MUMBAI: Nickelodeon's US-based digital channel Nicktoons will present the Nicktoons Film Festival in association with Federator Studios and Animation Magazine. The first on-air festival of its kind will showcase the diversity of independent cartoon filmmaking by animators from around the globe.
 

Announcing the film festival, Nicktoons VP & GM Keith Dawkins said, "There's so much great talent in the world of animation and we're excited to give people the opportunity to have their work seen by experts and on Nicktoons' air. Nicktoons is the place to be for animation lovers, which is why we're forming a sort of 'creative lab' for a new generation of cartoon hits."

Animators from around the world can download entry forms on www.nicktoons.com starting today and entries will be accepted through 10 September. Submissions should be animated shorts no longer than sevenminutes that combine a unique look, great character designs and a funny plot. A selection of shorts chosen by a pre-selection jury will broadcast on Nick US's digital channel, Nicktoons, as part of a 13-episode compilation series launching this fall. One winner will be chosen by a grand jury and awarded a $10,000 prize, informed an official release.

The pre-selection jury will be an assembly of Frederator Studios and Animation Magazine staff. The grand jury members will be announced on the website throughout the Festival competition. Other festival prizes will also be announced on the website throughout the competition, added the release.

Animation Magazine, based in New York, is a leading trade publication devoted to the coverage of the business, technology and art of animation while the New York-based Frederator makes cartoons for television and the movies.