It’s No Laughing Matter
Although Comic-Con sounds like a competition for comedians telling jokes, in reality it is the be-all and end-all of all comic book conventions.

But the love of comic books is only the beginning of this annual event. It has also expanded its scope to  include science fiction fans, movie fans, and virtually anything that has to do with the supernatural or weird science.

If you are an aficionado of the above and have always imagined yourself as the next Spielberg the Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival may be just the ticket to fame, fortune, and free tickets to the convention.
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What the Festival is About
Comic-Con has traditionally been an event where previews of science fiction movies or television shows are shown. But it also serves as a venue for aspiring film makers. writers, and artists.

This year’s Comic-Con film festival is seeking independently produced films that fall into the following categories:

* Action/Adventure
* Animation
* Comics-oriented
* Pop Culture-Related Documentary
* Horror/Suspense
* Humor
* Science Fiction/Fantasy

Entries must be fully edited. No in-progress projects or rough-cuts will be eligible. Do not submit trailers, test footage or scenes from upcoming film projects.

There will also be a Judge’s Choice Selection as well.

Film Festival Guidelines
In order to be eligible for this contest, the official rules state:

* All films must be appropriate for an all-ages audience. No nudity, excessive ….violence or swearing.
* All films must be no longer than 95 minutes in length.
* One submission per filmmaker.
* Films previously submitted to the CCI: IFF, whether accepted or denied, ….cannot be entered again.
* Films submitted must have a completion date within the last two (2) years ….(2009-2010).
* Four (4) copies of the submitted film must be sent.
* At least one member of the film-making crew should be in attendance at ….the CCI: IFF to introduce and discuss the film.
* Films submitted cannot have distribution deals or distribution deals pending.

How to Enter
All submissions must include the following items:

* A completed entry form.
* A written brief synopsis of your film (50 words or less).
* A brief bio of the director or film makers.
* One production still photograph for possible PR use.
* Four (4) DVD copies of your film in Region 1 format (No PAL).

Mail your finished entries to:

Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival
P.O. Box 128458
San Diego, CA
92112-8458

Prizes
Awards will be issued to the winners, plus film screenings of the winning entries during the 4-day Comic-Con event. Winners will also receive a free 4-day professional membership to the event.

Other Information and Contest Links
Please direct all question about this contest to: programs [at] comic-con.org.

The deadline for entries is February 15, 2011. Winners will be announced at the Comic-Con event on July 24, 2011 in San Diego, California.

There are no entry fees for this contest.

Follow these links for additional information:

Official Contest Site
Contest Rules and Entry Form (PDF file)

What Type of Type Do You Like?
Or to put it another way, what are your favorite fonts? Are you a Helvetica fan?  Or perhaps you like using esoteric fonts such as Mongolian Baiti or Comic Sans MS in your graphic designs?

If you are like many graphic designers, you have an extensive collection of fonts in your arsenal of design tools.

Finding just the right font is not only satisfying, but essential to a good design that utilizes typefaces as a major component in the overall scope and look of the graphics.

Some designers have created their own custom fonts for enjoyment or for use in specific design projects.

If this sounds like you, there is an opportunity to compete with other “fontphiles” in a font design competition.

A “Fontastic” Font Contest
The Society of Typographic Aficionados (SOTA) is announcing a call for submissions in its TypeGallery 2010 Font Design Competition.

SOTA’s TypeGallery serves as a typeface showcase for new font designs. Winning entries are displayed at the annual TypeCon convention and on SOTA’s Web site.

To submit your original typefaces for this contest ,follow these guidelines:

* Your typeface must have been created, published or updated ….between July 2009 - August 2010.
* Submit a traditional specimen or typographic design piece ….using your font.
* Entries may be in black and white or color.
* Maximum artwork dimension is 11X17″ or A3.
* Submissions must be flush mounted on 11×17″ foam core. ….
* Two mounted copies of each entry are required.
* Digital files of your font must be included with your entry. ….(See guideline link)
* Up to three submissions per entrant or company are allowed.

Mail your mounted entries and additional required items to:

Linda Dare/TypeCon
c/o Otis College of Art and Design
9045 Lincoln Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90045 USA

Important Contest Links and Information
There is a $15 entry fee per submission. Follow these links for more details about the TypeGallery Contest:

Contest Overview and Submission Form (PDF document)
Submission Guidelines
SOTA Website
TypeCon Convention Web site

The contest deadline is August 5, 2010.
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Share your insight and knowledge and make a difference in your industry by presenting a seminar at IIDEX/NeoCon Canada 2009. With over 5,000 conference attendees and 100+ sessions, IIDEX is Canada’s largest conference focused on the design, architecture and the built environment.

If you have an interesting presentation or an idea that could be developed into an educational session, you are invited to submit a written proposal. If selected as a conference speaker, you will gain visibility in the industry and contribute to the advancement of your profession.

To apply, please download the application form [PDF] and submit it via email to msearle @ iidexneocon.com (remove spaces) or print and fax it to 416-921-2707. The deadline for applications is April 1, 2009.

FITC Toronto 2009 celebrates what it means to live, think and play outside the lines with a three-day event focused on the art and craft of Interactive design and technology, April 25 - 28, 2009, at the Toronto Hilton Hotel in Toronto Canada. Now in its 8th year, FITC Toronto is one of the largest and longest running events for the design and technology community.

“FITC Toronto 2009 is a celebration of doing things differently,” said Shawn Pucknell, Founder and Executive Producer of FITC. “This year, it’s all about thinking outside the box, or more specifically outside the lines, as we look for ways to meet today’s creative and business challenges.”

FITC Toronto includes two full days of presentations, demonstrations, and panel discussions preceded by a full day of workshops. The entire program is topped-off by the FITC Awards on Monday, April 27, 2009, an annual awards show which honors the best and brightest in the world of Interactive and new media design.

Insights and expertise from respected presenters and senior-level attendees are shared across three subject areas: creative, technical and business. This year’s speakers include: David Carson, Joshua Davis, Joshua Hirsch, and MK12. See page end for full bios.

Returning for a second year, the popular Get-A-Job event takes place Saturday, April 25th at the Toronto Hilton. The Get-A-Job event is open to the general public (no festival pass required) and was created to connect up-and-coming designers and developers with top Interactive agencies and technology companies. For more information, go to http://www.getajobevent.com.

In an effort to include more female participation, FITC has put aside 100 free tickets to FITC Toronto specifically for women working in the industry — whether designers, developers, or account managers. A video submission is required to qualify for the ticket. Full details can be found at http://www.fitc.ca/female/.

FITC has held 17 events over seven years in nine cities and four countries with over 10,000 attendees. The festival began as a Flash conference but has since expanded to included technologies such as Flex, AIR and Processing.

Compostmodern is fertile ground for sustainability. Presented by the San Francisco chapter of AIGA and the AIGA Center for Sustainable Design (CFSD), this interdisciplinary conference explores the range of design thinking necessary to create a socially and ecologically responsible society. Designers, manufacturers and business leaders come together to find inspiration, share knowledge and explore real world opportunities for transforming products, industries and lives.

Compostmodern 09 will be held at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco on Saturday, February 21. The event will be webcast live and will be available for 90 days following, encouraging online participation and satellite events at AIGA chapters and educational institutions everywhere. This year’s conference demonstrates how sustainable solutions converge as design, ecology, social activism, business, and economics intersect. Speakers include Eames Demetrios of Eames Office, Saul Griffith of Makani Power, Allan Chochinov of Core 77, California College of the Arts (CCA) Design MBA Chair Nathan Shedroff, climate strategist Michel Gelobter, John Bielenberg and Pam Dorr of Project M and the HERO Housing Resource in Alabama, Emily Pilloton of Project H Design, and Autodesk Sustainable Design Program Manager Dawn Danby. GreenBiz editor and sustainability author Joel Makower will reprise his role as emcee.

The conference is the fruit of the hard work of more than 100 volunteers who have willingly devoted their time, energy and expertise to keeping the sustainability conversation alive, fresh and relevant to the design and business communities. Visit the site to learn more.

From October 17th to October 26th ILLUSTRATIVE’s 4th forum of illustrative and graphic arts will take place in the Zurich Messehallen. Conceived in 2006 in Berlin, ILLUSTRATIVE is an annual forum, and the one and only of its kind worldwide that presents the latest inclinations which run the range of illustrative and graphic art in one exhibition.

In 2008 the Illustrative has given international creative companies the possibility to showcase their work and activities in an exclusive booth area. Taiko & Associates Inc., the internationally prestigious creative management and illustration agency, based in Tokyo, Japan, will exhibit a group of 20 Japanese young and leading illustrators. The extraordinary show with over 40 artworks will be shown at the Illustrative Forum, Zurich Messe, Halle 9 from October 17th (opening party start 19:00h) until October 21st. 2008 from 11:00 - 8:00 daily. For more information please view www.illustrative.de