Films

Call For Entries For San Diego Asian Film Festival 2008

Attention animators! San Diego Asian Film Festival 2008 will once again be showcasing animated short films produced by animators of Asian ethnicities in a 90-minute all-animation program. All forms of animation (traditional, claymation, stop-motion, flash, CGI, etc) will be accepted for consideration into this competitive festival. Films by all animators pertaining to Asian issues and themes will also be considered. Only VHS and DVD (preferred) formats are accepted for consideration. A Best Animated Short Film Award will be awarded with prizes to be determined.

In Call for Entries, Flash, Call for Entries, Flash | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Festival Events

Phoenix Film Festival 2008

Begins: April 3, 2008

The Phoenix Film Festival is the largest festival in Arizona and accepts features, shorts, animated shorts, student films and foreign films in both short form and feature length. The festival has repeatedly been called "the best filmmaker festival" by filmmakers who have attended. The screenplay competition offers a cash prize and studio exposure. Go to www.phoenixfilmfestival.com for more information.

In Event Types: Contests, Competitive Festivals, Discussion, Exhibits, Seminars / Workshops, Screenings, Animation, Documentaries, Features, Live Action, Short Films

Films Events

Halifax Independent Filmmakers Festival

Begins: April 1, 2008

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).

In Event Types: Non-competitive Festivals, Seminars / Workshops, Documentaries, Features, Live Action, Short Films, Special Effects

Framestore Headline News

VFX House To Get Into Production

Framestore CFC, who created the vfx for THE GOLDEN COMPASS (and won an Oscar doing it), is wading into film production, VARIETY reports.

The new Framestore Features is getting behind Richard Linklater's ME AND ORSON WELLES, shooting now on the Isle of Man, supernatural thriller TRIANGLE from Chris Smith and five genre movies from Generator Entertainment, an new Irish house.

Framestore will executive produce, but will also serve as technical advisor on films that normally can't afford fancy vfx.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Films Events

The European Independent Film Festival 2008

Begins: March 14, 2008

Since its inception three years ago, the European Independent Film Festival has become the premier arena in Europe for independent filmmakers to screen their films to large international audiences, exchange ideas with other indie filmmakers, as well as to network with producers, talent scouts, agents and distributors.

In Event Types: Contests, Competitive Festivals, Discussion, Seminars / Workshops, Screenings, Animation, Documentaries, Features, Live Action, Short Films

Films Headline News

Annecy Selections Announced

Everything but the feature film category has been announced for Annecy 2008.

This year, 43 short films, 41 TV series, four TV specials, seven educational, scientific or industrial films, 31 advertising films, six music videos, 75 graduation films and 56 short films in panorama made the cut.

The International Animated Film Festival and Market will be held in France from June 9-14, 2008.

Go to www.annecy.org for a full list of the selections. Feature films will be announced soon.

In Event, Event | Headline News | Special Events: Annecy | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Animation Headline News

Animation Show of Shows Comes To Israel

The "Animation Show of Shows," a program of animated short films curated and hosted by Acme Filmworks Executive Producer and AWN co-founder Ron Diamond, received its first screening outside the U.S. Sunday in the Jerusalem Cinemateque in Israel.

In Places, Places | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Animation Headline News

This Week's Animation Trivia Quiz for March 10, 2008

Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.

In Headline News | Geographic Region: All

iTunes Headline News

Dark Crystal, Labyrinth Now On iTunes

The Jim Henson Company announced Monday that two classics from the companyâs feature film library will be available for purchase and download on the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com) beginning Monday.

The classic fantasy movie, THE DARK CRYSTAL and the David Bowie favorite, LABYRINTH will be the first of the companyâs films to hit the digital marketplace.

The Jim Henson Company has partnered with New Video, a leading digital aggregator of independent video content, to bring these films to the iTunes Store.

In Home Entertainment, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Films Events

International Family Film Festival (IFFF)

Begins: February 28, 2008

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.

In Event Types: Competitive Festivals, Discussion, Seminars / Workshops, Screenings, Animation, Documentaries, Features, Live Action, Short Films

Films Headline News

Ridley Scott, Robert Rodriguez In I'VE SEEN FILMS Jury

I'VE SEEN FILMS International Short Film Festival 2008 will feature Ridley Scott (ALIEN, BLADE RUNNER, THELMA & LOUISE, GLADIATOR, AMERICAN GANGSTER), Robert Rodriguez (EL MARIACHI, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO, SIN CITY, GRINDHOUSE PLANET TERROR) and Maestro Ludovico Einaudi (DIARIO MALI, UNA MATTINA, LE ONDE, LA SCALA CONCERT, EDEN ROC, TIME OUT) as members of its International Jury.

The deadline to submit short films is March 17, 2008.

In Call for Entries, Call for Entries | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe, North America

Film Events

REDCAT International Children's Film Festival 2008

Begins: February 16, 2008

CalArts presents the third annual REDCAT International Children's Film Festival, curated by Elizabeth Shepherd and in partnership with Northwest Film Forum. This Los Angeles audience favorite offers three weekends of inspired animation, exhilarating live-action and rarely shown films.

In Event Types: Discussion, Non-competitive Festivals, Screenings, Animation, Features, Live Action, Short Films

Animation Headline News

Indian Animation Firms Team Up

DQ Entertainment and Percept Picture Company have signed a memorandum of understanding to co-produce three animation films in 2009-2010.

Two of the three will be in the mythology genre and the third is planned as a Bollywood masala flick.

Tapaas Chakravarti, Chairman and CEO of DQ Entertainment Limited said, "Bollywood's foray into animated Indian feature films with HANUMAN has triggered many announcements of animated features by Bollywood houses."

In Business, Business | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Films Headline News

Spy Post Now In CG

The San Francisco-based company signed VFX supervisor and lead CG artist Joe Henke to lead commercial campaigns for Lexus and Interactive Brokers, and will continue their work on several high-profile feature films.

Henke most recently ran his own studio, Hero Motion Pictures, where he worked on various advertising film and video game projects with clients including Electronic Arts and Carl's Fine Films.

In People, Visual Effects, People, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Dr. Toon: 'Persepolis' Who?

In a rare, good old-fashioned rant, Martin "Dr. Toon" Goodman takes to task the distribution of indie animation, which makes NYC and L.A. happy, but leaves the majority of the country asking -- Persepolis who?

In ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Dr. Toon

Films Headline News

Kenneth Nakada To Head Digital Mattes & Concepts at Frantic Films

Frantic Films VFX, recently acquired by Prime Focus Group, has hired Kenneth Nakada to spearhead the company's new digital mattes & concepts division.

In People, Visual Effects, People, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Films Headline News

Moore Takes Shelter in Supernatural Thriller

Julianne Moore has signed on to star in Nala Films' supernatural thriller SHELTER, VARIETY reports. IDENTITY scribe Michael Cooney penned the script, which will be brought to the screen by the Swedish directing team of Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein.

Details of the plot are on the QT. Nala Films' parent, Nala Investments, is funding the $22-$25 million production, which will begin shooting in late March in Pittsburgh.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Animation Headline News

Time To Enter Anima Mundi

Anima Mundi 2008Rio de Janeiro & Sao Paulo, BrazilJuly 11-27, 2008Deadline: March 26, 2008

Anima Mundi is the International Animation Festival of Brazil, which brings to the Brazilian audience the best selection of films and videos from around the world. Categories in competition: Short Films, Feature Films, Shorts for Children, Brazilian Animation, Portfolio, First Work and Animation in Progress. The event runs in Rio de Janeiro July 11-20, then moves to Sao Paulo July 23-27. For more information, visit www.animamundi.com.br.

In Call for Entries, Call for Entries | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, South America

Films Headline News

Del Toro To Direct Pair of Hobbit Films?

Guillermo del Toro is talking with exec producer Peter Jackson and financers New Line and MGM to direct back-to-back films based on J.R.R. Tolkien's THE HOBBIT, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

iTunes Headline News

Aardman Signs Deal with iTunes U.K.

Aardman Animations has announced that its award-winning TV shows are now available for 1.89 GBP per episode from the iTunes Store in the U.K. (www.itunes.com/uk).

In Interactive, Games, Interactive | Headline News | Special Events: Annecy | Geographic Region: All

Films Headline News

Win Tickets to See Hayao Miyazaki Masterpieces at the Aero Theatre

From February 1-2 at the Aero Theatre, the American Cinematheque brings magic and delight to the whole family with a presentation of Hayao Miyazaki's classic films on the big screen!

In Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Animation Headline News

Anima Brussels Announces 2008 Highlights

Anima 2008 is taking place in the Flagey centre (Brussels) from Feb. 1-9. As part of the event, the Futuranima forum will also take place in Flagey Feb. 7-9, and is for animation professionals, students and enthusiasts interested in discovering what goes on behind the scenes of selected productions. The festival is kicking off early this year in all the Flagey movie theaters, in Brussels, as well as the Film Museum for part of a retrospective on Max Fleischer.

In Event, Event | Headline News | Special Events: SIGGRAPH | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Film Headline News

AFI to Honor 10 Top 10s, Including Animation

The American Film Institute (AFI) introduced a new chapter in its Emmy Award-winning AFI'S 100 YEARS... series. AFI's 10 Top 10 will count down the top 10 films from 10 classic American film genres, including animation, fantasy, science fiction, gangster, western, sports, romantic comedy, courtroom drama, mystery and epic films.

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Films Headline News

San Fran Frozen Film Fest Wants To Chill with Your Films

San Francisco Frozen Film FestivalSan Francisco, California, USAJuly 2008Deadline: May 31, 2008

In Call for Entries, Call for Entries | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Films Headline News

Sundance Announces Online Screenings

Sundance Institute and Sundance Channel announced today the program of 2008 Sundance Film Festival short films that will be available for free on www.sundance.org/watch and for sale on the iTunes Store, Netflix and Xbox 360. Premiering Jan. 18 and running all 10 days of the festival, the films will be shown one at a time for 24 hours.

In Interactive, Games, Interactive | Headline News | Geographic Region: All