AWN Headline News

The inaugural Vancouver Effects & Animation Festival (VEAF) will exhibitanimation and effects works created by people from around the world andwill present awards in 22 categories. The festival takes place Monday, July13-18 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. For more information call(604) 874-5590; or visit www.veaf.com.

Chromacolour, an international leader in the manufacture and sale of traditional and digital animation materials, software and equipment, has just moved their manufacturing operation to a new 20,000 square foot facility in North East Calgary, Canada. This is also the location of their global headquarters and Sales and Distribution center. The company's European Sales and Distribution center has been recently relocated to a new facility in London, England as well.

San Francisco-based The Attik has finished "Deep Sea," a :30 PSA for The Monterey Bay Aquarium. The spot contrasts the depth of the ocean with the highest points above sea level such as the Empire State Building and Mount Everest. It combines live-action vignettes, taken from stock footage, with computer rendering. Simon Dixon directed for Agency Goldberg Moser O'Neill Adverting.

San Francisco-based (Colossal) Pictures has completed "I Scream" for Kraft Foods Marshmallow Alpha-bits. Directed by Charlie Canfield for Agency Ogilvy & Mather L.A., the spot is about a group of marshmallow vowels joining up for a rowdy "I scream for ice cream" game. The spot uses traditional cel and computer animation. San Francisco-based Giant Killer Robots did the CGI.

Balmur Entertainment has appointed Tony Baylis as CEO. Baylis joined Balmur in February 1996 as Executive Vice President/COO, and was appointed President/COO in October 1998. Prior to Balmur, Baylis served as Vice President, Finance for Skyvision Entertainment, the television production arm of the John Labatt Entertainment Group, from 1993-1996. He began his entertainment industry career with the BCL Group, where he served as Director of Finance.

The Gathering 1999: Gargoyles World Tour, a convention devoted to Disney'sGARGOYLES TV series, will include an art show, workshops, a dealer's room,a gaming session, a radio show script-reading, a charity auction, and acostumed masquerade. Guests from the GARGOYLES show will include creatorGreg Weisman, who has also written for DC Comics' CAPTAIN ATOM and Sony'sMEN IN BLACK: THE SERIES among others, and is currently writing and editingfor Sony's upcoming STARSHIP TROOPERS CGI series; Frank Paur,

The Third Annual MadCat International Women's Film Festival will feature independent and experimental works by women from around the world. MadCat will be featured on Tuesday evenings in September, 1999 at El Rio Outdoor Cinema, a seasonal screening venue in San Francisco. MadCat is seeking innovative and challenging works by women. All lengths and genres will be considered. Entry Fees range from US$ 10.00 to $30.00 per entry (pay whatever you can afford!). No fee is requested for international entrants. Entry deadline is July 10, 1999. For more information contact MadCat c/o A.

On Wednesday, June 23 at 7:30 pm in Burbank, California, Jerry Beck and TomSito will host a two hour presentation of the worst cartoons ever made. Theprogram will include one episode each of such cartoons as BUCKY AND PEPITO,POW WOW THE INDIAN BOY, THE FUNNY COMPANY, JOHNNY CYPHER IN DIMENSION ZERO,a King Features POPEYE cartoon, a very violent HERMAN AND KATNIP cartoon,THE BIG WORLD OF LITTLE ADAM, SUPER PRESIDENT and much more. All cartoonswill be projected in 16 mm with monophonic sound, and junk food will be

Warner Bros. is combining its feature and TV animation divisions under one roof in Sherman Oaks, California, and TV Animation President Jean MacCurdy will take on the responsibilities of supervising the production of Warner's animated features. Lorenzo di Bonaventura, President of Worldwide Theatrical Production, will continue to supervising the creative side of animated feature production.