What is the CineSol Film Festival?
This event was first started in 1993 to celebrate and showcase the creativity of filmmakers and their creations. According to the organizers of CineSol:

“CineSol is dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of screenwriters and filmmakers and recognizing their artistic contributions. CineSol supports the work of aspiring and established filmmakers by enhancing public awareness of their artistic endeavors and by encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community alliances.”

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The Contest Details
The winning poster design will be featured as the official festival “face” of CineSol and be used to advertise the event in newspapers.

The design will also be printed on program booklets, festival posters, t-shirts, and other items for sale and for promotional purposes.

In addition to one $250 cash prize to the winner, the design will receive a good deal of public exposure.

The full contest rules can be found by following this link to the PDF document.

According to the official website some of the basic guidelines for this poster contest are:

* Entries must be mounted on an 8 1/2″w by 11″h board as well as stored digitally on a CD.
* May use colors and design concepts that create a strong graphic presentation.
* The design must be easily transferred to a variety of print materials such as 30″ by 36″ size ….posters, print ads, cotton t-shirts, film, etc.
* Must incorporate “17th Annual CineSol Film Festival 2010” in the artwork.

Send your posters and CD to:

CineSol Poster Contest
c/o CineSol Film Festival
601 E. Taylor St.
Harlingen, TX 78550

Judging
Entries will be critiqued on their appeal, content and marketability. The decision of the judges is final.

Other Details
The deadline for this contest is May 28, 2010, 5PM. You may enter as many times as you wish and there is no entry fee.

If you would like your artwork returned, please provide a self-addressed stamped envelope. On each of your entries, you must include your name, address, email and phone number on the back.

For questions about this contest send your emails to ask [at] cinesol.com or call 956-793-8783 for more information.

Game On!
The Penny Arcade 2010 Scholarship Award may be exactly the  scholarship contest you are looking for if you are pursuing a career in the video game industry as an animator, artist or other field related to gaming.

If you are selected for this scholarship, it can assist you with your education expenses. The winner will receive a $10,000 scholarship.

Do I Qualify?
According to Penny Arcade, if you meet the following general requirements, you qualify for this scholarship:

* You must be a student attending an accredited college or university ….in the US during the 2009-2010 academic school year.
* You must be currently enrolled in a program in order to be eligible. ….High School Seniors are not eligible.
* You must have the intention to enter the game industry in some ….capacity.
* You may have a major in any subject.
* Your GPA must be a minimum of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.
* Submit verification of enrollment in undergraduate or graduate ….studies program for the Academic Year 2009-2010.
* Each award is for one year. Students must reapply for ….consideration the following year. No applicant may receive more ….than one scholarship award.

Specific Guidelines
In addition to the initial requirements for eligibility, the following guidelines must be met by applicants. The selection of a winner will be judged according to the following criteria:

1. Postmarked by May 30, 2010
2. Completed & signed application
3. Two page [maximum] letter from you including:
…..a. Information about studies and how you will benefit the game ………..industry and in what particular field
…..b. Statement addressing applicant’s service, leadership, ………..character and financial need.
4. Two current signed letters of recommendation:
…..a. Letters of Recommendation must be from colleagues or ………..professors from current study program, administration, ………..and/or professors who have knowledge of individual ………..applicant.
…..b. Letters of recommendation need to address applicant’s ………..potential to make a significant contribution to the game ………..industry through character, service or leadership abilities.
5. Most recent official college/university transcript [with school .....stamp, school official's signature, or embossed stamp/seal] and …….schools grading system.
6. A photograph to be used for publication of award winners (Photograph will NOT be part of the ……selection process).
7. Include name, specific address, & phone number of college/university applicant is attending.
8. Must be able to provide documentation showing deposit of tuition funds to educational institution ……as well as provide transcript for 2009 - 2010 academic year. If unable to do so, winner forfeits ……the scholarship and must return funds within six weeks of written notice.

Send your application with all pertinent materials to:

Penny Arcade
c/o The Official Penny Arcade Scholarship
123 NW 36th Street NW, Suite 210
Seattle, Washington 98107

Other Details
For complete details about this contest and the official entry form, download the PDF document by following this link. The postmark deadline for scholarship submissions is May 30^th, 2010.

Compete to Win an Artist Residency in France
Triangle France, a non-profit organization located in the center of Marseilles, promotes contemporary art through its residency programs, art exhibits and various events throughout France and abroad.

If you are an illustrator, graphic designer, or someone who would like to broaden their artistic education, the Triangle France residency competition may be of interest to you.

The length of each residency program, held in France, lasts four months. One is from September to the end of December 2010. The second residency session begins in January 2011 and ends in late April of 2011.

Scholarship/Residency Details
The winners of the two residency packages will receive these amenities according to the official website, which states:

• Free studio of around 80 m² with DSL in Marseille, 10mn walk from the rail station and city center

• Accommodation for €100 per month, per artist (shared apartment with the other two residents).

• Production grant of €1000 (on presentation of receipts)

• Logistical support (production assistance, access to computers, sound and video equipment, assistance in research of materials, techniques, partnerships…list of available equipment provided on request).

Please note that travel expenses to France are not included and must be provided by the winners of the contest.

Your artistic education through a graphic design school provides a wealth of training and education you need to qualify for a career in the arts. The Triangle France residency program can continue this education giving you opportunities to expand your skills through various workshops, projects and interaction with other artists and the picturesque city of Marseilles.

How to Apply
A portfolio of your work should be submitted in PDF format on a CD. The file must be less than 5MB. Your choice of residency session should be stated with your package.

* Your portfolio should display images of your work up to a maximum of 15 pages.
* Include a description about your portfolio.
* Include a full resume and cover letter.
* Write a “motivational” letter describing how you would benefit from the residency.
* Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of your portfolio. Affix the proper amount of return postage-French postage or international reply coupons.

Send your CD and application materials to:

Triangle France
Friche Belle de Mai
41 rue Jobin
13003 Marseille
France

Final Details
The deadline for this contest is May 15, 2010. For a complete listing of contest rules click on this PDF link. These contest rules are in French and English. For additional information about Triangle France, go to its official website. This residency can be a great supplemental addition to your career training at your current graphic design college or overall education in the arts. Apply today!

Calling All Amateur Photographers
Sigma, a manufacturer of photography lenses and accessories and Photographer’s Forum are announcing an open call to all amateur photographers to enter its 30^th Annual Spring Photography Contest.

This contest is open to individuals worldwide. There is no age limit but the contest is strictly for amateurs only. If you are a professional photographer, you may not enter.

Contest Details
The contest is open-themed and there are no specific categories for subject matter. Photographs that are submitted must indicate if they are being entered as a color or black and white entry.

Winning photos will be published in the November 2010 issue of Photographer’s Forum magazine. All contest finalists will be published in the hardcover edition of Best Photography 2010.

This is an entry fee of $3.95 USD per photo. There is no limit to the number of photos you may enter as long as each submission is covered by an entry fee. If you submit your photos by April 19, 2010 the entry fee is $3.95 USD. If you submit your photos after April 19, 2010 the entry fee is $4.95 USD per photo.

To submit your photos online, click here to register and upload your submissions. Online entries must have a long dimension of at least 1000 pixels and no larger than 3000 pixels. Save all work in JPG format at the highest quality setting. Requirements for color space are Adobe1998, sRGB or untagged color space. File size should not exceed 4MB.

To submit your photos or slides via standard mail, the sponsor states:

* Enter black & white or color prints or slides. Do not send disks.
* Prints must be unmounted 9×12 or smaller.
* Label every photo with your name and address, and indicate which edge is the top.
* Make checks payable to Photographer’s Forum.
* All entries MUST include payment, entry form, and photographs.

Prizes
According to the official details for this contest the awards are:

First Place Grand Prize
$2,000 cash award from Photographer’s Forum PLUS Sigma
24-70 mm lens

Second Place
$1,000 cash award from Photographer’s Forum PLUS Sigma
12-24 mm lens

Third Place
$500 cash award from Photographer’s Forum

Fourth Place
Five $100 awards

100 Honorable Mentions
All Honorable Mentions will be listed in the November 2010 issue of Photographer’s Forum magazine and will receive a gold embossed certificate of outstanding merit from Photographer’s Forum.

Other Information
For contest rules click here to download the PDF document. For the contest FAQs and additional guidelines click here. The contest deadline is May 17, 2010. Finalists will be notified by August 2, 2010. Winners will be notified by August 16, 2010.

Are you someone who is interested in fashion design? Then the Marie Claire Fashion Contest IED is a competition that may help you to get additional career training in this exciting design field.

The Contest
Illustrators are encouraged to render a fashion design creation that has the theme of “Ethnic Trends for Spring and Summer 2010″. The submitted design may be for women, men or unisex.

What to Submit
Each entry should have a project title and an accompanying description of what the project is about in 80-100 words.

Format for all submissions should be in JPG, 300 dpi resolution, and no more than 3MB in size. Acceptable media in generating the illustration can be in watercolor, acrylic, felt-tip pen or pencil (or a combination of the two). No collage, Photoshop images, or any computer generated artwork will be accepted.

Awards
According to the contest sponsors the awards will consist of various free courses held at the Barcelona, Spain workshop locations. In addition to the free courses, the first place winner will also receive free accommodations for the duration of the sessions. Those who do not take up their prizes will forfeit all rights.

1st place
100% grant for 2010 summer course on Illustration - Idea, Concept and Image* or Introduction to Fashion Design* (this grant also includes accommodation).

2nd place
100% grant for course on Illustration - Idea, Concept and Image* or Introduction to Fashion Design* (course only).

3rd place
50% grant for course on Illustration - Idea, Concept and Image* or Introduction to Fashion Design*

Dates for summer courses: from 5 July 2010 to 30 July 2010
.
*The choice of course will depend on the places available, and Istituto Europeo di Design management reserves the right to change or substitute the course if the minimum number of students is not reached. The course may not be exchanged for money; if winners do not attend the course, they lose the right to the prize.

*Illustration - Idea, Concept and Image: this course is given in English

Other Information
To send in your entry click here. The contest deadline is May 1, 2010. If you have further questions about the contest send an email to concursomarieclaire (at) bcn.ied.es