Geographical Region: North America

* Friday, February 19 - Friday, February 26. Santa Clarita, California, USA

The 18th annual Imagina 1999, Europe's premiere computer graphics festival, wrapped up on January 22. During the show, the 13th edition of the "Prix Pixel-INA" awards were presented. Blue Sky | VIFX's "Bunny" took home three awards including top honors, the Grand Prix Imagina. For more information on the festival, visit www.ina.fr. Here are the winners from this prestigious European awards program honoring the world's best computer graphics:

Grand Prix Imagina: "Bunny" by Chris Wedge of Blue Sky | VIFX (USA).

* Saturday, February 6 - Saturday, February 13. New York City, New York, USA.

"The 1999 New York International Children's Film Festival (NYICFF) will be held at Cantor Film Center in Manhattan. Among the highlights are a screening of Hayao Miyazaki's feature "Kiki's Delivery Service" and an Ub Iwerks Retrospective in Animation. Forty-two films will be in competition including such animated entries as "Mario the Show Cleaner," "Pingu Steals," "A Dog Cartoon" [AF 12/22/98], "Frank the Wrabbit" and "Furious George." For further information call (212) 677-6478.

* Monday, January 25 - Thursday, January 29, 1999. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

* Thursday, January 21. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

The Women in Animation's Writer's Group will hold a discussion about what writers should know about lawyers and agents. The event starts at 7:00 P.M. Call Kellie-Bea Rainey to RSVP and for directions at (818) 623-0020 or e-mail at kellie-bea@kellie-bea.com.

* Thursday, January 14. Westwood, California, U.S.A.

Women In Animation's Writers' Group is starting up their Seminar Series again for 1999. The first seminar will cover the differences between live-action and animation writing, the philosophy of comedy, and gag writing techniques. The group meets at Saban Entertainment at 7:30 PM. For further information call Jean Ann Wright at 818-360-8321.

Sheridan College (Oakville, Ontario, Canada) is hosting Sheridan Animates Manhattan on January 25 in New York City. The one-day program brings together leading animation artists in three separate events - The Animation Master Class, The CanApple Animation Forum and The Animation Showcase. The Animation Master Class features a behind-the-scenes look at how animation is used in films from Jurassic Park to Twister. The panel will be composed of Sheridan alumnus Steve Williams, James Straus and Dennis Turner.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has announced that Sylvester and Tweety were the most popular stamp of 1998. Over 37.9 million commemorative stamps of the bird and cat duo were saved by collectors. The USPS measures a stamp's popularity by the number saved - not used - through quarterly surveys sent to American households. The Postal Service issues 40-45 billion stamps in an average year, the majority of which are intended for day-to-day usage. Other top stamps included the Celebrate the Century sets from the 1900s, 1920s and 1930s, as well as the Classic Movie Monsters stamp set.

The 1999 Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival, now in its 52nd year, will take place from May 13-16, 1999 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada. Entries to compete for the festival's Golden Sheaf Awards are now being accepted until March 5, 1999. Awards will be given to Canadian film entries in a total of nineteen film categories including: Animation, Children's Production, Arts and Entertainment, Comedy, Educational and Commercials. International filmmakers can enter works in five categories including: Children's Production, Documentary and Drama.

* Friday, December 11. New York, New York, U.S.A.

Join the Animazing Gallery (415 West Broadway, 2nd Fl) in celebrating the Disney and Warner Bros. 75th Anniversay from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. The gallery has some holiday offers as well that may interest animation art collectors. To RSVP or for more information call (212)226-7374 or e-mail Animazing@worldnet.att.net.

* Wednesday, December 2. - Friday, December 4. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.