Key dates have been set for the 77th Oscars. The ceremony will be held Sunday, February 27, 2005. Nominations will be unveiled on Tuesday, January 25th. [Via AMPAS]

Indie animator Bill Plympton has sold a package of two features and ten shorts to Sundance Channel for a spotlight on his work that will air in May. The two features that will air include "Mutant Aliens" and "The Tune".

Director Jim Jarmusch will receive the Filmmaker on the Edge prize at this year's Provincetown International Film Festival in Massachusetts. The fest, now in year six, is set to run from June 16 - 20.

Sony Pictures Classics' "Bon Voyage" and Lions Gate's "Dogville" are in a virtual tie atop the weekly indieWIRE:BOT that tracks independent and specialty releases (with "Bon Voyage" ahead by a mere $6 in its per screen average). The full chart and analysis will be published later this week, as usual, in indieWIRE's box office section.

The Israel Film Festival in Los Angeles will kick off its 20th year with a screening of Gabi Savizon's "Nina's Tragedies" on April 29th before the fest travels to Chicago, Miami and New York. Jason Alexander will host opening night which will include honors for Gale Anne Hurd, Norman Jewison and Arthur Hiller.

The coalition of independent film producers who won an injunction halting the MPAA's screener ban have settled the matter out of court. The indie producers and the IFPs announced the agreement today, saying that the terms of the settlement are confidential. [via email]

The ten-year-old Slamdance Film Festival has launched a global search for a new festival director to be based in LA. The position requires a two-year commitment. [vial email]