The Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults will hold the Fifth Tehran International Animation Festival from 25 February to 1 March 2007. Deadline for entries: 30 November 2006.

The aims and objectives of the Festival are:

• To provide an opportunity for artists to exchange ideas through gathering purposeful presentation of the animation works
• To discover potential and encouraging young animators to innovate and create
• To develop abilities through new techniques and perspectives

The festival is categorized into four sections: Competition, non-competitive, special screenings, and panorama. For more information, visit the Tehran Film Festival site.

FILMMAKER: The Magazine Of Independent Film: Since 1992, FILMMAKER has documented the phenomenal growth of independent film making. The magazine’s in-depth interviews with leading filmmakers, distributors, agents, managers, lawyers and distributors — along with its coverage of advances in new technologies, how-to articles, and features about the latest independent film releases — make FILMMAKER an indispensable resource for both working filmmakers and cineastes.

FILMMAKER provides an insider’s look at the business and creative aspects of independent film production, including: interviews, case studies, financing and distribution information, festival reports, technical and production updates, legal pointers, and filmmakers on filmmaking in their own words.

A quick, easy year-end assessment you can use to gauge your preparedness for growing your business in the coming year, from marketing consultant and advertising copywriter John Kuraoka.

As 2006 draws to a close, it’s time to look ahead to the business challenges facing you in the first part of 2007. Here are seven important questions you should be asking yourself about your advertising and marketing, to make sure you have everything you need to grow your business. Read the rest of this entry »

Getting ready to celebrate its fourth year, the Independent Black Film Festival is announcing its call for entries. IBFF started in January 2003, when a group of first-time directors screened their films at Magic Johnson’s Loews’s Theatre in Atlanta. Today, IBFF has expanded into a year-round support system for new filmmakers. True to its roots, the festival is still organized and programmed by filmmakers - mainly IBFF alumni. Last year, the festival was pleased to host the southeast premiere to sell out crowds of the Oscar Award Winner (Best Foreign Film) “TSOTSI” at the Atlantic Station. The festival committee is pleased to have helped three features and five shorts receive distribution deals.

Deadlines for film submission: Early submission: $55 entry fee till Nov. 30, 2006; Late submission: $65 entry fee till Dec. 31, 2006; Submit a screenplay: Early submission: $55 entry fee till Nov. 30, 2006; Late submission: $65 entry fee till Dec. 31, 2006.

Under the direction of Asante Addae, the festival remains an organization by filmmakers for filmmakers. Please log on to www.indieblackfest.org or call them at 678-300-3028 for further information.

The Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) is now accepting submissions for the 31st CIFF to be held 15-25 March 2007. Narrative, documentary, animated and experimental films of all lengths are eligible for submission. The 31st CIFF will once again have three feature competitions: Central and Eastern Europe, Documentary, and Standing Up (Activism and Social Justice) and a new American Independent Award. These prizes, along with 10 short film prizes, will amount to over $30,000. Deadline: 30 Nov 2006. For more information, visit the CIFF Website.

Founded in 1977, the Cleveland International Film Festival is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected regional festivals. Last year more than 200 new films from over 45 countries were presented for over 52,000 patrons.

+DESIGN is a new Icograda program that collects inspiring design solutions. It’s about leading creatively and celebrating creative problem solving that makes a difference. Icograda is inviting submissions that showcase unique design solutions to complex communications challenges. “We are hoping that both our members and the public will get involved in identifying projects that exemplify Icograda’s ideals of leading creatively,” says Don Ryun Chang, Icograda’s President Elect. Read the rest of this entry »

The opportunity for the world’s outstanding creative talent to shine has arrived with the launch of the D&AD Global Awards 2007 call for entries, according to the organization. Considered to be one of the world’s toughest and most coveted awards to win, the Yellow Pencil is held as the global symbol of creative excellence. Now in its forty-fifth year, the awards span all areas of commercial creativity, from the traditional advertising and design disciplines, to ambient, interactive, gaming, music videos and emerging online categories.

According to the D&AD guidelines, entered work must have been broadcast, published or launched between 1 January and 31 December 2006. The Awards deadline for entry is 10 Jan 2007, according to the D&AD, with judging to be held in London on March 25-31, 2007. The D&AD says nominations will be revealed in April 2007, with the D&AD Global Awards 2007 ceremony and dinner held on May 24 at Old Billingsgate in London. For more information, visite the D&AD Global Awards 2007 site.

Nikon has kicked off their Photo Contest International for 2006-2007. The Nikon Photo Contest International has been held by Nikon since 1969 to provide an opportunity for photographers around the world to communicate and to enrich photographic culture for professionals and amateurs alike. The theme for the 2006-2007 contest is “At the heart of the image.” Entry deadline is 30 November 2006.

“At the heart of the image” is not only the brand statement of Nikon Imaging Company, but it is also the theme for the 31st contest, in which entries are invited in two categories. The first category is free subject and the second is entitled “Smile, Smile, Smile!” and entries to each category are accepted as prints sent by conventional mail or as JPEG images sent via the Internet. With this theme and these categories, Nikon looks forward to receiving expressive images from around the world that are true to people’s emotions.

The Nikon Photo Contest International is open to all photographers, professional or amateur, from any part of the world. See site for guidelines.

A new company called Digital Vector Maps (http://digital-vector-maps.com) has released more than 900 new maps of the World, the United States and US States. The maps are available in a number of different styles and projections, from blank outlines to detailed, multi-layered versions.

The maps have been made available in Adobe Illustrator and editable PDF formats, and use the latest map data available. Maps are scalable to virtually any size without loss of detail and quality, thanks to their vector nature. The royalty-free maps are fully editable in Adobe Illustrator 8 or higher, with all major map features residing on intuitively labeled layers to make possible separate editing of such map elements as lines, colors, symbols and text. Such objects as geographic place names, country borders and reference text are provided as separate editable objects. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you revel in sweating it out and meeting 15-minute deadlines? Then this contest is for you. Cut&Paste is the live digital design competition that pits eight of their city’s best graphic designers against each other in an elimination battle of creativity, technical expertise, and wit. The competitors will work live on stage, in front of an audience and panel of expert judges. An MC will host the festivities and a soundtrack will be provided by hometown favorite DJs. But, what if you’re not in your city’s top eight?

This year’s Cut&Paste tour will feature not one, but TWO competitions in every city, simply because they love to give away prizes. The Audience Design Contest is freshly baited with a Wacom Graphire 6×8 Tablet for the taking. Hungry for it? Read the rest of this entry »