Entering its sixth year, The Accolade is an international, non-traditional, virtual venue. Awards go to those videographers who produce fresh, standout entertainment, animation and compelling documentaries. The Accolade is a showcase for cinematic gems and unique voices.

The Accolade recognizes videographers, large and small, who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity. Undiscovered and first-time videographers are often recognized. Additionally, annually, a special award is given to a filmmaker, television producer or videographer who makes a significant contribution to social change or a humanitarian effort.

The entry fee is $50 per entry per category, with 83 available categories. Deadline is 14 November 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

This contest is open to all high school and college students in the US, Canada and around the world. You can enter online with digital images or download an entry form to send slides or prints. Winning photos will be published in the May 2009 issue of Photographer’s Forum Magazine. All contest finalists will be published in the Best of Photography Annual 2009.

Early entry deadline is 20 October 2008. Final entry deadline is 20 November 2008. The final entry deadline is the one marked on the calendar. Visit the site to learn more about this contest, sponsored by Photographer’s Forum Magazine and Nikon.

The 2nd Annual Open Web Awards is only weeks away. The Open Web Awards is the only multilingual international online voting competition that covers major innovations in Web technology. The first Open Web Awards was spread over 50 international blog partners and this year they are aiming higher. Already in just over a week we have 30 blog partners confirmed in 4 languages and 8 countries. Help us expand.

Open Web Awards is the only multilingual international online voting competition that covers major innovations in web technology. Through an online nominating and voting process, the Open Web Awards recognizes and honors the top achievements in 26 categories. This year, we’re partnering with over 100 blog partners, Poll Daddy for extra security and ease of voting and extending the nominations period and voting rounds for greater participation.

The requirements are minimal. Nominations will be held from November 5th till November 18th 2008. The first and final voting rounds will be held from November 19th till December 15th. If you are a blogger and would like to participate please fill out the Blog Partner Application at Mashable

The City of Helsinki organises, in co-operation with the Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA), an open international ideas competition on the planning of Koivusaari Island.

The competition is open to all. The competition languages are Finnish and English. The entrants are encouraged to form multidisciplinary planning groups with a wide range of expertise on land use, landscape planning, traffic technology, municipal engineering, and construction and energy engineering.

The competition is organised in order to prepare the component master plan for Koivusaari Island. The objective of the competition is to produce innovative plan alternatives which can serve as a basis for further planning and drafting of the component master plan and to identify the essential features of this new district which will have a maritime atmosphere and an underground railway connection.

Before the jury panel makes its decision the entries will be publicly displayed. If necessary, a second stage will be arranged. There is no entry fee for the competition. Registration is not required. Deadline is 10 Novemer 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

MyToons.com, the world’s first and only online animation community to deliver HD animation, today announced the launch of its latest artwork and animation contest, Creepy Cartoons. Creepy Cartoons invites artists and animators worldwide to upload their Halloween-inspired creations in celebration of this ancient Druid holiday. Halloween, much like animation, has transitioned from a kid-centric phenomenon to one increasingly enjoyed by adults.

In the spirit of Halloween, MyToons will award winning animators with Disney & Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: Collector’s Edition DVD, along with the Nightmare Revisited soundtrack CD, as well as celebratory exposure on the highly-trafficked MyToons.com homepage. The 2-Disc collection has been digitally remastered and restored with state-of-the-art technology, and is the first Disney DVD to include a downloadable Disney file. The Nightmare Revisited soundtrack is a frightfully fun collection of cover songs from the cult-classic movie, and features covers from artists such as Danny Elman, Polyphonic Spree, All American Rejects, and Marilyn Manson.

“Halloween is a fun holiday that brings out the kid in all of us. Who can resist the opportunity to play a little dress-up or, in this case, toss some gore into our toons?” asks Stacey Ford, CCO and co-founder of MyToons.com. “We are definitely fans of All Hallow’s Eve here at MyToons, and we invite all artists and animators to celebrate the season and share in our enthusiasm. So, dig your animated skeletons out of the closet and send shadowy shivers up the spines of all your fans by uploading your creepiest animations to MyToons.com!”

MyToons.com is accepting submissions throughout the month of October. Members are invited to enter by uploading their artwork or animation and tagging them as “Creepy Cartoons – Halloween.” Selected artwork and animations will be featured daily on the MyToons blog, The Animation Snack, as well as the Creepy Cartoons Channel on the MyToons.com homepage, where it will be available through November 2nd.

The Creepy Cartoons artwork and animation contest begins today and continues through November 2nd. For more information please visit The Animation Snack.

MyToons.com, the world’s first and only online animation community to deliver HD animation, today announced the launch of its latest artwork and animation contest, Red, White, and Who? Focusing on the funny aspects of the political arena, Red, White, and Who? invites artists and animators worldwide to upload their political creations and share in a little positive reprieve from this year’s election battlefield between Republicans John McCain and Sarah Palin and Democrats Joe Biden and Barack Obama.

“Politics are a serious business and one that should be closely monitored and constantly questioned,” says Paul Ford, president and co-founder of MyToons.com. “Of course, there’s no reason that we can’t do what animators do best and have a little fun while we keep those politicians in check! Bust out your best impressions and most-biting sarcasm, and help spread comical consciousness!”

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