From the Golden Globes to the Tonys

65th Golden Globe Awards\nWhen: 9:00 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 13, on NBC\nWhat it is: First founded by eight foreign journalists wishing to award all areas of entertainment, the Golden Globes have donated millions to entertainment-based charities over the years. They have since expanded to the nonprofit Hollywood Foreign Press, the decision-makers who vote for the best in TV and film. Representing some 55 countries, the HFPA members, who write in publications such as German Vogue and France's Le Figaro, hold monthly meetings in which they discuss the festivals they attend and entertainers they meet so they can find the most creative and inventive films of the time. \nThis year, due to controversy with the Writers Guild strike, the winners will be announced through a press conference. \n80th Academy Awards\nWhen: 8 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 24, on ABC\nWhat it is: The first Academy Awards consisted of 270 attendees and a $5 entrance fee. Since then, it has become one of the most important and popular awards programs in the world. The 8.5 pound, 13.5 inch tall Oscar statuette portrays a knight holding a sword while standing on a reel of film. The awards cover all aspects of a feature film, from Best Picture to Sound Mixing. \n62nd Tony Awards\nWhen: 8 p.m., Sunday, June 15, on CBS\nWhat it is: The Tony Awards originated to recognize achievements in theater, including plays and musicals. The awards are run by The League of American Theatres and Producers and American Theatre Wing. The awards are given by an administration and management committee. Awards are given for both best actor and actress, as well as for aspects such as best choreography, best revival of a play and best direction. Technical awards such as best orchestration, lighting design and scenic design are also given.\n50th Grammy Awards\nWhen: 8 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 10, on CBS\nWhat it is: A year after the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences was founded, it gave out the first Grammy awards. The Grammys cover a wide variety of music genres -- from folk to rhythm & blues to classical. Awards are given to the best performers and albums, but there are also categories such as best music video, engineering and album packaging and album notes. The voting process for the Grammys consists of three categories, which consist of effort between NARAS members and trustees, music experts and the academy's voting membership. \n6th CMT Music Awards\nWhen: 8 p.m., Monday, April 14, on CMT\nWhat it is: Country Music Television recognizes the best videos of the year. The final four nominees and final winners are picked by fans on cmt.com. Categories include Video of the Year, Johnny Cash Visionary Award and Wide Open Country Video of the Year. The CMT Music Awards are country music's only award program that allows its fans to pick the winners. \nSundance Film Festival\nWhen: Jan. 17-27, in Park City, Utah\nWhat it is: Well-known for Chairperson's Robert Redford original hope to showcase the best of American independent films. Foreign films were added under the World Cinema category in 2005. The jurors are eclectic individuals knowledgeable in film, art and writing who determine winners through the criteria of "risk-taking, diversity, and aesthetic innovation," according the festival's official Web site. The categories are American Dramatic & Documentary Competitions, World Cinema Dramatic & Documentary Competitions, the Short Film Competition and the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize. The festival has also recently become a hot spot for Hollywood celebrities. The official Sundance Film Festival Web site will provide short films, podcasts and interviews throughout the event. \n61st Cannes Film Festival\nWhen: May 15-26, in Cannes, France\nWhat it is: This is known as the world's most prestigious film festival, with awards given out for short and feature films. The "Holy Grail" is the Palme d'Or for Best Picture, which is almost certain to put a film ahead. But it is more than a competition, as it was the first film festival to add sidebar events. For example, "The Market" is where about 10,000 professionals buy and sell films. \n23rd Film Independent's Spirit Awards\nWhen: Check local listings; Saturday, Feb. 23, on IFC and AMC\nWhat it is: Members of Film Independent and Independent Feature Project determine the winners of these awards. Any individual can become a member of either organization, which both honor achievements in independent film. This awards ceremony is hosted as a luncheon in Santa Monica, Calif. Awards are given for Best Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Female Lead and Best Male Lead, among others. Other awards include Best First Screenplay and John Cassavetes Award (Best Feature under $500k).