AWN Headline News

2006 DIY Book Festival Los Angeles, California, USAOctober 7, 2006Deadline: September 25, 2006

The 2006 DIY Book Festival will host its fifth annual program celebrating the success of independent authors and publishers.

The DIY Book Festival will consider self-published or independent publisher non-fiction, fiction, biography/autobiography, children's books, teenage, how-to, audio/spoken word, photography, art, comics, 'zines, fan fiction, poetry and e-books published on or after Jan. 1, 2004.

Barcelona-based Icon Animation has signed a raft of programming deals at MIPTV 2006 for its edu-tainment series VITAMINIX (www.vitaminix.tv). Panama free TV channel TV7 (Corp. Medcom), UEA cabsat channel E-Junior, TV Andorra and Digiturk in Turkey are the latest broadcasters to sign up for the animated healthy eating show aimed at kids. In addition, Icon Animation has signed an output deal with Al Sayyar Art Prod. for the Middle East and 33x26 animated series MIMI & MR. BOBO.

After three years in the making, the animated family action-adventure FRIENDS AND HEROES is due for delivery in September 2006.

Set in the turbulent times of the Roman Empire, FRIENDS AND HEROES follows the adventures of Macky, Portia and their friends across the ancient world and right to the heart of the Empire: Rome. As they fight for freedom, justice and even survival against the might of the Roman Empire, they become friends and then, in turn, heroes.

From CTIA Wireless 2006 in Las Vegas, Verizon Wireless has announced content deals for its V CAST service with Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) as well as AtomFilms.

For the Turner deal, V CAST customers can view content from Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) on their V CAST-enabled phones.

Airborne Ent. announced the summer release of FAMILY GUY: AIR GRIFFIN, the newest addition to the FAMILY GUY suite of mobile content. The game centers around Peter Griffin, the patriarch of FOXs Emmy-nominated animated series, who has just spent Meg's college fund on a medieval catapult in an attempt to break the record for the longest freeform human flight. Peter's counting on friends like Quagmire, his family members like Stewie, Brian, Meg and Lois, and players to help him reach his goal.

DECODE Ent. has made a raft of sales to TV2 Denmark. Two innovative series created and co-produced with Aardman Animations, CHOP SOCKY CHOOKS and PLANET SKETCH have been acquired by the Danish broadcaster alongside DECODEs pre-school show THE SAVE-UMS.

Josh Scherba, sales exec at DECODE Ent., said, PLANET SKETCH is going from strength to strength and were confident that CHOP SOCKY CHOOKS will have a similar impact. THE SAVE-UMS! also continues to be popular, and its great to have three of our shows lined up for TV2s kids schedule.

Ramsey A. Naito has been named vp of long-form development for Cartoon Network. In this newly created position, Naito will be responsible for finding, developing and producing long-form properties for the network. Sourcing from Cartoon Networks original assets as well as outside creator-driven publishing, comic and film resources, Naitos mission will be to shepherd event projects embodying the networks smart, funny and fearless sensibility for both on-air and DVD release.

The Eisner Award nominations were released with Chris Ware and Warren Ellis topping the nominees with seven and six nominations, respectively. DC had 28 nominations for its various imprints; Image was second with ten; Drawn and Quarterly had nine, and Pantheon had eight. Winners will be announced at the San Diego Comic-Con.

The full list of nominees follows.

Best Short Story* BLOOD SON, by Richard Matheson, adapted by Chris Ryall and Ashley Wood, in Doomed #1 (IDW)* MONSTER SLAYERS, by Khang Le, in Flight, vol. 2 (Image)

Autodesk Inc. launched Autodesk Toxik 2007, the latest version of its collaborative digital compositing software for feature film production. Autodesk Toxik 2007 will be showcased at the NAB tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nevada from April 24-27, 2006, at Autodesk Booth #SL3719.

IDT Ent. announced the appointment of Chris McGurk to the newly created post of senior advisor, new ventures. McGurks longtime career in the entertainment industry includes stints atop MGM, Universal Pictures and the Walt Disney Co. Motion Picture Group. In his new position, McGurk will focus his industry experience on leveraging IDTs assets to build a new live-action theatrical production and distribution arm. He will report to IDT Ent.

PBS announced the planned launch of a new 24-hour digital broadcast channel for early elementary school-age children, called the PBS KIDS GO! Channel, in October 2006. The new channel, which follows the success of the PBS KIDS GO! afternoon programming block on PBS member stations, will be entirely devoted to early elementary school kids.