Blogs

"Kung Fu Panda 2" dominated the nominations for the 39th Annual Annie Awards. Given by the International Animated Film Society, the DreamWorks Animation sequel received 12 nods including Best Animated Feature. "Puss in Boots" and "Rango" each took nine noms.

The Palm Springs International ShortFest, billed as the largest short film festival in North America, has announced its Festival award winners! 331 short films were screened, but in the end, only 18 categories were awarded.

Pixar continues to be the king at the box-office! "Cars 2" becomes the 12th film of the animation studio to debut at No. 1. The animated adventure, featuring the voices of Larry the Cable Guy as Mater and Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen, landed at the top with $68 million.

Star racecar Lightning McQueen and the incomparable tow truck Mater take their friendship to exciting new places when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world's fastest car.

"Rio " flies into theaters near you, but will this new animated adventure have you flying high?

Okay, I didn't watch the game, sorry Super Bowl fans, BUT I did watch the commercials, especially the movie trailers! There were many of them, so without further adieu, all the Super Bowl 2011 movie trailers you might have missed!

In addition to being a well respected producer/director/writer responsible for bringing such projects as the two #1 "Mortal Kombat" feature films and the CGI-animated feature film "Foodfight" starring Charlie Sheen and Eva Longoria to the screen, Larry Kasanoff is also the CEO of Threshold Animation Studios. Based in Santa Monica, CA his company produces visual effects and animation projects for studios such as Disney, Paramount, Sony, DreamWorks, Warner Brothers and New Line. Here, in this Filmmakers Notebook Q&A Larry shares some of his thoughts about making movies and the growth of animation.

One of the highlights during NAB last week in Las Vegas was when DreamWorks Animation CEO, Jeffrey Katzenberg shared the stage with moderator, David Wertheimer, CEO and Executive Director of the Entertainment Technology Center @USC for a candid conversation about 3D.

Many aspiring and professional filmmakers, who don't live in cities like Los Angeles and New York, often wish they could take advantage of the seminars and programs offered there.

Having grown up in Canada, it was my pleasure to meet, on the occasion of the Rencontres Cinéma Paris/Berlin/Madrid, held in Paris, early December, the Head of the Québec Cinémathèque, Madame Yolande Racine. This accomplished lady holds an M.A. (Master of Arts) in Art History from the University of Montréal.