Austin City Limits, MIPCOM, Hawaii International Film Festival, PhotoPlus International, are highlights in October’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival now happens over two weekends – October 4-6 and October 11-13 – and now encompasses eight stages and over 130 bands. Acts that have been confirmed for the 2013 lineup include: Roadkill Ghost Choir, Caspar Babypants, Whiskey Shivers, Alanna Royale, My Jerusalem, Houndmouth, Ms Mr, Depeche Mode, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, Red Baraat, Delta Rae, Autre Ne Veut, Neko Case, Kendrick Lamar, Tame Impala, Toro Y Moi, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Arctic Monkeys, Little Green Cars, Noah and the Whale, Lionel Richie and so many more.

In between ACL conference weeks, the Captivate Conference, October 6-8 at Palmer Center, hosts industry talent from a number of digital entertainment industries spanning film, games, mobile and music. The sessions and workshops focus on learning tools and events set up for the professional musician and products for consumers. In separate but related activities, SXSW Eco will run for its third year, opening on October 7, and connecting professionals spanning the public, private and academic sectors who are all working toward finding solutions to  challenges facing civil society, the economy and the natural world.

Wanderlust Yoga, another mid-weekend event, is hosting an October 8 yoga class at the Long Center Pavilion during the week between the two ACL Fest weekends to benefit SafePlace. It will be a flow class led by five talented teachers and accompanied by live music. Attendees will enjoy refreshments from local vendors, a raffle of exciting prizes and a view of the entire Austin cityscape. The ACL Art Market is located in the center of Zilker Park where booths are open throughout the duration of the Festival. And aside from the daytime weekend showcases, there are the Official 2013 Late Night Shows that will bridge the two weekends, and features many of the same musical acts billed for the ACL Music Fest showcase.

The Bel Air Film Festival – BAFF for short – in Beverly Hills and surrounding areas is an annual international film festival offering attending filmmakers access to a series of film panels, music performances, gala events, and screenings of all genres including documentaries, animations, short films, student films, and comedies. The World Premiere of Feature Film Romatic-Comedy “Producer Sam” Followed by Red Carpet Gala at the Hammer Museum happens on October 10. The Festival will honor films in the following categories: Documentary Film, Feature Film, Short Film, Student Short Film, Comedy Short Film. The Bel-Air Film Festival hosted its first inaugural event in 2008 at a private estate located in Bel-Air, California. Even today some screenings are held at private luxury estates in Bel-Air and throughout theaters in Beverly Hills, on the UCLA campus, throughout Westwood, and into greater Los Angeles.

Each annual Bel Air Film Festival launches with a red carpet opening night gala and provides networking with  industry professionals. The Los Angeles Premiere of feature documentary “Unclaimed,” will be October 8 at 19:00, followed by Q & A with Director Emmy Award Winner Michael Jorgensen. It is free to attend. There will be free admission to the USC film panel hosted by FilmBreak, Ripple News and moderated by Entertainment Attorney Mitra Ahouraian, on October 9 and the Hammer Museum After Party on October 10. An October 13 film panel hosted by FilmBreak, Ripple News, and moderated by entertainment attorney Mitra Ahouraian will be on the topic “Video On-Demand: Market Potential and Opportunities in Marketing and Merchandising” marks the close of the Festival.

Organized and run by Reed MIDEM, MIPCOM in Cannes is a yearly global market for entertainment TV content across all platforms. In four days beginning October 7, visitors to MIPCOM can come to discover and acquire the newest content in every genre and platform, gain industry knowledge, understand ongoing trends, learn new business models, finance their projects, find co-production partners, network and do deals with the decision-makers in the international television broadcasting and entertainment Industry. The MIPCOM 2013 programme will include the Media Mastermind Keynote Series, World Premiere Screenings, conferences, matchmaking and networking events.

This year in association with Shine International, Kudos, Shine France Films, Sky Atlantic HD and CANAL+, “The Tunnel,” is featured in MIPCOM’s World Premiere TV Screening on October 7. The conference’s anticipated keynotes will be made by executives including: Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chief Executive Officer and Director, DreamWorks Animation SKG, Roma Khanna, President, Television Group and Digital of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Dan Rose, VP of Partnerships, Facebook, Michael Wright, President and Head of Programming, TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies. Jeffrey Katzenberg has been named MIPCOM 2013 Personality of the Year and will accept the award on October 9 during a gala dinner for industry executives at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes.

This year, planned matchmaking and networking opportunities seek to accelerate business in different media sectors and provide practical solutions for business development. Animation buyers can take advantage of this planned opportunity to discover new prorgrams from some of Japan’s’ independent animation studios. MIPCOM and the Argentine National Film Board (INCAA) bring special focus to Argentina’s television production industry as this year’s “Country of Honor”. Argentina plays host to this year’s Opening Night Party, sponsored by the Argentine National Film Board (INCAA) and a dealmakers lunch the day after. A line-up of new leading executives and discover programming and production trends out of Africa, reportedly, a region undergoing innovation and fast growth in this field.

Screamfest from October 8-17 in North Hollywood premieres and showcases new work from American and international independent horror filmmakers. The opening night feature, ‘Beneath’, is followed by the Opening Night Party. Film entries are accepted in the categories of Best Feature, Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Special Effects and Musical Score. In addition, there are special categories for Best Animation, Best Short, Best Documentary and Best Student Film.

On October 15, a Screamfest Q&A panel moderated by Peter DeBruge, senior film critic for Variety is paneled by: Don Handfield, producer, Ray Siegle, stunt person, Michael Colleary, writer/producer, Lucy Mukerjee, SVP Development at After Dark Films. The discussion tackles issues of: “The Art, Business and Future of Genre Filmmaking” — also to be viewable via live-streaming video hosted by CraveOnline and ScreenCraft. The festival has hosted its share of notable filmmakers as guests, including Sam Raimi, Williiam Friedkin, Wes Craven, Eli Roth, John Landis, and ushered in well regarded horror flicks: David Arquette’s The Tripper, Paranormal Activity, 30 Days Of Night, Wolf Creek, Cube: Zero and others.

The New Orleans Film Society (NOFS) was founded in 1989. This past year marked the 21st Anniversary of the New Orleans Film Festival, which has grown into a showcase of local, regional, national, and international films. In addition to the annual Film Festival each fall – this year from October 10-20 – the NOFS hosts special events throughout the year: the French Film Festival, the New Orleans International Children’s Film Festival, and other events designed to benefit local film audiences, artists, and professionals. The NOFS also presents two monthly film series, one at the Contemporary Arts Center and one with the Porch 7th Ward Cultural Organization. Since NOFF is dedicated to nurturing new voices and making and making them feel welcome in New Orleans, it has, in recent years provided two complimentary nights of lodging for every attending filmmaker along with a Festival All-Access pass to enjoy all films, parties and more.

The Hawaii International Film Festival in Honolulu is an official partner with Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for Oscar Night America, and it is the sister festival of Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) and Shanghai Media and Entertainment Group (SMEG). Started up in 1981, it has sought to represent emerging films from Asia and the Pacific, and to present the top festival films from around the world, annually screening films from over 45 countries. October 10 Festival opening films include: from Japan, Hayao Miyazaki’s ‘The Wind Rises’, from China/South Korea, Gina Kim’s ‘Final Recipe’.

HIFF will conduct a New Media Camp right up to closing date, October 17-20. It is to be an intensive video workshop with hands-on guidance and expertise from working professionals ranging from successful YouTube partners and content producers, working filmmakers in traditional media, social media experts, and Hollywood actors who will assist in tweaking craft skills in the production of a three minute video that will be presented on the final day of the workshop at the Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18. There is also the Creative Lab Writers Accelerator program that gives participants an opportunity to delve further into the craft, provide them with direction on the business of writing and help create a plan to assist them in taking their next steps to career fulfillment.

On October 19, SAG-AFTRA presents a workshop on the inner processes of casting diverse projects fielding a panel of industry casting directors, producers, directors and actors, some of whom have films in the 2013 Festival. After the panel, selected members of the audience will get the opportunity to test their audition skills and receive immediate feedback from the panel. HIFF started as a project of the East-West Center, an educational and research institution created by U.S. Congress and located on the University of Hawai`i Manoa campus in Honolulu.

Every two years, for 11 days, film festival goers can immerse themselves in feature films, documentaries, shorts, animations and new media works, as the Adelaide Film Festival curates a screening program along with a forum program designed to explore program themes and approaches to film methodology. The festival based in Glenside will be relevant to both the general public and industry professionals introducing it’s audience to innovative areas of screen practice that reflect current and future trends in the film and new media screen-based industries.

The Adelaide Film Festival October 10 Opening Night Gala will showcase ‘Tracks’, starring Mia Wasikowska (Jane Eyre, Stoker) and Adam Driver (HBO’s Girls, Frances Ha, Inside Llewyn Davis) and directed by John Curran (The Painted Veil, We Don’t Live Here Anymore). Following the screening, the festivities switch over to the Freemasons Hall for a gala after-party, to celebrate 10 years of the Adelaide Film Festival and the array of Australian and international films being presented in 2013.

On October 11, Bill Morrison will probe topics of screen works with Laurence Weshler, former director of the Humanities Research Institute, New York University. Morrison’s work is known to make use of rare archival footage in which forgotten film imagery is reframed as part of collective mythology. He has been commissioned to create films for contemporary composers, including John Adams, Dave Douglas, Michael Gordon, Henryk, Górecki and Steve Reich. And on October 14, Morrison will open up the different ways that archival film and found footage can be used in a 90 minute Masterclass.

On October 13, guests from across Australia, and outside the region via Skype, explore the world of online content in a forum at Mercury Cinema. Topics that will be covered include: comedy, documentary, drama, soap opera and educational storytelling. It will take on issues about who is making money and how they are doing it, who is watching and whether webisodes are the new step stone into the moving image industries. The forum will culminate with a launch of the 2014 Guidelines for the MRC’s annual Web TV! Webisode Production Initiative. Following the screening of Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s on October 16 at Palace Nova Cinemas, a special event follows at the Festival Club over lunch and drinks when attendees can enjoy a fashion parade of genuine period outfits from the private collection of Catwalk Connections (the people behind Frock Around the Clock). The show will also feature rare fashion items and objects of curiosity from across the decades.

The PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo is an annual New York City photography event for professionals, students, educators and enthusiasts concerned with the latest developments and techniques in photography, video and digital imaging. From October 23-26 visitors to the PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo can explore over 300 exhibits, see new products, attend conference seminars, keynote presentations, special events. Donald Pettit, Mark Seliger, and Rick Smolan will each deliver keynote presentations at PhotoPlus. On opening conference day, panel presentation “20/20 Vision: What Will Photography Look Like in the Next Decade?” features a panel of photo industry experts and thought leaders discussing technology, issues and desires, and envisioning the future of photography. Admission is free for all registered attendees. Portfolio Review sessions will happen October 24-26. The review program features over 175 veteran professionals with the visitor able to select and prioritize the reviewers they want to meet with. Every registrant for the Official Portfolio Review program receives free admission to PhotoPlus Expo. The Expo celebrates its 30 year history this year with a party that will include three hours of food, beverages, photo ops, and fun.

Known as “The Writer’s Festival,” for the past 19 years, Austin Film Festival has sought to distinguish its festival program by selecting films that display strong storytelling, both written and visual. This year is Austin Film Festival’s 20th Anniversary. In addition to the Narrative Feature and Documentary Feature categories, this year there has been added a new “Dark Matters” category to showcase horror films. The festival will present a program of narrative, animation and documentary features and shorts, including premieres, advanced screenings, and independent films. Film screenings are complemented by informative Q&A sessions with cast members and filmmakers.

The AFF conference, dedicated to the screenwriting practice, will cover areas like: researching and editing your story, creating and funding a film, working with a writing partner, facing a blank page on a bad day,  risking a new direction after established success. Parties and social network events include Opening Night Reception, hosted by Austin Film Commission, followed later on by the WGA West Late Night Welcome Party hosted by Craig Mazin. The night before the official festival open, there will be the 11th annual “Film and Food Party”, an evening dedicated to honoring Austin as both a nationally recognized thriving film industry and renowned culinary hotspot. Proceeds from the event benefit AFF’s Young Filmmakers Program. Then there will be a Starz Media Conference Wrap Party on October 26.

Billboard/Hollywood Reporter Film and TV Music Conference in Hollywood includes panels, Q&As and case studies with composers, music supervisors, artists and executives from across the film, television, advertising and music industries, leading discussions on the pressing issues in the Film and TV community, for two days, October 29-30. Brought back by popular demand, attendees have the opportunity to engage in 10-minute sit-downs with active song reps in the business, and submit their pitches and music. Industry notables scheduled to take part include: Michele Wernick, EVP, Music Placement; Michael Fey, Creative Licensing, Shoot the Noise Music Peter Shurkin, Select Tracks; Cindy Badell-Slaughter, President, Heavy Hitters Music Group, Peter Shurkin, Senior Director-Creative, Select Tracks; Sven Spieker, Mighty Generation Music; Anny Colvin, Position Music and others.

Grammy®-winning producer, musician and songwriter T Bone Burnett will receive the Maestro Award at the Billboard/Hollywood Reporter Conference. Burnett will be honored for his work in film and television music, most recently as executive music producer of “Inside Llewyn Davis,” the CBS Films release that opens in theaters December 20. Burnett will host a Q&A after the award presentation. A late panel on closing day, the eve of Halloween, “Halloween, Horror and Hollywood”, focuses on the artistry of horror films with the topic dissected by a panel of experts from the world of chilling movies. The Film and TV Music Conference Closing Night Party will be hosted by John Anderson and PJ Bloom at Avalon. Costumes are optional.

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 picture placement highlights festivals of horor and gore reflecting the upcoming Halloween period and the Hawaii International Film Fest. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link and this link to view it. In a preview of next month’s events, be aware that: The annual American Film Market (AFM) arrives in Santa Monica. Running across town in Los Angeles and having a market partnership with AFM is American Film Institute (AFI) Film Fest in Los Angeles. Monaco International Clubbing Show will be in Monaco. Supanova Pop Culture Expo Brisbane will happen in Brisbane. Annual Content and Communications World is in New York City. Dubai International Character and Licensing Fair opens in Dubai.

British Film Institute, Variety Entertainment Summit, CMJ 2010, Billboard Film & TV Music Conference, Highlight October Media and Entertainment Industry Networking Events

At this year’s Chicago International Film Festival, October 7-21, ‘Stone’, directed by John Curran, with Robert De Niro and Edward Norton, will be screened, and following the screening VIP ticket holders will be treated to a reception with a full bar and appetizers at theWit Hotel. The Awards Night on October 16, features cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and an awards presentation honoring this year’s winning filmmakers in the Main Competition, New Directors Competition, Docufest, Short Films, and Intercom competitions, set in the Pump Room of the Ambassador East Hotel.

 

In 2008, the Registry of Official World Records (Record Holders Republic) USA & UK, declared Bass guitarist Jayen Varma (http://www.facebook.com/jayenvarma) of Cochin, India, the world’s fastest for that year. And the guitar master has carved out new areas of achievement as a slap bass innovator (for instance using hard plastic tubes on fingers) in the Indian Tabla style. Upcoming workshop performances will give the public a chance to view the master in performance and instruction, on October 9 on Willingdon Island, with classical vocals and Mridangam, and on October 16, in Malabar, Calicut, with classical violin and drums. There will also be a special experimental session with the mandolin master, U. Shrinivas, in the third week of the month, but complete details are as yet to be released.

 

Content & Communications World, in New York, October 13 and 14, is a conference and exhibition for media, entertainment and communications technology. CCW presents business solutions for content creation, management and delivery, along with a range of satellite, fiber, and IP communications solutions. Folded into the CCW agenda are: HD World, SATCON and 3D World conference and expo, which can all be attended free of charge for pre-qualifying industry professionals. Visitors can stop by SocialSphere to chat with a media relations specialist about maximizing social media tools for their business, get tips and tricks for Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and more.

 

Established in 1933, the British Film Institute (BFI) promotes understanding and appreciation of film and television heritage and culture through a range of activities and services. This years marks the 54th BFI London Film Festival, running October 13-28 in South Bank. BFI also runs the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival,  and publishes the monthly film magazine Sight & Sound, a wide range of books on film and television, including criticism, theory and history, as well as popular companions to individual film titles.

 

The New Orleans Film Society hosts the 20th Annual New Orleans Film Festival, Louisiana’s preeminent film event. Both established and emerging filmmakers gain media exposure, connect with the region’s diverse audiences, and participate in this anticipated event. A Patron Party and Opening Gala happens October 14 at the Eiffel Society on historic St. Charles Avenue, with food by Chef Ian Schnoebelen, specialty cocktails by Mixologist Alan Walter, and music by Sasha Masakowski & Musical Playground, and Treme Brass Band.

 

Established in 1981, the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF), running October 14-24 in Honolulu, is dedicated to the advancement of understanding and cultural exchange among the peoples of Asia, the Pacific and North America through the medium of film. HIFF presents features, documentaries and shorts from Asia made by Asians, films about the Pacific made by Pacific Islanders, and films made by Hawai`i filmmakers that present Hawai`i in a culturally accurate way. HIFF also conducts seminars, workshops, special award presentation receptions with participating Asian, Pacific and North American filmmakers. HIFF is the sister festival of Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) and Shanghai Media and Entertainment Group (SMEG), and an official partner with Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for Oscar Night America. Free public screenings are held on the beach in the evening.

 

AniMiami, October 16 -17 in Miami, is a conference/festival whose mission appeals to large numbers of students and professionals of animation and computer graphics. A job fair will be held the first day of the Conference only — Saturday, October 16. Candidates will have the opportunity to sign up and interview with national and local animation and VFX companies looking to fill full-time, part-time, freelance and internship positions. Pre-selected students will have an opportunity to pitch their stories, ideas and projects to a panel of industry professionals from studios and TV networks. A kick-off party will be held at The Newsz Lounge.

 

An October 18 Variety Entertainment and Technology Summit in Santa Monica, co-produced by Variety and Digital Hollywood, has in-depth discussions and networking focusing on the top business issues facing technology in entertainment today. After a welcome and introduction by Variety Publisher, Brian Gott, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Walt Disney Company, and Founder of The Tornante Company, Michael Eisner, delivers the opening keynote. In one featured break-out event, there is a competition between various content providers competing for people’s TV viewing time. The Producers Guild of America and Variety host a joint panel in another featured session. A poolside cocktail reception closes the days event beginning at 5:30 pm.

 

The sprawling CMJ 2010: Music Marathon & Film Festival arrives in New York City, October 19-23. CMJ Network connects music fans and music industry professionals with its music offerings through interactive media, live events and print. Among other things, This year, industry leaders from the worlds of gaming and music will gather at CMJ to celebrate the launch of CMJ Play, a celebration and exploration of the intersection of music and gaming, will take place Wednesday, October 20, at NYU’s Kimmel Center and in conjunction with NYU’s Music Video Game Research Project. And because some things should never change, The CMJ Artist Lounge at PureVolume House returns for 2010. As the central hub for CMJ the Artist Lounge provides a space for artists and press to interact and rest in between shows which are conducted at a multitude of venues, screenings, and panels. The lounge will also offer samples and giveaways from a variety of sponsors, along with refreshments.

 

Casual Connect Kyiv, from October 20-22 in Kyiv, brings together talented and knowledgeable experts in the casual gaming field to further the casual games industry through networking and learning. Casual Connect is the educational component of the Casual Games Association, the international trade association for casual games professionals. Casual Games Association Events are events for the casual games industry with usually over 3,000 professionals attending Casual Connect Events each year. A Disco Bowling Party at Club Chameleon happens on October 21 of the expo.

 

Through red carpet premieres, black-tie society galas, exclusive industry cocktail soirees and chauffeured antique Bentleys and limos, the Beverly Hills Film, TV, and New Media Festival will celebrate authentic Old Hollywood glamour, combined with an updated twist of the emerging technology of today. The festival’s events, from October 21-24, include a black-tie opening night gala, panels, pitch sessions, gifting suites, film premieres, television content premieres, new media exhibitions, cell phone movie premieres, networking and entertainment industry mixers, and those red carpet events.

 

The International Filmmaker Film Festival, in Broadstairs, October 25-28, celebrates popular independent and studio films from the global film industry, while promoting opportunities for the business of film, and hosting special hospitality events and courtesy leisure activities. In addition to the filmmaking workshops, screenings of independent films will include many of the filmmakers in attendance for Q&A sessions following each screening. An exclusive screening of a digitally remastered ‘Dirty Dancing’, with the late Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, is set to open the festival, with proceeds benefiting the Demelza Children’s Hospice and the Pilgrims Hospice.

 

SMPTE is an industry association, and standards setting body, providing education and technology information to the motion imaging industry, focusing on content – creation, management, distribution and display. From October 26-28 the SMPTE Annual Tech Conference & Expo draws technology professionals from the media content business to Hollywood. This year’s event provides a welcome reception in the exhibit hall, various technical workshops, a technology-focused exhibit hall, a high profile Industry Luncheon, the association’s Honors & Awards Reception and Ceremony, and many networking opportunities.

 

The Hollywood Reporter / Billboard Film & TV Music Conference is an anticipated annual event. New additions to the format this year when the Conference runs October 27-28 in Los Angeles, allows participants to submit a demo to music supervisors for a chance to receive feedback on their work live from the stage. They can also get one-on-one facetime with film/TV music decision-makers and influencers, and win a chance to meet with the director of an indie film and score their feature. A “Publishing 101” session, offers a primer on the basics of publishing from how to make money with placements in film and TV, to the administration of catalogs. Conference closes with a networking cocktail reception.

 

The Association of Film Commissioners International, an official professional and educational organization for film commissions that assists its members with feature, television, commercial, industrial and stills production throughout the world, is hosting  Cineposium 2010 to explore the sweeping impacts of the digital revolution and new global producers on the industry. The theme this year in Universal City, October 30 through November 2, is to look at the transition from film commissioner to media commissioner, which encompasses many new roles and responsibilities. In contrast to previous years, and to underscore the need to anticipate the changes to come, Cineposium hosts general sessions designed to equip attendees for success.

 

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 which will now has a language translation button to convert its contents into any chosen language. The companion video news summary can be found on the podcast blog at http://actorschecklist.com/loudblog as well as on the most popular video sharing sites. A look ahead into November’s event dates can help you get ready for the American Film Market (www.americanfilmmarket.com), on November 3-10, and American Film Institute Fest (www.afi.com), November 4-11, both in Los Angeles. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/actorschecklist. Streaming video can now be played directly into your Real Media Player at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/realaudio_realvideo.html, and your Windows Media Player at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/windowsmediastream.html. Past video from the monthly video news summary is archived on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.

Siggraph Videogame Symposium, Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival, Home Movie Day, Fright Night Film Fest, The B Movie Celebration, Atlanta Hip Hop Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Download To Your iPhone Here, are Featured Highlights For August Media and Entertainment Industry Career Networking Events

For Chicago’s Lollapalooza Stage 2007, bands from the U.S. and abroad will be showcased August 3-5, including Pearl Jam, Interpol, Amy Winehouse, Patti Smith, The Black Keys, Regina Spektor, and others. The Sandbox ACM Siggraph Videogame Symposium, from August 4-5 in San Diego, is a forum for innovative research and advances in videogame theory, practice and criticism. The 2007 University Film and Video Association (UFVA) Conference will include exhibits, the traditional receptions, showcase panels from sustaining members, formal and juried screenings, paper presentations and panel discussions, script readings and new media installations, not to mention the annual picnic held at the Merritt Buffalo Ranch near Denton featuring Texas and regional music. The 2007 Latino Producers Academy developed for producers who create or intend to create feature films, documentaries will be held August 7-17 at various locations throughout Tucson. The Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival, organized by Run and Shoot Filmworks from August 8-11, now in its fifth year, offers festival events that include an African American Art Expo, symposiums, karaoke party and film screenings.

On August 11, Home Movie Day (www.homemovieday.com) is the worldwide celebration of amateur films during which people in cities and towns all over the world meet their local film archivists, learn about the proper storage and care of personal films, and get to watch other people’s home movies. Toronto’s WILDsound Monthly Reading Series offers screenwriters at all levels the opportunity to hear their scripts read aloud by professional actors in front of an audience of their peers, and with feedback from industry professionals that follows, at sessions that meet August 14-17. At Women In Film Chicago’s Backlot Events, take a ‘tour and talk’ of The Chicago Film Office on August 16, to learn about its operation in the city’s motion picture industry and engage in networking opportunities. The On The Road Film Fest comes to a close in Los Angeles with Festival Awards and Closing Ceremonies, culminating the 12 city touring film program that utilizes a fairly new technology in portable outdoor movie screens along with the cooperation of cities and universities across the country. At the NICHE Film and Music Festival in Portland, August 16-19, a combined program will be showcasing feature, short narrative or documentary and varied musical formats, while performing musicians will each have a four song set to vie for the Make Your Mark! artist award. Right before the August 17 launch of Fright Night Film Fest, in Louisville, aspiring filmmakers can make a film from August 9-16 under festival auspices, to be entered in the festival by following the guidelines outlined on the website under “The 7 Day Film Festival.”

The B Movie Celebration, running August 17-19 in Franklin, is pleased to announce that the recipient of its first lifetime achievement award is Lloyd Kaufman of Troma Studios so honored with the award accompanying a day long retrospective of “The Best of Troma” screened, as well as a presentation by the King of B’s himself, Lloyd Kaufman. Aspiring models might be able to beat the deadline of the Atlanta International Fashion Week, running from August 16-19, and send in a application and portfolio by downloading the registration form at: http://www.atlantaintlfashionweek.com/MODEL%20APPLICATION.pdf. BIRTV is a conference and exhibition in the industries of content acquisition, creation, production, and distribution, happening August 21-25 in Beijing. The Atlanta Hip Hop Film Festival, August 24-26, will focus on hiphop genre films and hiphop artists that have made a successful transition into the world of acting. A festival highlight for the Telluride Film Festival opening August 31 in Telluride, is A Tribute To Walter Murch (American Zoetrope), in which a screening from a collection of clips will be followed by the presentation of the Silver Medallion and an onstage interview of the renowned filmmaker.

The above events are just a sampling of what is listed. Most of the reported events above have a submission process for indie and/or performing artists to take part in. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. Video and podcast versions of this news summary are now available at most popular video sites around the Web like MySpace, YouTube, the Apple iTunes store podcast category, as well as on The Actor’s Checklist at http://actorschecklist.com/loudblog/ a great place to get your iPhone, ipod or Apple TV download. This month on video you will see trailers and video clips of Love Inspirational, a 24k Black Films production of a Torrance Colvin film ( http://www.myspace.com/24kblack http://www.24kblack.com ), a coming of age story about reconnecting with your childhood crush who now falls for your best friend; Spreading The Plague, a socially relevant horror feature dealing with the subject of kids, violence and fear, from Off Leash Films, now on DVD, is looking to enlist your help by signing their petition ( http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/plague/ ) to restore the director’s cut altered by Screen Gems ( http://www.spreadingtheplague.com/Text/Trailer.htm http://www.myspace.com/plaguefilm ); Jazz musician Nick Russo and his group Nick Russo + 11, recorded live in NYC while performing jazz tunes from their new CD “RO” ( http://www.nickrusso.org/ http://www.myspace.com/nickrusso11 ), also available on CD Baby at: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/nickrusso; Deckchair Productions production of a Harry Otto Brunjes film, “La Bella Figura” ( http://www.labellafilm.com http://www.myspace.com/labellafilm ) where 3 weeks of intensive filming in 46 locations across Rome were done with a 2 man crew and an acting cast of over 20; Newark hip hop female emcee Mooka Jerz (http://www.myspace.com/mookaa ) on the Utility Records label ( http://www.myspace.com/utilityrecords http://www.UtilityRecords.net ) declaring this the “Year of the Femcee”. Another welcome goes out to newly initiated iPhone owners to make http://actorschecklist.com/loudblog their premiere video download destination for media industry news and entertainment.