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Cartoons on the Bay, the international competition on television animation, hosted in Positano, Italy from 5-9 April 2006, and organized by Rai Trade, has grown steadily over the last 10 years and has announced a record number of 340 entries sent in for this year’s competition.

The 40 titles short-listed to compete come from 13 countries. The USA leads this year with 7 programmes, the UK, Italy and France follow with 5 each and Spain, Canada, Germany and Korea each with 3. Other countries taking part include Japan, Finland, Belgium, plus first time competitors Slovenia and Iran.

Five top international specialists in animation have been selected for the Jury:: Lisa Salamone Smith, Senior Vice-President Production, Walt Disney Television Animation USA; Daniel Lennard - Senior Director Original Animation & Acquisitions, Cartoon Network Europe; Giuseppe Lagana director and author, Italy; Sabine Weber - Head of Series & Movies, ORF, Austria, and Kim Wilson - Head of Children’s Television, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canada.

Another new addition to Cartoons on the Bay is the digital videotheque in the Business Lounge where 150 programmes coming from 30 countries can be viewed on computers. Europe boasts 55% of this worldwide showcase. The programmes in competition plus those in the showcase make a total of 190 animation programmes representing 33 countries all available to buyers, distributors, broadcasters, journalists and other professionals in the industry during the five days of the Festival.

This year the Festival Conferences will open with a new session called Breakfast Backstage. Each day will begin with screenings and presentations of the television programmes in competition over a cup of coffee and a brioche. The aim of this session is to give more attention to the production aspects involved in a television series and to give an opportunity to the creative forces working backstage to comment and expose what goes into an animation production.

To further celebrate its 10th edition, Cartoons on the Bay has chosen to put a special focus on Canada as its guest country. Canada has proven to be one of the most qualified countries in the animation sector because of its long artistic, technological and industrial traditions. Independent producers, television channels, and public organizations from Canada will be able to show past and present productions, hold round table discussions and examine such arguments as co-production possibilities between Canada and Europe.

The Canadian delegation is composed of some of the most important players in Canadian animation: Marie Claude Beauchamp, President/CEO of Carpediem (Montrèal), Raquel Benitez, President/CEO of Comet Entertainment (Toronto), Marie Christine Dufour, Executive VP Pre-Sales Distribution Marketing of Cine Groupe (Montrèal), Scott Dyer, Executive VP Production and Development of Nelvana (Toronto), Nancy Marie, Television Theatrical Sales Europe, National Film Board of Canada (Montrèal), Rick Mischel, CEO, Mainframe (Vancouver, BC), André Leduc and Florence Bolté, Animathon Inc. (Montrèal).