In 2003 Palm Beach International Film Festival became a “Competitive” Festival joining the ranks of other film events such as: Sundance, Cannes, Toronto and Venice. PBIFF screens features, documentaries and short films from the U.S. and around the world and will play host to filmmakers, producers, and actors to represent and discuss their films. Opening Night begins with ‘Belle,’ directed by Amma Asante, followed by a party at Bogart’s Bar and Grille in Palm Beach Gardens. The film stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Emily Watson, Tom Felton, Sam Reid and Tom Wilkinson, and is inspired by the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle (Mbatha-Raw).
Other film highlights during the festival include the acclaimed and festival favorites ‘Ethel’ (with Ethel Kennedy herself in attendance), ‘Robot & Frank’, ‘Love Free Or Die’ and the first of iconic author Judy Blume’s novels to be brought to the big screen. The Palm Beach International Film Festival will continue to partner with independent theater owners, their bookers and distribution outlets from across the U.S. will be invited as guests to screen films and meet filmmakers. The PBIFF is looking forward to fostering these relationships and helping independent filmmakers get their projects seen by larger audiences.
The PBIFF has dedicated itself to making a difference in the lives of young people by helping to fulfill their dreams in the world of film. Proceeds generated each year go to the Palm Beach County Schools to provide new technologies for optimal learning in the form of grants and scholarships. On April 5 the festival will host, “Toast of the Town – A Tribute to Classic Hollywood at the Eau Palm Beach”, a VIP level affair where guests will be sipping on the champagne featured in A Year in Champagne and enjoy special Tito’s Vodka Martinis while partying the night away with filmmakers and special guests. The festival ends its run April 10.
Now in its 23rd year, the Florida Film Festival in Maitland is an Oscar®-qualifying festival, premiering current, independent, and international cinema. Through ten days of presenting 170 films and various events, film lovers mingle with filmmakers and celebrities over hand-crafted cocktails and a locally-sourced menu. Opening Night Film, “The Trip to Italy”, preceded by “Oh Sheep!” is followed by the Opening Night Party. Participating restaurants, bars, and brands include Cask and Larder, Coppola Fine Wines, The Courtesy, Etho’s Vegan Kitchen, Enzian and Eden Bar, Hyatt Grand Regency, K Restaurant, The Matador, Olea Grill, Sushi Pop, Smiling Bison, Tito’s Vodka, Troy and Sons, Whole Foods, and more.
Other Florida Film Festival parties and/or receptions include: April 5 on the lawn at Eden Bar for a farmers market, April 6 Sunday Brunch complete with buffet and a mimosa, free Tasting Reception during April 7 Italian Cinema Night with Italian treats presented between flicks, Whole Foods Market tasting reception of organic appetizers on April 8, April 9 Wednesday Night Pitcher Show on the lawn at Eden Bar serving cocktails and treats, an invite only Filmmaker Welcome Party hosted by Full Sail University serving complimentary bites and cocktails on April 10, April 11 Industry Party with complimentary beer and live music all night, Awards Bash with live DJ, cash bar, Celluloid Circus on April 12, Sunday Brunch with mimosas at Festival close on April 13.
For an April 10 Florida Film Festival panel, female visionaries share their personal experiences and what it means to be a successful woman working in movies today. Panelists include Meira Blaustein, filmmaker/Executive Director of the Woodstock Film Festival; Kim Kalyka, Director of Exhibitor Relations at IFC Films; Debra McClutchy, VP of Home Entertainment Production and Creative at Oscilloscope Pictures; and producer Andrea Roa (Drinking Buddies), a 2014 Independent Spirit “Producer of the Year” award nominee. Anne Russell, Program Director of Film at Full Sail University, will moderate.
The Florida Film Festival hosts A Filmmaker Forum with new independent filmmakers every year and always sets aside one day (April 11 for this session) to form a Q&A with them. This exchange of ideas and know-how defines the festival’s intellectual intentions. Rollins College Professor Denise Cummings, Chair of the Department of Critical Media and Cultural Studies, will moderate the exchange. Giancarlo Esposito will be in attendance for a post-film Q&A after the screening of a new digital restoration of Spike Lee’s ‘Do The Right Thing’ in celebration of the film’s 25th anniversary. Mr. Esposito will take part in a post-film Q&A. Brooklyn-born actor and singer Paul Sorvino will be in attendance at the screening of Last I Heard on April 11, at 16:15 at Enzian.
Since 1992, Enzian has been the proud host of the Florida Film Festival. As part of its mission to entertain, inspire, educate, and connect the community through film, Enzian, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, community-supported arts organization, presents innovative and original cinematic programming not just during the Festival, but all year long.
The annual Las Vegas NAB Show is essentially an exposition serving the digital media and entertainment industries by focusing on video, audio and broadcast practices and technology. It is structured as a resource for next-generation tools to develop, manage and deliver content across all platforms and allows visitors to take part in an international community of content professionals. NAB President and CEO Gordon H. Smith will open the show with the State of the Broadcast Industry Address on April 7. Several hours later a Television Luncheon honors “Everybody Loves Raymond” as the Television inductee to the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
Among several NAB conferences planned, the “Creative Master Series – Storytelling for All Screens”, happening April 7-9, features award-winning directors, show runners, creative crew, and studio and network production executives for an insiders’ perspective on the craftsmanship of content. Key topics for this conference focus on advances in animation, game storytelling, advancing story through sound, web series best practices and more. The “Disruptive Media Conference – Profiting in Entertainment’s New Landscape”, held April 9-10, gathers broader-casters to discuss how new media as well as more traditional OTT technologies that are impacting business models for distribution and consumer engagement. Roy Sekoff, Huffington Post Media Group, will deliver the opening keynote for this conference.
Some of the workshops scheduled for this year’s NAB include: 2nd Screen Sunday, an event showcasing the latest business opportunities, creative case studies and technology innovations related to the creation of supplementary, synchronized and social TV content. Digital Strategies Exchange for Radio (DSX4r) as a one-day program that focuses on the many new technologies affecting radio broadcasting today, and provides recommendations for non-technical managers on how to best leverage them to local radio’s advantage. Introduction to Professional Wireless Communications, presented by the IEEE Communications Society, is a 6-hour course for professionals who seek to stay competitive in today’s job market with up-to-date knowledge of technologies, products and services in the mobile telecommunications industry.
Special pavilions and gathering areas at the 2014 NAB start with the Futures Park, a showcase of advanced projects presented by NAB Labs. It has demonstrations of high-tech media developments in progress, prototypes, and products not yet available for sale from academic, government, and/or commercial research laboratories in the United States or even the international market. The StudioXperience™ is where anyone can see the latest technologies being showcased and utilized as part of a live broadcast studio. Connected Media World focuses on the connected consumer experience including IPTV, mobile, social and cloud technologies, devices and content. Arx@des locations include Central Hall, North Hall, South Lower Hall and South Upper Hall outfitted with relaxation dens outfitted with gaming tables, audio headsets, fun with paints, other activities plus prizes and other surprises.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) advocates on behalf of America’s free, local radio and television stations and broadcast networks before Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the courts. Working on behalf of its radio and television membership, NAB provides members with advocacy efforts, legal expertise and timely communications and opportunities for career growth, professional development and networking with other broadcasters.
MUSEXPO happpens April 6-9, but it will be co-located with these other industry events: WorldWide Radio Sumit, Global Rock Summit. In Hollywood, MUSEXPO 2014 will be held following the 4th Annual Worldwide Radio Summit (April 2-4) and 1st Annual Global Rock Summit (April 4-5). This year’s MUSEXPO will also host the 5th Annual Global Synch and Consumer Brands Summit (April 9) which will bring together over 80 influential music supervisors from film, TV, games, advertising, retail and brands to meet with participating content creators and owners attending MUSEXPO from across the U.S. and global markets. In addition, the official Pepsi “Int’l Music Industry Awards” happens at the event on April 9. Songwriter Diane Warren, Founder and President at Realsongs, will be honored as MUSEXPO’s “International Music Person of the Year” with Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO, Universal Music Group presenting Warren with the coveted annual music industry award.
At MUSEXPO, CNN icon Larry King moderates the Global Keynote: The State of the Sonic Union, with panelists: Ian Rogers, CEO, Beats Music; Hartwig Masuch, CEO, BMG Rights Management; Frank Cooper III, Global Chief Marketing Officer Consumer Engagement, PepsiCo, Inc.; George Ergatoudis, Head of Music, BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, Steve Schnur, Worldwide Head of Music, EA Games and Michael Chugg, Founder and Chairman, Chugg Entertainment. And in other activity Tracy McKnight, Tracy McKnight Entertainment, moderates a panel on Motion Picture Music: The Soundtracks & Trailers paneled by Howard Pear, Music Supervisor; Kaylin Frank, Walt Disney Studios, Lindsay Fellows, Theengine360.com; Rachel Levy, Universal Pictures; Richard Glasser, The Weinstein Co. and there will be a live performance by Ingrid Olava.
The origins of MUSEXPO stem from the roots of the intimate A&R Network (the predecessor to A&R Worldwide) networking dinners in Los Angeles, which first occurred back in 2001 and have since traveled to New York, Berlin and London. These exclusive dinners were organized by A&R Network and A&R Worldwide architect Sat Bisla with the purpose of bringing together friends and like-minded relationships from the global radio, A&R, film/TV music supervision, publishing, new media and artist management communities to engage in creative dialogue and establish fresh business relationships.
The 31st Annual French Quarter Festival will highlight New Orleans’ signature music, food, and culture in the historic neighborhood — the French Quarter. From the 21 stages throughout the French Quarter, the festival celebrates local music and represents every indigenous genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to R&B, New Orleans funk, brass bands, Folk, Gospel, Latin, Zydeco, Classical, Cabaret, and international. Running April 10-14, French Quarter Festival will have many events and activities for the public to take part in — and mostly all free.
Naturally a great deal of the festival is about music. But some very special and highlighted music events will include: the French Quarter Festival Second-Line Kickoff Parade led by The Original Pin Stripe Brass Band down Bourbon Street to Jackson Square on April 11, “Opera at Dusk” operatic performances with musical accompaniment on April 13, a Battle of the Bands with traditional jazz bands competing in a playoff on April 13, “Dancing at Dusk” with The Tomcats performing the sounds of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Count Basie and other favorites from the 30s, 40s, and 50s on April 13. ‘Shout, Sister, Shout!’ The Boswell Sisters of New Orleans — an exhibition presented by The Historic New Orleans Collection, will trace one of the city’s most celebrated musical exports through memorabilia, photographs, radio scripts, notes from fans and peers, and listening stations. The exhibition continues past the festival run through October 26.
Jazz and New Orleans go together — but so does food. And the French Quarter festival highlights this in its own unique way. The festival has scheduled the Rouses World Championship Crawfish Eating Contest for April 12, hosted by Rouses and the IFEA (International Federation of Eating) at Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint. The action (or eating) starts at noon. Throughout the festival, New Orleans’ restaurants are invited to take part in and create the food and beverage offerings what is called “The World’s Largest Jazz Brunch” in Jackson Square, the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint and Woldenberg Riverfront Park during festival weekend. Satchmo SummerFest (an upcoming event) hosts New Orleans restaurants, known as “Red Bean Alley”, with Louis Armstrong-inspired dishes and local cuisine.
The French Market Traditional Jazz Stage and the Chevron Cajun-Zydeco Showcase will feature dancing and classes in Traditional Jazz, 1920s Charleston, Swing Dance, Cajun Jitterbug, and Zydeco. Classes are taught by professional dancers from NOLA Jitterbugs, DancingMan504, and Dance Quarter. The sessions will be held April 11-14 and are free and open to the public. Children and families are not left out of this festival, and some of their activities will include: Little Red School House 5K Race and Family Fest on April 12, Chevron Children’s Headquarters on the Riverfront Plaza at Audubon Plaza with face painting, nature activities on April 12, Children’s Museum Activities and Fun at the Hermann-Grima House on April 12, Little Red School House Family Fest on April 14. French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI), a 501©3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the Vieux Carré and the City of New Orleans through special events and activities that showcase the culture and heritage of New Orleans, annually produces three festivals: French Quarter Festival, Satchmo SummerFest, and Christmas New Orleans Style.
Supanova Pop Culture Expo is a fan convention focusing on the world’s most popular science fiction and fantasy film and TV, comic books, anime, gaming and collectables. It is held annually in the Australian cities of Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and the Gold Coast. One can think of Supanova as Comic-con, Australian style. Supanova Pop Culture Expo is where the public can come to meet the players and the creative talent that inspire their imaginary worlds of anime, comic-books, manga, sci-fi, tv shows, movies, gaming and cosplay (cos-tume role-play).
A sample of Supanova guest appearances include Lucy Lawless, also known as Universal’s combat worthy Warrior Princess, Xena, who is scheduled for Q&A, photo-op, autograph and VIP Party (April 12 only), from April 11-12. Keir Dullea, perhaps best known for the lead role in Stanley Kubrick’s epic science-fiction film, 2001: “A Space Odyssey” (1968), as the astronaut Dr. David Bowman, and who reprised the role for the sequel in “2010: The Year We Make Contact” (1984), will be available to meet fans for photo and autograph sessions each Saturday and Sunday during the festival run.
There are many other featured activities and events that make up the Expo’s “Supa-Activities and Competitions” activities to participate in. Supanova Guest panels appear on stage at scheduled times over the weekend to talk directly to fans. Anime and cartoon screenings will be shown in the Anime Theatre. An anime themed game show, a fast-paced quiz show where two teams captained by “experts” will be conducted at various times and locations on Sunday of every Supanova. Newly devised Imagineer’s Playground is an interactive demonstrations and ‘how to’ workshop on subjects ranging from Introduction to Airbrushing through to applying creature effect make-up and more. Anime Trivia has been brought back into the format with three rounds of questions ranging from Azumanga Daioh to Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei, from shoujo to shounen, from magic girls to mecha and more.
Supanova will have a Wacom Fan Art Competition giving visitors a chance to compete against other artists in the community, be crowned for the best artwork of the show and win a Wacom drawing tablet. The Australian Pinball League and Amusement Machine Distributors are teaming up with the Supanova Pop Culture Expo and Timezone Australia to offer the Timezone Supanova Pinball competition. There will also be Epic Gaming, the next level in authentic shooter gaming. Participants will be able to choose their teams and type of tagger as they battle it out over a custom made Inflatable battle field designed especially for the Supanova and slated this year only for Melbourne. Other SupaNova events in different parts of Australia will be happening besides Melbourne. Gold Coast 2014 is April 4-6, Sydney 2014 is June 13-15, Perth 2014 is June 20-22, Adelaide 2014 is November 21-23, Brisbane 2014 is November 28-30.
Founded in 2002 in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the resulting economic fallout in the Tribeca neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, the Tribeca Film Festival® celebrates New York City as a major filmmaking center. The Festival’s program line-up includes a variety of independent films including documentaries, narrative features and shorts, as well as a program of family-friendly films. The Festival also features panel discussions with personalities in the entertainment world and a music lounge produced with ASCAP to showcase artists. At the Festival’s Artists Awards program emerging and renowned artists celebrate filmmakers by providing original works of art that are given to the filmmakers’ competition winners.
One of the most enduring movie musicals of all-time, ‘Mary Poppins’, starring Julie Andrews as the nanny with a magical touch and Dick Van Dyke in the role of handyman Bert, will be given a free screening at the Tribeca Drive-In Brookfield Place, April 17. Tribeca Film Institute® (TFI) will host the third annual TFI Interactive Day. The day-long meeting of the minds takes place on April 26 during Tribeca Innovation Week at the Tribeca Film Festival® (TFF) and is devoted to exploring the future of storytelling in an evolving digital landscape. TFI Interactive (TFIi) draws in content creators and innovators from multiple media for an all-day forum and “Interactive Playground,” a new addition that will connect participants with selections from their projects. Insights will be shared and there will be challenging assessments to contemporary storytelling paradigms during the interactive panels and presentations.
Additionally, TFI Interactive (TFIi) is part of the new Tribeca Innovation Week, which includes a series of panels, discussions, and events featuring creative and tech verticals sharing their insights. The week will expand on Tribeca’s tradition of connecting the creative and tech communities. Projects from several Tribeca Innovation Week events will be showcased at TFIi, including Storyscapes, a showcase of transmedia projects, as well as Tribeca Hacks <Mobile>, a two-day hackathon. presented with AT&T, that will focus on wearable technology.
The Tribeca Talks series is always an integral part of the festival. Topics up for discussion in this year’s Tribeca Talks series include: Shooting The Film – An Exploration of Cinematography, Pen To Paper: Repercussions of Truth, Dolby Institute – The Art of Sound Design and Music, Directors Series: Lee Daniels, Pen To Paper: Adaptation and Creation, Directors Series: Ron Howard With Brian Williams, The Growth of Short Content. Another conference mainstay, the Tribeca Family Festival, will feature the annual Street Fair on April 26, from 10:00 to 18:00, on Greenwich Street from Chambers Street to Hubert Street, and at venues throughout the Tribeca neighborhood. Aside from the annual event, Tribeca is more than just the Tribeca Film Festival. With a distribution business — Tribeca Film — that releases more than 25 movies per year both in theaters and on nationwide VOD.
Education Expo TV (EET CRS) an Indian research and branding company was founded in the year 2010 with its main focus area in education. The company provides services of ratings, ranking, research and branding solution. The company also hosts a number of awards to recognize the best talent/companies working across India and operates India’s first online edutainment channel which connects school, colleges, universities, corporate and policy makers for sharing and understanding of knowledge. The Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival is a not-for-profit, independent film festival, established in 2011 in Noida (Delhi NCR) with a mission to celebrate the cinema and work of aspiring, young, independent and professional filmmakers.
Dada Saheb Phalke is important to the Indian film industry as it is launched each year on April 30 to mark the birthday of late Shri Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, who is regarded as a founding father of Indian Cinema and fondly remembered as Dada Saheb Phalke by the film fraternity in India and throughout the international community. The festival, managed by Miniboxoffice, has sections for feature films, short films, documentaries, animations, music videos and advertising films. Aside from the screening of films, the festival will feature a “Talent Meet” for the purpose of Producers interested in meeting Directors with potential feature film projects, Producers interested in meeting Writers with potential feature film screenplay, Directors interested in meeting Producers with my new film project, Actors interested in meeting Directors and Producers, Investors interested in meeting Producers/Distributors and any other accommodating connections and arrangements to facilitate film production.
The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month’s photo placement highlights the North American opening of Captain America, starring Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson,Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Robert Redford and Samuel L. Jackson. If the photo does not appear in this post please visit the blog page to view it. Looking ahead into the next month be aware that: the the American Movie Awards will be held in Las Vegas, Streaming Media East will be held in New York City, the 5th Annual International Film Finance Forum in association with Variety opens in Cannes, the Amsterdam Film Festival is set for the Netherlands, the Drama Desk Awards will be given in New York City, the Cannes Film Festival launches in Cannes.
Entertainment and Media Industry News and Events 