Events: Features

With a mission to ignite creative and collaborative fire, Vancouver ACM SIGGRAPH presents SPARK Animation '09. In its second year, this prestigious week-long speaker series, educational forum and film festival informs and inspires professionals, pioneers and enthusiasts in the world of animation.

The fourteenth edition of Milano Film Festival will take place September 11-20, 2009.

The feature film competition is open to first and second films of any genre, language, format and running time, provided that they were completed after January 1, 2008. The works will not be divided into categories.

The short film competition is open to films of any genre, language, format and running time, provided that they were completed after January 1, 2008. The works will not be divided into categories.

The Woodstock Museum is hosting its 10th film/video festival with the theme of "Change." The festival screens completed features, documentaries, shorts and works in progress. All genres including animation and digital media; everything must be in English (or with English subtitles). Submission formats can be DVD (NTSC and PAL), DV, DVCAM, VHS, S-VHS, Hi-8 or BETA SP.

The London International Animation Festival is Britain's premier showcase for independent animation screening annually, at the beginning of September, showcasing one of the largest collections of auteur independent animation gathered at any festival in the world.

LIAF is a weeklong event, screening up to 10 competitive programs, plus more than 10 curated, themed and retrospective programs. LIAF screens all formats and does not charge entry fees.

As announced this past weekend at the Anime Expo 2009, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will celebrate the theatrical engagement and U.S. premiere of BLEACH THE MOVIE 2: The DiamondDust Rebellion, for two nights only. Two showings each day, on August 18th and 19th 2009. The special screenings will be held at the brand new VIZ Cinema, located inside NEW PEOPLE -- San Francisco's newest entertainment destination.

Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival (SICAF) is calling for entries. The fesvial is one of the acknowledged international animation festivals in Asia, accredited by ASIFA International. This year, SICAF is celebrating its 13th edition, with more than 1,500 expected entries from Asia, Europe, the Americas and beyond.

Official site: www.sicaf.org.

New York Int'l Children's Film Festival is absolutely thrilled to announce the most anticipated event of the summer: the Special Pre-Release Screening of PONYO, the latest tour de force from animation master Hayao Miyazaki and his Academy Award winning Studio Ghibli. Perfect for audiences of all ages, PONYO is a return to the innocent pleasures of MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, with dazzling and entirely hand-drawn visuals that start simply and build into fluid, cascading symphonies of color. Event takes place Sunday, August 9 at Symphony Space. Tickets available at www.gkids.com and 212-349-0330.

The "real" physics behind some of Hollywood's most famous action, science fiction and superhero scenes will be revealed when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presents "When Worlds Collide: The Science of Movies," on Thursday, August 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

Orange County's own world-class orchestra, the Pacific Symphony, conducted by Richard Kauffman; along with four Broadway-style vocalists, will present The Magical Music of Disney on Wednesday, July 29, at 8 p.m. as part of the OC Super Fair Summer Concert Series at Pacific Amphitheatre. Tickets start at $19.50 and 2-for-1 tickets to this show are available with the purchase of a Super Pass at ocfair.com.

AnimationMentor.com and Don Hahn of The Walt Disney Studios announce an inspiring panel discussion at Comic-Con International with acclaimed animators about the life and influence of Disney mentor, teacher, and artist Walt Stanchfield. Open to animators and animation enthusiasts alike, the panel discussion celebrates the launch of the new book, DRAWN TO LIFE: 20 GOLDEN YEARS OF DISNEY MASTER CLASSES, the complete series of animation lectures by Walt Stanchfield.

AnimationMentor.com and Don Hahn of The Walt Disney Studios announced an inspiring panel discussion at Comic-Con International with acclaimed animators about the life and influence of Disney mentor, teacher, and artist Walt Stanchfield. Open to animators and animation enthusiasts alike, the panel discussion celebrates the launch of the new book, DRAWN TO LIFE: 20 GOLDEN YEARS OF DISNEY MASTER CLASSES, the complete series of animation lectures by Walt Stanchfield.

NYICFF is honored to present the US Premiere of THE SECRET OF KELLS, the highly anticipated new animated masterpiece from the producers of KIRIKOU AND THE SORCERESS and TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE. Hailed by international critics as one of the most beautiful films of the year and winner of the audience award at the prestigious Annecy Animation Festival. The film blends fantasy and mythology, folding traditionally Celtic influences into a riot of color and detail that dazzle the eyes. Do not miss this wonderful film!