AWN Headline News

Disney Interactive, ESPN andKonami have announced that they will produce a full line-up of ESPN sportstitles for video game consoles and personal computers. The multi-platformsports brand will combine the full power of ESPN, a leading provider ofsports programming, ESPN Magazine and ESPN.com, with Konami's expertise intechnology and game development. Approximately 10 titles are expected tolaunch in 2000. The first titles, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL and NBA BASKETBALL,both for Sega Dreamcast, and MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER on Sony PlayStation, will

The Moondance International Film Festival has announced the finalists for its first competition, Moondance2000. The festival takes place in Boulder, Colorado, January 14-16, 2000 aspart of the Sundance Film Festival. Entries from female screenwriters andfilm-makers from any country were welcomed to the competition. For moreinformation e-mail: mermaid7cs@aol.com; or write: Moondance InternationalFilm Festival, 970 Ninth Street, Boulder, CO 80302, USA.

The following films are finalists in the animation film category:

Playmates Toys has acquired the licenseto create action figures based on the animated series THE SIMPSONS. Therewill be eight initial figures, including Homer, Bart, Lisa, Grandpa,Krusty, Mr. Burns, Moe, and Barney, which will all be part of the World OfSpringfield Intelli-Tronic line. Each figure will feature the voice of thecast member who plays the character on the show. There are also plans forthree dioramas, including The Simpsons' living room, Homer's work station

Imagina 2000 with FIFI (Festival International du Film de l'Internet) have opened their competition for animation created specifically for the Internet. The FIFI is the first festival dedicated to films made for the Web. As the major European meeting point for digital image professionals, Imagina 2000 will provide a solid forum for launching this joint competition. The deadline for submissions is December 15, 1999 and all entries must be accessible through a URL only. The award will be presented during the Imagina 2000 ceremony in Monaco (January 31 to February 2, 2000).

The 42nd International LeipzigFestival for Documentary & Animated Films took place in Leipzig, Germanyfrom October 26 - October 31, 1999. 49 films from 13 counties were shown incompetition this year. The jury was comprised of Jayne Pilling (GreatBritain), Silke Parzich (Germany), and Andrei Zolotouchin (Russia). Thefollowing awards were presented:

Goldene Taube, WHEN THE DAYS BREAKS by Wendy Tilby and Amanda Frobis,Canada, 1999.

Silberne Taube, PINOCCHIO by Gianluci Toccafondo, Italy, 1999 and NIGHT OF

Will the power of Pokemon everstop? On November 10, 1999, POKEMON: THE FIRST MOVIE set the record for thebiggest Wednesday opening of all time for an animated film. The Pikachuvehicle was purchased by Warner Brothers for $5 million and grossed doublethat on its first day in release. It is estimated that the 5-day non-summerrecord of $45.7 million set by A BUG'S LIFE might be squished by the hordesof Pokemons. Besides the legions of kids sprinting to the theatres, fans ofthe toon will want to catch the soundtrack, which features such

THE FIRM DESIGN GROUP, a creative concept studio specializing in broadcast design and image campaigns, has hired creative director/director PETER BUREGA. Burega will head up the West Coast studio in Venice, California, USA and direct commercials for The Film Design Group's parent company, Fourth of July Productions. Burgega's recent credits include indentity spots for the USA Network and commercials for House of Blues International and Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.