Events: Non-competitive Festivals

INDAC 2000, the sixth International Nights and Days of Animation Cologne, is dedicated to highlighting animation history, techniques and new films. Organizer and festival founder Johannes Wolters created the festival as a one-night screening and it has grown into a 12-day extravaganza. The festival approaches animation as an art form that isn't just for kids. Films screened weave education, satire, politics and philosophy from around the globe.

The Nan Desu Kan Japanese Animation Convention celebrates the art of anime. The festival's guest will be Hiroki Hayashi, animation director at AIC in Japan and creator of the series TENCHI MUYO! Nan Desu Kan will also feature Japanese and American voice-over artists, three 24-hour video rooms, video gaming rooms, an art and model show, an art seminar, guest panels and cultural seminars on Japanese language, music, culture and clothing. The event is expecting approximately 1,500 people this year.

The Montreal International Festival of New Cinema & New Media (FCMM) will screen 72 features, 93 shorts and 50 new media presentations in a celebration of cutting edge filmmaking. Besides the screenings the event will hold tributes and seminars including a salute to animators Mich

This unique event will spotlight new cutting-edge filmmaking talent from around the world, with a big focus on film schools and student filmmakers. There will be a series of screenings highlighting the work of the UK's major centers of filmmaking and a round-table discussion on "How To Promote Your Short Film To Maximum Effect." Films or videos made during or after June 1999 and up to 40 minutes in length are

Created 15 years ago, the Hiroshima Festival celebrates peace through the art of animation. This year's event will feature special programs on the work of Tadahito Mochinaga; Turkish animation; a screening of LOTUS LATERN; and a retrospective of Feodor Khitruk. Seminars on the creation of animation will be led by world-renowned artists B

ASIFA-Hollywood is presenting Puppet Mania 2000, a gathering of Puppeteers of America's Pacific Southwest Region. The celebration features an international list of puppeteers including Sid Krofft, Velma Dawson of Howdy Doody fame, Ray Harryhausen and the puppeteers behind the scenes of such films and shows as MUPPETS TONIGHT, BEAKMAN'S WORLD, BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, MEN IN BLACK and more. Running until August 19, 2000, the exhibition will showcase puppets from the outstanding collection of Alan Cook as well as many famous TV and film puppets.

DancesWithFilms is a competitive event featuring a line-up of more than a dozen full-length narrative films and sixteen narrative shorts. DWF's mission is to open a venue for new and upcoming filmmakers to present their work without the fear of politics overshadowing their screen time. The criteria for entries are: 1. Is the person attached able to raise financing (even small sums) at any point based solely on the "name"? 2. Is the person attached able to open doors that might otherwise stay closed?

A video festival for music, fiction and documentary films under 26 minutes.

The Maui Film Festival highlights life-affirming and compassionate features, shorts, documentaries animation and screenplays. Festival venues include under-the-stars Celestial Cinema, the 1,200 seat state-of-the-art Castle Theater and the oceanside open-air SandDance Theater. Special events will include Silversword Lifetime Achievement Award, filmmakers panels, Spirit of Aloha Audience Awards, a midnight VIP cruise, Taste of Wailea and opening/closing galas.

The New York Animation Festival, in collaboration with Video Lounge, presents Outer Limits, an international series of short animation, experimental, narrative and documentary film and video. Outer Limits will present a vast array of independent and innovative work from more than a dozen countries. An international program featuring animated films by Amy Kravitz (ROOST AND THE TRAP), Dana Behrman (PIGLATIN), Avi Katz (LAST WALTZ IN NEW YORK) and Sylvie Bringas and Orly Yadim (SILENCE) will be held on May 16 at 7:30 pm and May 18 at 9:30 pm.

Asia