Events: Documentaries

This year's program includes internationally recognized Governor General's Award winner Bruce Elder, and other internationally acclaimed filmmakers, through to black and white films of first-time filmmakers, to local and Canadian experimental films, to the best in dance films.

Special screenings and presentations by filmmakers include films and videos of Ottawa media artist Penny McCann, Governor-General Award winner R. Bruce Elder, and Vancouver's Alex MacKenzie (whose films are presented through a homebuilt, hand-cranked projector).

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) hosts FRAMES, Asia's biggest convention on the business of entertainment. FRAMES every year is inaugurated by the Indian Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and the government both at the federal and state level participates in it actively. FRAMES is a congregation of more than 1,500 professionals from global media and entertainment giants. The areas that its focus on are animation, gaming, digital film making, special effects, convergence, motion pictures, music, radio, broadcast etc.

The 7th Annual Tiburon International Film Festival (TIFF), a showcase for independent films and filmmakers from around the world, will be held March 13-21, 2008 in Tiburon, CA. Submissions are open to all genres of film: Fiction, documentary, short, animation, experimental, student, children, sports, and music video, from any nation in the world.

TIFF screened more than 250 films from 90 countries in March 2007, selected from more than 3,000 entries.

San Luis Obispo International Film Festival celebrates and supports the films and filmmaking community of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Located on California's Central Coast halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, SLOIFF offers filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their films before a wide array of active and influential members of the international filmmaking community. The event accepts foreign and domestic features, documentaries and shorts. For more information, visit www.slofilmfest.org.

Now in its 13th year, the International Family Film Festival (IFFF) showcases the best of family films and screenplays at its Hollywood, California event. Held at Raleigh Studios, IFFF is open to all films and screenplays that meet the criteria of its mission statement: "The IFFF advocates, promotes, and encourages excellence in films & screenplays produced for a general audience by emerging filmmakers and studios worldwide.

The Berlin International Film Festival, also known as The Berlinale, is one of the film industry's most prestigious annual events. It was established in 1951 by Americans during the occupation and has become Berlin's largest cultural event. It ranks alongside Cannes and Venice in terms of prestige. Animated films to screen as part of this year's festival include Nina Paley's SITA SINGS THE BLUES and Signe Baumane's TEAT BEAT OF SEX. For more information, visit www.berlinale.de/en/HomePage.html.

NY Int'l Children's Film Festival is hosting its first annual benefit. Attendees will be the first to preview a collection of 2008 NYICFF highlights and bid on rare film-themed silent auction items. The event takes place at The Times Center, 242 W. 41st St. For more information, visit www.gkids.com.

Cinema Today is an exhibition that brings all facets of the film production, broadcast, theater and animation industries together in one venue. The event is supported by major cinema- and TV-related associations in India and abroad. It gives firms a great opportunity to promote their services across the three cities of Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad. For more information, visit www.cinematoday.in/.

In its eighth year, the DIY Convention is taking a different turn by offering participants the chance to meet with people who actually know what it's like to take a project to the next level. You'll share a drink, a meal, a laugh and present a showcase or screening in front of people that matter.

Tickets will not be sold for this event. Instead, the event will select the most promising entrants from the DIY Music, DIY Film Festival and DIY Book Festival and invite them for an intimate series of salons, dinners and receptions with industry leaders.

The American Cinematheque presents THE PIXAR STORY (2007, Disney/Pixar, 87 min.), a documentary about the history of the Pixar Animation Studios, on Dec. 11 at 7:30 pm at the Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the historic Egyptian in Hollywood (6712 Hollywood Blvd. between Highland and Las Palmas).

Florida Comic-Con is Southern Florida's largest comic book convention. The event is a celebration of comics, sci-fi, horror and pop culture in general. It will feature guest speakers, panels, signings, screenings and vendors. For more information, visit www.floridacomic-con.com.

American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre presents the seminar "Unraveling Independent Film Distribution." Leading players in theatrical, television and DVD distribution and exhibition will unravel the mysteries for the independent filmmaker. In this frank discussion, you will learn about options that are available to you when your film doesn't sell outright to a major distributor -- how it all works, what it costs and what you as the filmmaker need to know.