Alexander Woos impressive student film REX STEELE: NAZI SMASHER took home the Best of the Fest prize at the 2004 CINEME International Animation Film Festival, held September 24-26, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois. REX STEELE follows a dashing hero as he battle Nazi scum during World War II.
TBWA network agencies created the biggest impact at the 42nd Sharks Advertising Festival in Galway. Dublin Agency Cawley Nea TBWA won the Irish Grand Prix and a host of other Awards for its Today FM campaign. Its sister agency TBWA London won the Cinema Grand Prix, 3 Craft and two Gold Sharks for the Playstation 2 Mountain ad. The Festival Grand Prix was won by BBHs Getting Dressed commercial for Lynx.
The 2004 Ottawa International Animation Festival announced the winners of the official competition during its closing ceremonies held Sept. 26, 2004 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Taking the top prize was Chris Landreths groundbreaking short RYAN, an animated documentary about the famed NFB animator Ryan Larkin.
The 2004 Cartoon dOr has been awarded to Virgil Widrick of Austria for his short, FAST FILM. An homage to movie history, it combines elements from live-action films with printed and folded objects in a fast-moving and highly original production.
The four other nominees were CONCERT FOR A CARROT PIE by Heiki Ernits and Janno Poldma (Estonia), LE RÉVOLUTION DES CRABES by Arthur de Pins (France), LINVENTAIRE FANTOME by Franck Dion (France) and THROUGH MY THICK GLASSES by Pjotr Sapegin (Norway).
European visual effects society eDIT | VES, whose upcoming festival runs in Frankfurt, Germany from Sept. 26 28, 2004, will award the legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick the Festival Honors. Kubrick pushed the boundaries of special effects with his masterpiece 2001: A SPACE ODDESSY. The award will be handed out on Sept. 26 at the opening gala of eDIT | VES 2004. The posthumous award will be accepted by Kubricks wife Christiane. More information can be found at www.edit-ves.com.
Raven Animation provided animation on the 2004 Gold Aurora Award winning PSA, MR. BICYCLE MAN. The PSA was produced to benefit the Children's Rights Foundation, a 501-c-3 non-profit organization (see www.crfi.org). It is the first animated project to be completed by former Disney animators who now make up the Raven Animation team under the direction of director Mike Gibilisco.
For the first time, the Visual Effects Society (VES) will be offering online voting in preparation of its third annual VES Awards ceremony, to be held in Los Angeles at the Palladium on Feb. 16, 2005.
Meanwhile, the VES has offered several tips and reminders:
The Walt Disney Co. today named the 2004 Disney Legends, recognizing individuals who have contributed creativity, innovation and imagination to Disney's rich heritage. Walt Disney Co. ceo Michael Eisner presided over the ceremony, which takes place each year at the Disney Legends Plaza at The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, CA.
The following are the 2004 Disney Legends:
European visual effects society eDIT | VES, whose upcoming festival runs in Frankfurt, Germany from Sept. 26 28, 2004, will award Academy Award winner Vilmos Zsigmond (THE DEER HUNTER, HEAVEN'S GATE, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND), aka Master of Light, the Festival Honors. The award will be handed out on Sept. 26 at the opening gala of eDIT | VES 2004. Zsigmond will discuss "The Art of Cinematography" during the festival on Sept. 27 at 7:00 pm. More information can be found at www.edit-ves.com.
Los Angeles visual effects and design company A52 earned an Emmy for Outstanding Main Title Design on HBO's CARNIVÀLE series. The award was presented during the 2003-2004 Creative Arts Primetime Emmys segment of the 56th Annual Emmy Awards presentation at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Sept. 12.
A52s work on this project also earned the PROMAX Gold Award in the category of Non-Promotional Animation earlier this year.
ASIFA-Hollywood, The International Animated Film Society, is taking nominations for animation within the gaming industry in the category of Outstanding Achievement in a Short Subject. This addition to the 32nd Annual Annie Awards honoring the years best animation across film, television, commercials and short subjects, speaks to the growing influence and importance of animation in the gaming industry.
Massive Software founder and product manager Stephen Regelous has been nominated for a World Technology Network Award in the entertainment category. Determined by a vote of industry peers, the awards are presented by the World Technology Network (WTN) to recognize work that has a high level of innovation and lasting significance in such fields as biotechnology, space, energy, ethics, design and entertainment. Winners will be named Oct. 8 at the World Technology Awards in San Francisco.
Genny Tartakovsky and Cartoon Network were double-winners in the primetime Emmy race for animation while STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE took series honors for visual effects at The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 2003-2004 Creative Arts Primetime Emmys for programs and individual achievements at the 56th Annual Emmy Awards presentation September 12, 2004, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
Wrapping up this past weekend, the Venice International Film Festival announced its winners and one of animations superstars took home a prize. The Osella Award for technical achievement was given to Hayao Miyazakis forthcoming feature HOWLS MOVING CASTLE. Buzz from the event has some attendees and critics saying that Miyazaki has out down himself yet again, bettering his work from his previous Oscar winning film SPIRITED AWAY.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Scientific and Technical Awards Committee will review 17 scientific and technical achievements for 77th Academy Awards consideration, according to committee chair Richard Edlund, but its not too late to submit entries.
Now in its third year, the Visual Effects Societys (VES) awards season opened for submissions on Sept. 1. This years awards slate features new categories, an optional day of live in-person presentations and an online view and vote system.
On Aug. 29, 2004, MTV handed out its annual Video Music Awards, giving Filmtecknarna and Moneyshots big wins for visual effects. Moneyshots took home the top visual effects prize for its work on OutKasts HEY YA vid. Filmtecknarna celebrates for its work highlighted in the Breakthrough Video winner, Franz Ferdinands TAKE ME OUT.
The Special Extended DVD Edition of THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS, from New Line Home Ent., is the top contender in the 7th Annual DVD Awards with Leonard Maltin, leading all entries with six nominations. Maltin will preside for the fifth consecutive year at the DVD Awards Ceremony, the August 30 opening night event of the new Entertainment Media Expo (EMX), at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel here, Aug. 30 through Sept. 1, 2004.
Six new Maya Masters have been selected by Alias for 2004: Andrew Daffy, CGI supervisor formerly with Framestore CFC; Jeremy Gordon, president/ceo of San Francisco-based game development company Secret Level; Lee Griggs, product specialist at ART VPS; Derald Hunt, digital effects artist; Tom Kluyskens, CG supervisor; and Rene Morel, character modeler and texturer.
The Motion Picture Sound Editors has chosen to present its Career Achievement Award to sound designer Gary Rydstrom. The award will be presented at the 51st Annual Golden Reel Awards to be held Feb. 27, 2005 at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.
The Iranian animation film THE HOLE by Vahid Nasirian and produced by the Experimental and Documentary Film Center took home the second prize in the international competition section at the 19th Odense International Film Festival, which was held from August 4-9, 2004 in Denmark. The juvenile jury gave its prize to LOVE TRICYCLE by Andrew Goode (Australia).
The SecondCity.com have announced the winner of this year's ShortCuts Film Festival. Taking the prize were Lee Lanier and Jeffrey Dates of Boulder City, Nevada for their animated film DAY OFF THE DEAD. Lanier and Dates will receive a scholarship for one term of the Second City Writing Program, and the opportunity to officially present their project to executives at Sony Pictures Television and the William Morris Agency.
Dan Castellaneta will be awarded this year's Primetime Emmy Award for animation voice over performance for his work on THE SIMPSONS as the dysfunctional family patriarch, Homer, Homer, as well as Krusty the Clown, Grampa Simpson, Groundskeeper Willie, Barney Gumble and Mel.
Rushes Soho Shorts Festival has released the names of this year's winners. Aardman took home the top animation prize for CREATURE COMFORTS 'CATS & DOGS' by Richard Goleszowski. Runners up were KILLING TIME AT HOME from Neil Coslett of Blackwatch Prods. and OUT OF JOINT from Peter Peake of South West Screen. Animation winners in other categories include The Sound Music Video Award Runner Up Steriogram WALKIE TALKIE MAN and The Quantel Title Sequences & Idents Award Runner Up THE LIFE & DEATH OF PETER SELLERS.
Donald Duck, who celebrates his 70th birthday this year, will be honored with the 2,257th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star will be unveiled Aug. 9 at 10:30 a.m. at 6840 Hollywood Blvd. in front of the Disney Store/El Capitan Theatre.
