AWN Headline News

2nd Annual Zoom In Awards New York, New York, USAOctober 31, 2005Deadline: October 31, 2005

The 2nd Annual Zoom In Awards recognizes exceptional talent in digital production in both student and professional categories for each of the following competition areas: digital editing; digital cinematography; graphics & FX.

A complete list of finalists and winners for all categories can be found at the awards website (zoominawards.com), along with information on submissions and sponsorships.

Alphanim and M6 Web have signed a two-year agreement to exploit more than 250 episodes of animated content provided by Alphanim in the areas of mobile and VOD. Under the terms of the agreement, M6 Web has the exclusive mobile and video-on-demand rights of eight animated series including Alphanims French and international hits POTATOES AND DRAGONS (78x7) and RALF THE RECORD RAT (104x1).

Final negotiations are coming to a final stage in the discussions between the Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA and a group of major videogame publishers, reports VARIETY. The current contract is in its second extension and the actors unions have said there will not extend it again after the Friday deadline. The current contract was hammered out with Electronic Arts and nearly 70 other companies followed its guidelines. Unlike the film and TV industry that have the Assn.

With editor Bill Desowitz away at ILM getting the skinny on VFXWORLDs STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH coverage, Im giving my musings this week. Alain Bielik covers last weekends #1 box-office champ, SAHARA. Tara DiLullo talks with Tommy Tom about the vfx heavy Hong Kong import KUNG-FU HUSTLE.

On May 1, 2005, DreamWorks Animation and the Film Society of Lincoln Center will join together to host "Animation Now: Imagination, Innovation, Inspiration. The family event will look at how DreamWorks creates animated magic. The evening will be hosted by Al Roker with appearances from Chris Rock and others involved in the forthcoming MADAGASCAR. Attendees will be treated to footage from upcoming films like MADAGASCAR, OVER THE HEDGE, SHREK 3 and BEE MOVIE.

Moonscoop has signed a far-reaching deal with Cartoon Network at MIP-TV 2005. The broadcaster is to co-produce Moonscoops action comedy series FANTASTIC FOUR based on the classic Marvel characters and has acquired the worldwide broadcast rights outside the U.S. French commercial broadcaster M6 has also picked up the show which is currently in production.

Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) is set to grow W.I.T.C.H. across Europe, with several free TV licensing agreements for the new 26x30 animated series. W.I.T.C.H. is a co-production with Jetix Europe, The Walt Disney Co. in the U.S., France 3 in France and Super RTL in Germany and is produced by SIP Animation. This animated action-fantasy series is designed to appeal to kids 6-12 and is from the Jetix portfolio of programming, of which BVITV services the distribution.

Best known for his live-action/CG animation adaptation of Dutch writer Annie M.G. Schmidts childrens classic MINOES, Flemish director Vincent Bal is turning his hand to animation to make interactive childrens series called THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES OF KIKA AND BOB.

The show follows the chaotic around-the-world trip of a smart, little girl called Kika and a gentle but clumsy fireman called Bob. One rainy, windy night in the Belgian town of Waterloo, Kikas cat gets stuck on top of the church spire. Kika and Bob try to rescue the cat using a kite.

At MIPTV 2005, Nelvana confirm a raft of new television and home entertainment partners for musical adventure series THE BACKYARDIGANS as well as initial broadcast sales for JANE AND THE DRAGON.

Picking up episodes 1 to 20 of BACKYARDIGANS are Nickelodeon channels in Holland, Asia and Australia, Cartoon Network India, Discovery Kids Latin America, Teletoon Canada, KM Productions (Middle East), RTP 1 & 2 (Portugal), and Maori Television (New Zealand), while France 5 acquires the remaining episodes 11 to 20.