Events: Documentaries

The entry form for this year's Rushes Soho Shorts Festival can now be downloaded at www.sohoshorts.com.

Celebrating the previous year's best director in each of the six competition categories Short Film, Animation, Documentary, Music Video, Newcomer and Broadcast Design, the festival has built a phenomenal following and maintains a significant bridge between the independent and commercial film making communities.

The summer fun never stops at the National Film Board of Canada's Mediatheque, with a July programming lineup offering exclusive activities for all ages and interests. From animation aplenty and films both short and long, to weekly camps for kids and free access to unique digital viewing stations, the NFB continues to entertain and educate well into its 70th year. The NFB Mediatheque is located at 150 John Street, in the heart of downtown Toronto -- the perfect destination for visitors to Toronto and 'staycationers' alike.

Weekend Animation Workshops and Screenings

The Los Angeles Film Festival, held annually for ten days in June, showcases the best of American and international cinema. Drawing on an expected attendance of 85,000, the festival provides films with the opportunity to be embraced by the public and discovered by the industry. More than 100 feature films -- narrative and documentary-are featured in the festival, alongside gala premieres, panels and seminars, short film programs, music video showcases, free outdoor screenings, live musical performances, and unique signature events.

Creating today's entertainment media demands community, collaboration and teamwork. Community is vital to artists struggling in the current economic landscape. The Industry Giants 2009: Building a Community, Visual Effects, Animation and Game Forum features 2D artist/animator Michel Gagne, veteran of Warner Bros., Disney and Pixar, Jay Hawkins, Epic Games' Senior Concept Artist for Gears of War and many other creative professionals.

The Hamburg International Short Film Festival has its roots in the independent filmmaking scene. The Festival first took place in 1985 under the title NoBudget, a name which clearly defined the Festival’s mission. In 1994 it received its current name. Since it was founded, it has always been the Festival’s aim to rise to the challenge presented by new developments and changing parameters in technology, society, and aesthetics.

Design Festa is a biannual international art event, started in 1994. It is open to all artists from all over the world to exhibit their creative talent freely. 7,000 artists working in a variety of mediums will be present, turning the two day event into artistic chaos. There will be booth areas(2,600 booths), an outdoor live-show stage, an indoor stage, a mini-theater space and a restaurant and cafe/bar area, all for your enjoyment during these two days filled with art, energy, excitement and discovery.

The Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival (LAJFF) highlights and celebrates the diversity of the Jewish experience through film. With its focus on Jewish identity, LAJFF informs and inspires its audience.

By featuring films that deal with Jewish culture, history, traditions, challenges and characters, LAJFF deepens Jewish values, promotes ideas of tolerance and encourages a new dialogue within the greater Los Angeles Community.

The NAB Show is the world's largest professional digital media industry convention. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has been hosting this event for over 80 years for all traditional broadcast, entertainment and emerging platform industries, including TV, Radio, Film, Internet and many others.

Entries open for the 42nd Annual WorldFest-Houston on August 15, 2008. The main entry deadline is December 15, 2008. The 42nd Annual WorldFest-Houston Dates are April 16-25, 2009.

Go to www.worldfest.org to see the subcategories for features, shorts, music videos, documentaries, student, experimental and new media.

Aspen Shortsfest invites submissions of live-action, documentary and animation short films and videos for the 18th annual edition of its Oscar-qualifying competitive showcase. Aspen Shortsfest 2009 will be held April 1-5, 2009.

Entries will be accepted beginning September 1, 2008. Early bird entry (reduced entry fee) deadline is November 1, 2008. Regular entry deadline is December 15, 2008. Instructions for entering are available online at www.aspenfilm.org.

The Producers Guild of America New Media Council East presents a comprehensive session on the latest examples of animation in non-fiction filmmaking -- "What's Up, Documentary?" -- Wednesday evening, March 18, from 7-9 p.m., at the New School's Eugene Lang Auditorium, 55 West 13th Street, 2nd Floor. A wine and cheese reception will follow the presentation.

Admission is free, but RSVP is required to rsvp@pga-ny.org.

Rushes Soho Shorts, Bornshorts and the Danish newspaper POLITIKEN have teamed up to bring Copenhagen a night full of short films, animations and music videos.

The event to be held on March 12, 2009 will showcase work from Bornshorts and the Rushes Soho Shorts 2008 program. Films include:

STAND UP directed by Joseph Pierce (National Film and Television School) THE CONTROL MASTER directed by Run Wrake (Sclah Films) BITCH directed by Dom Bridges (Mustard) THE RED SUITCASE directed by Saul Freed (Black Watch Productions) THE WEATHERMAN directed by Will Becher (Seven Animation)