Quick Focus

Hey, Dad, That's My Camera!
Good thing this camera is rated for kids eight years old and up, because I'm getting one. Not only does the Vidster look cool, but Mattel claims it is durable enough to be thrown into a backpack with whatever else kids keep in there. It shoots six to eight minutes of video at 320 x 240 (QVGA, or Quarter Video Graphics Array) to its built-in 32MB of memory. It has an expansion memory card slot that will hold up to a 512MB card, and has a composite video out for television plug and play and a USB cable for a computer connection. This "kid" camera takes stills at 1.3 megapixel resolution, and ships with Vidster Photo Editor and autoProducer software from Muvee. The 11-ounce, pistol grip camera uses four "AA" batteries and is equipped with an internal mic, 2x zoom and a tripod mount. At $80, I'll take two.

Festival Watch
What's That Finished Video Doing in Your Closet? Let it Be Seen!

Mini DV Pure Digital/Video Film Festival
Submission Deadline: October 31, 2005
Festival Date: December 7, 2005 -- December 11, 2005
Focus: Targeting creative works shot in only Digital & Video formats, the MDVF recognizes the best Narratives, Documentaries, Music Videos, Experimentals & Animations in friendly competition.
Entry Fee: Check with festival organizers.
www.njstatefilmfestival.com

Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
Submission Deadline: November 1, 2005
Festival Date: February 16, 2006 -- February 22, 2006
Focus: This competitive event is open to non-fiction films and videos of all styles, subject matter and lengths. Awards will be given for Best Feature Documentary, Best Short Documentary and Best Montana Documentary.
Entry Fee: < 60 minutes : $40, > 60 minutes: $50
http://highplainsfilms.org/festival/entries.html

Women in the Director's Chair Film/Video Festival
Submission Deadline: November 15, 2005
Festival Date: No date currently available
Focus: The largest and longest-running women's film and video festival in the US. The goal of the festival is to create a space in which a plurality of visions, representing very different cultural, political and personal priorities, results in exchange and interaction.
Entry Fee: Check with festival organizers.
www.widc.org

Ann Arbor Film Festival
Submission Deadline: December 1, 2005
Festival Date: March 21, 2006 -- March 26, 2006
Focus: Featuring the latest in independent and experimental film, video and digital work from all over the world. The festival will showcase DVD, BetaSP, 16mm and 35mm in exhibition.
Entry Fee: before Nov. 1: $35, before Dec. 1: $40
www.aafilmfest.org

Smogdance
Submission Deadline: December 15, 2005
Festival Date: January 21, 2006 -- January 23, 2006
Focus: Smogdance '04, the Seventh Annual Pomona Film Festival, wants to see your cinematic statement.
Entry Fee: before Oct. 27: $20 standard: $15 students, before Dec. 1: $23 standard: $18 student
www.smogdance.com

Canadian Independent Short Film Showcase
Submission Deadline: January 13, 2006
Festival Date: No date currently available
Focus: The Canadian Independent Short Film Showcase is an annual showcase of short films from around the world presented to a Canadian audience of filmmakers and moviegoers alike.
Entry Fee: $20 USD
www.can-indie.com