-aged children.

11th Annual Not Still Art FestivalOctober 7, 2006New York, New York, USADeadline: June 15, 2006

Not Still Art Festival is an international screening of abstract and non-narrative electronic motion imaging with music/sound design. The Not Still Art Festival was first organized in 1996 by video artist, Carol Goss, to provide a forum for video artists, electronic animators, musicians/sound artists working in non-narrative forms.

The USC School of Cinema-Television, Division of Animation & Digital Arts is hosting its annual FIRSTLOOK student screening. The event will take place on Friday. April 21, 2006, at 7:30 pm at the DGA Theatre Complex, 7920 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90046. It is one block west of Fairfax Ave. on Sunset Blvd. (southeast corner of Sunset and Hayworth). There is ample underground parking with security. Program begins promptly. For more information, call Isabelle Gelot at (213) 740-3986, email animation@cinema.usc.edu or visit anim.usc.edu or cinema.usc.edu.

Trading house Sojitsu Holding is set to take 17% of distribution company Klockworx, reports VARIETY. Sojitsu hopes to develop and market content for the international market, including live-action films and animation. Sojitsu will buy current Klockworx shares and will not participate in Klockworx management.

"We plan to set up a project team between our two companies to discuss areas of cooperation," Klockworx vp Itaru Fujimoto said.

NATPE Student Video & Film Production AwardsLas Vegas, Nevada, USAJanuary 15-18, 2006Deadline: May 1, 2006

The National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) Educational Foundation is hosting its annual Student Video & Film Production Awards. Winners will be rewarded with cash prizes and complementary registrations for the 2007 NATPE Conference & Exhibition.

Sony Online Entertainment: Serving Gamers Stationed AbroadWorld Wide WebMay 20, 2006Deadline: May 10, 2006

Sony Online Entertainment is showing its appreciation for the men and women of the Armed Forces who are actively serving overseas, far away from their homes and loved ones. If you or someone you are close to are currently stationed out of the country and loves videogames, Sony is offering a chance to win a SonyStyle gift card valued at $500 and a collection of Sony Online Ent. videogames.