The NAMM Show, Sundance Festival, Rotterdam Film Festival, Goteborg Film Festival, highlight a calendar of media industry events in January

Musical performances and demonstrations are a big part of The NAMM Show experience with many “Artist Event” sessions scheduled throughout… http://wp.me/p5Jt73-2x

Art Basel, CineAsia Hong Kong, The Midwest Clinic, Kuchipudi Dance Convention, are highlights in December’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

At Art Basel in Miami, international art galleries show work from masters of Modern and contemporary art as well as pieces by newly emerging artists. Paintings, sculptures, drawings, installations, photographs, films, and editioned works are displayed in the main exhibition hall, while designated artworks and performances become part of the landscape at nearby beaches, Collins Park and SoundScape Park. A number of events listed on the agenda are free to the public. Although most Art Basel events are conducted December 3-7, from December 2, de la Cruz Collection, a selection of works by artists re-defining Post War movements – New Abstraction, Figurative Realism, appropriation and process-based art – goes on exhibit through December 6. Also set for an early December 2 start, The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse, Fifteen Year Anniversary Exhibition, runs through December 7.

Every June, Art Basel marks the summer reunion of the international art world, hosted by the city of Basel. Outside the exhibition halls, the city of Basel’s cultural institutions – Fondation Beyeler, Kunstmuseum Basel, Kunsthalle Basel, Tinguely Museum, and Kunsthaus Baselland – offer museum exhibitions. Art Basel in Miami Beach has been adapted as the winter meeting place for the Art Basel international art world circuit. Miami’s leading private collections open their homes and warehouses to guests of Art Basel. Additionally, the museums of South Florida organize exhibitions.

The public opening of Art Basel will feature a special evening program with live performances. This event is produced in collaboration with the Bass Museum of Art. A Crowdfunding Meet and Greet grants access to conversation panels with members of the Art Basel and Kickstarter teams and gives details about projects that have already come to life as a result of the crowdfunding drive. Salons, or informal presentations such as artist talks, panels, lectures and performances, with a wide range of speakers and topics from the international art world, are held every day of Art Basel.

Art Basel works with curators who present a selection of international artists and emerging talents. Art Basel maintains an international network with over twenty Global VIP Relations Managers covering five continents, who build and strengthen relationships year-round with art world luminaries, art collectors, business leaders and decision-makers. Connecting the international art community has been Art Basel’s goal since its beginning. In Hong Kong (March 15–17, 2015), Basel (June 18–21, 2015) and Miami Beach (December 4–7, 2014), each show is defined by its host city, with participating galleries showing artworks unique to the region, and parallel programming produced in collaboration with the region’s local institutions.

International Music Festival Conference 2014 (IMFCON) produces a programs offering innovation, education, and an understanding of how music festivals play a crucial role in the music industry and foster growth in the arts. The Sixth Annual International Music Festival Conference in Austin opens December 7 with a SAG-AFTRA Opening Reception. Following an Orientation session as the first opening remarks, the agenda then presents: “It’s been a Hard Day’s Night! 2014 Recap-State of the Industry,” an insiders look at the festival industry and the forecast for 2015 and how to plan for it. This will be followed by session titled: “The Anatomy of A Festival.” Conference day one concludes with a Cocktail Reception Hosted by PublicVine and a FireChat After Party following that. The December 9 final day closing symposium will address: “Visual Arts:  How art installations give festivals personality, identity, and longevity.” The Conference will close with a cocktail reception at the Texas Foyer.

CineAsia Hong Kong is a Pan-Asian Convention dedicated to the Cinema Exhibition and Distribution communities. It will feature screenings of upcoming Hollywood films, regional films, sponsored special events, informative seminars on cinema technology and developments and the CineAsia Trade Show for three days opening December 9. CineAsia brings together Asian cinema industry professionals, from cinema owners and suppliers to film buyers and distributors. As the sister event to ShowEast and CineEurope, CineAsia maintains similar standards of programming, seminars, special events and suppliers. CineAsia screens major Asian and Hollywood films and offers educational programs specifically geared toward the needs of the Asian cinema exhibition community.

Indonesian film producer and anti-piracy campaigner, Maya Barack-Evans will be honored with the CineAsia 2014 Asia-Pacific Copyright Educator (ACE) Award at a CineAsia Awards Ceremony on December 11. She is a key member of the Association of Indonesian Film Producers (APROFI) which comprises about 30 local filmmakers, aiming to improve the quality of the Indonesian film industry and to gain international recognition. On December 10 of the convention, cinema innovator, Timeplay, will give an interactive cinema demonstration and show how movie goers can use their smart phones and tablets to interact with and influence outcomes on the big screen. The platform enables cinemas, studios, advertisers and other partners to entertain, inform, and sell direct with movie goers before, after or instead of a movie. Following that, Sony Pictures Releasing International will make a 3D oriented product presentation and then host an evening reception after that.

Convention organizer, the Film Expo Group includes ShowEast, held in Florida; CineEurope, held in Barcelona; and CineAsia, held in Hong Kong. Parent company, the Prometheus Global Media Film Expo Group owns media publications and organizes entertainment industry events affecting the motion picture industry including Film Journal International, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Adweek, Dick Clark Productions, the CLIO Awards, CineEurope, and ShowEast. Through these various media properties, Prometheus Global Media engages people and marketers by serving their needs in: music, media, entertainment.

Asia TV Forum and Market conducted in association with miptv and mipcom, Asia TV Forum and Market is an international entertainment content market and convention to buy, sell, finance, distribute and co-produce, across all platforms. It is where the industry meets Asia’s buying community, discovers the latest trends in Asia, showcases best in class innovation and champion and monetise the next generation of Asian content. It is organized by Reed Exhibitions Pte Limited and is held this year in Singapore City, December 9-12. The Asia Media Opening Keynote Speaker is James Wang Zhonglei, President, Huayi Brothers Media Corporation China. He will be followed by Ma Dong, Chief Content Officer Iqiyi, China. He will address, Digital China: The New Storyteller – Iqiyi.

This year ATF Animation Lab will introduce “Up-Close with Commissioners”, a two-day knowledge sharing session that will give attending delegates opportunities to glimpse into the programming plans of international animation studio commissioners, and what they will be looking for from 2016-2017. Overall, Animation Lab is a three-day closed door pitching event focused toward animation producers to pitch their animation projects and ideas to attending international broadcasters, commissioners and financers.

ATF will be held in conjunction with MIPACADEMY, Asia Television Awards, recognizing excellence in programming, production and performance; ScreenSingapore, an international content sellers and Asian buyers business arena to buy, sell, finance, distribute and co-produce, across the platforms; and Singapore International Film Festival, focused on showcasing international films and providing a global platform for the best of Singapore cinema. The MIPACADEMY event gathers format and factual producers from across the entertainment industry who want to learn directly from international format experts.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will conduct the second meeting on December 10 of its new The Entertainment, Arts and Media Committee — TEAM HOLLYWOOD. For current Hollywood Chamber members this is a complimentary member benefit. TEAM HOLLYWOOD’s mission is to promote the Hollywood brand with the intention of preserving Hollywood’s homegrown entertainment industries with a focus on film, broadcasting, commercials, television and performing arts. The Hollywood Chamber Committee additionally aims to cultivate new and emerging media so as to uphold Hollywood’s status as the entertainment capital of the world. TEAM HOLLYWOOD is co-chaired by Chamber members Susan Cabral-Ebert of IATSE Local 706 and Maricela Gomez of Paramount Pictures and meets quarterly. Chamber committees comprised of volunteer members are continuously working to improve Hollywod and shape its future. Through committee involvement, members have the opportunity to bring change in areas specific to their business and to make important business contacts. The Hollywood Chamber encourages all to take advantage of this membership benefit by participating in ongoing committees. This is a free event with limited seating. RSVP is essential.

The Midwest Clinic International Band, Orchestra and Music Conference provides attendees interested in music education with an array of clinics and exhibits, as well as access to well regarded music and teaching professionals. The Chicago located conference, continuing for four days through December 20, will also focus on industry trends and future topics in business and music education. A Conference highlight includes ensembles in performance, while showcasing anywhere from students to seasoned performers exhibiting their talents to a targeted audience with an interest in furthering music education. Each band and orchestra panel is specifically focused and offers attendees the most up-to-date music styles and education techniques. Particular features to this conference reinforce its focus on mentoring and development. Rehearsal labs provide observers an opportunity to watch and listen to conductors working with various types of ensembles in an open rehearsal setting.

The Midwest Clinic is structured for educational purposes exclusively, and among other goals, to disseminate to school music teachers, directors and supervisors and others interested in music education, information to assist in their professional work for the betterment of music education. An important goal of The Midwest Clinic sessions is for audience members to gain insight and develop practical educational framework skills they can use at home with their own ensembles. New music reading sessions provide a glimpse of new music publications available for each type of ensemble. Attendees have the advantage of listening to professional musicians as they introduce new works and perform a portion of each piece for a live audience. Each session presents a variety of styles, composers, and publishers. There will be a December 18 College Night for students and teachers looking for a music degree program among eighty colleges, universities and branches of the United States Military planning to send representatives.

Starting from December 26 in Gachibowli district of Hyderabad, more than 6,000 dancers from different parts of Andhra Pradesh, other states within India, the US, Canada, UK, Russia, Dubai, Mauritius, Malaysia and Singapore and a few other countries are expected to take part in the International Kuchipudi Dance Convention. The International Kuchipudi Dance Convention showcases interactive sessions where technical aspects of the dance form will be discussed and dance performances by the dancers of various participating countries will showcase their talent. The highlight of the conference will be a group recital in which thousands of dancers from all over the world will dance to a few selected pieces. A video has been prepared which contains all the dance pieces which will be performed on the final day is viewable online. The dancers, with the help of their respective teachers will have to learn the dance pieces, practice and perform as per the instructions given in the video. Parent organizer, SiliconAndhra organization, based in San Jose, California, has been doing several vital cultural programs over the last 12 years to protect and perpetuate the Telugu language, literature, tradition and culture. Apart from Projects, SiliconAndhra conducts five major events in each calendar year, timed to correspond to important dates in the Indian calendar. Other areas of involvement other than Kuchipudi Dance Convention include, Manabadi initiative to teach Teiugu to children born and brought up outside Andhra Pradesh, publishing the “Sujanaranjani” magazine to spread ‘Telugudanam’ (telugu culture) around the world, ‘Global Internet Forum For Telugu (GIFT)’ initiative with the goal to bring together the technology and language.

The World Wide Music Contest is a global competition conducted over the web, and open to bands and solo artists without a current recording or performance contract. A public voting system engaging the sites daily visitors urges them to select their favorite artists. The competition is primarily conducted through the organization’s web portal at: www.worldwidemusic.com. New bands, solo artists and singers compete for a grand cash prize in Euros, mastering services, instrument accessories and promotion services. The contest is still open to submissions and is free to enter until December 31, 2014. The overall first prize will be assigned to a band or artist indicated by the public vote and then confirmed by the contest’s judging panel. Toshikazu Maruno of Kagoshima Prefecture is contesting for top placement in the World Wide Music Contest 2014 but competition is fierce. With his guitar, he performs songs of love, hope and life’s daily struggles in the Rock, Pop and Acoustic range. In January 1998, he released an album, “In The Name Of Love.” In the summer of 2011, he released another album “KIZUNA.” Toshikazu’s most recent album to date is “Gratitude,” released in 2014. The voting in World Wide Music Contest remains tightly contested, but Toshikazu Maruno is determined to win new fans and maintain his edge With his two songs entered: “Your Happiness Is My Happiness” and “This Is My Life”. Enthusiastic fans are permitted to vote up to two times in a 24 hour period. Be sure to keep checking the MySpace or Facebook page for Toshikazu Maruno for upcoming concert tour dates he will have in the new year of 2015.

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 includes the CD cover with acoustic pop musician and singer Toshikazu Maruno, his new album “Gratitude,” and a contestant in the World Wide Music Contest, and movie stills from latest Hobbit release, “Battle of the Five Armies.” If the photo does not appear in this post please visit the blog page to view it. Beginning the new year in January 2015, there are a full calendar of events now that the holidays are past. The global content marketplace known as NATPE opens in Miami, Annie Awards will make presentations in Los Angeles, the annual AFCI Locations Show comes to Century City, the Mountain High Music Festival opens in Crested Butte, the much anticipated Sundance Film Festival returns to Park City, Best Of Events International happens for a period of two days in Dortmund, Advanced Film Industry Expo is in Tokyo. Seasons greetings to all and all the best for the holiday period from The Actor’s Checklist.

Chicago International Film Festival, New York Television Festival, PhotoPlus International, Jazz CD Review: The Journey, are highlights in October’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

PLASA London opens its international entertainment technology show for the event, entertainment and installation technology industries, showcasing technology and gear to an audience of pro audio, lighting and stage technology users. More specifically, PLASA London showcases new audio, video, lighting, stage engineering and systems integration technology, which generally finds its way into live events, concerts, tours, theatre productions, corporate events, venue installations, nightclubs and leisure attractions. During the show, parties, awards ceremonies and parallel events are ongoing, setting up an environment to cultivate relationships between manufacturers, distributors, rental houses, dealers and end-users. The programming at PLASA London also features well regarded and fully comprehensive seminar and workshop sessions which are open to all attendees. PLASA London is owned and organized by PLASA, an international trade association for entertainment technologies. In addition to PLASA London, which runs through October 8, PLASA Events organises a series of networking events for regional entertainment technology communities. PLASA Focus began in 2009 in Leeds in the North of England, and is now touring the US and Europe.

The 137th AES Convention is gearing up to take place October 9-12 in the revitalized L.A. Live district. Returning to Los Angeles after a nearly 12 years absence, the AES Convention will draw out audio professionals with opportunities to hear from audio industry figures while also taking in the latest research and technology information through informative papers, tutorials, workshops and special events. Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy® (GRAMMY), will deliver a keynote address on how the Academy and its P&E Wing take on the challenges and opportunities currently facing recording professionals. There are many areas comprising AES workshops and special events that are planned. AES will debut their new “Raw Tracks” series as part of this year’s Recording and Production Track. The new series features producers and engineers discussing and deconstructing the classic recordings from some of music’s well regarded artists.

Highlights of the AES Convention include the Project Studio Expo, created in partnership with Sound On Sound to bring the latest techniques, tools, and experts together for professional training on topics ranging from acoustics in small spaces to microphone placement, mixing, and mastering. A Live Sound Expo will offer advice for the attending live sound engineers, bringing professionals with many years of experience to the stage to inform the attendees. A “Sound for Picture Track” focuses on the new frontiers of immersive sound and object-based mixing. A planned off-site Tech Tour will feature a hands-on demonstration and Master Classes on Auro3D Immersive Sound Mixing conducted at The Dub Stage in Burbank by Marti Humphrey and Chris Jacobson. There will also be the “Project Studio Expo” in association with leading recording technology publication ‘Sound On Sound’, geared toward sharpening skills of the home recordists. At a planned GRAMMY SoundTable event on October 11, five cross-genre hit-makers will debate the who, what, when, where, and why of songs that have stamped a resilient impression in music archives.

2014 marks the 50th Anniversary Chicago International Film Festival. Cinema/Chicago, the organizer of the Chicago International Film Festival, is a year-round cultural and educational non-profit organization dedicated to promoting better communication between people of diverse cultures through the art of film and the moving image. The films are all Chicago premieres and many are world or U.S. premieres. As its October 9 Opening Night film, the festival has selected “Miss Julie,” directed by veteran actress – and Ingmar Bergman collaborator – Liv Ullmann and starring Golden Globe®-award winning actors Jessica Chastain, Colin Farrell and Samantha Morton. The red carpet event starts at 18:00. Director Liv Ullmann is scheduled to attend.

There are panels and special events lined up for Chicago International Film Festival 2014. An October 14 New Directors panel, “National Identity In The Global Marketplace”, where assembled filmmakers from a cross-section of world cinema discuss the ways in which artists can create films that raise common ground sensibilities, the differences that make each culture unique, and finesse an approach toward cross border storytelling. “What Is An Independent Film?” on October 19, traces the path of filmmaking both the U.S. and abroad, since the rise of the studio system at the turn of the century, and how the integrity of independent film has been affected by the unprecedented level of access granted by present day filmmaking technologies. October 23 Closing Night celebration includes film screening – EFWILDP – and after-party to follow.

Cinema/Chicago, the presenting organization of the Chicago International Film Festival, is a year-round non-profit cultural and educational organization dedicated to promoting better communication between people of diverse cultures through the art of film and the moving image. This year the Festival presents Spotlight Scandinavia, the fourth year of the World Cinema Spotlight Program. This year’s program highlights the range of contemporary cinematic cultures across the five Nordic countries. In addition to the Chicago International Film Festival, Cinema/Chicago presents year-round public and educational programs including the Education Outreach Program, Member Screenings, the Chicago International Television Competition (April), CineYouth (May), International Screenings Program (May-September), and INTERCOM (October). Proceeds from the Chicago International Film Festival support these important initiatives.

TV:Xperience is a UX convention from the TV Connect series looking at how multiscreen is influencing the evolution of the user experience and changing the central business models around the connected tv eco-system. This is a central issue for telcos, cablecos, broadcasters and content producers looking to monetize the second screen experience. This New York City event will be building on last year’s annual, flagship TV Connect show held in London. The series is part of a global brand with regional shows in Middle East/North Africa, Eurasia, Asia and Latin America. TV:Xperience forms a tangent of the TV Connect brand, but looking more closely into the adoption of the user experience. Along with an examination of how the innovation around multiscreen content has influenced the evolving user experience, the show will place focus on new developments in User Interface (UI) and the rise in the role of content security and payment platforms to act as effective monetization models.

In more detail, agenda topics will include: Understanding the evolution of the Consumer Experience, Offering the Consumer a Unique Multiscreen Experience, Establishing Strong T Commerce and Micropayment Platforms, Analyzing the role of Big Data on an Evolving UX, Taking Multiscreen consumer relationships to the next level of engagement, Monetizing the Multiplatform Pay TV Environment, Creating End to End Multiplatform Solutions, Understanding the Role of DRM in the new UX Engaging the user in a non linear environment, Assessing how data analytics is Impacting on the future of content, Evolution of Non Linear Content and its impact on the User Experience. TV:Xperience runs for three days through October 15.

Over five days opening October 15, NYC Independent Film Festival showcases independent filmmaker, documentaries, short and feature-length films, music videos, and animation. The festival will screen narratives, documentaries, short films, super shorts, animation shorts and music videos. The festival will showcase all genres of narratives from comedy to drama and from thrillers to love stories. NYC Indie Film Festival honors the Best in Category which includes Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary, Best Short Documentary, Best Short Narrative, Best Super Short, Best Music Video, as well as Best Director and Best Screenplay. Bob McAndrew who served in talent development capacities at Paramount, 20th Century Fox and as an independent, leads a discussion about “On Camera Acting” on October 15.

New York Independent Film Festival is talent centric in its focus, offering talks and workshops on various aspects of developing industry skills and capabilities. Attend and meet the experts on Distribution and hear what they have to say about the future of distribution during a session taking place on October 16. On October 17, Improv Nation Training Center leads a session to develop the skills necessary used to create an improv scene by focusing on the who, what, where, when and why of the scene. Also on October 17, a workshop designed to introduce directors to a step by step method of guiding and inspiring actors towards achieving specific results in their performances through the use of active language, and following that a meeting and discussion about acting with actors and actresses behind the films of the NYC Indie Film Festival.

The New York Television Festival was founded in 2005 as the TV industry’s festival for independent television creation and artist recognition. A pioneer of the “independent television” movement, the Festival maintains initiatives of development and talent identification. While maintaining a different stance to the traditional television development model, The NYTVF works in partnership with networks, studios, brands and agencies to deliver its projects and to showcase promising talent. Many activities on the NYTVF schedule are free to the public, but admission is based on seating availability. Aside from daily panels, IPC Screenings and other events, there are scheduled happy hours and cocktail parties nightly for the run of the festival (October 20-25) for NYTVF Connect Industry Pass holders. The Connect Industry Pass will provide top tier artists and entertainment executives access and opportunities that maximize Festival participation, providing them with the tools to network, build relationships and collaborate on projects.

Quite importantly, the NYTVF exists as a year-round development incubator, providing independent artists with multiple opportunities to create, share and showcase their best and most promising ideas. Each year the NYTVF offers creators opportunities to showcase their original pilots and web series through the annual Independent Pilot Competition and stand-alone sponsored initiatives. The Independent Pilot Competition (IPC) is the NYTVF’s flagship, annual competition, accepting independently-produced, original television pilots and web series from around the globe. Official Selections from the IPC will screen in competition during the annual New York Television Festival each fall. IPC Official Selections are eligible for the competition’s category and individual achievement awards as well as development deals from Festival Development Partners.

Throughout the year, the NYTVF collaborates with networks, studios, and brands to provide exclusive submission opportunities for indie creators to develop projects with industry partners. These sponsored initiatives allow creators to tailor their original projects exclusively with a particular partner in mind. In each case, the partner will guarantee a deal for at least one project selected. Projects selected as finalists or semi-finalists in sponsored initiatives will also be named as Official Selections in the New York Television Festival. The winning project will enter into an option deal with the corresponding network and the remaining finalists and/or semi-finalists will be eligible for NYTVF Festival Development Deals once the period of exclusivity with the original initiative sponsor has ended. In addition, all creators with finalists or semi-finalists projects in sponsored initiatives will be named Official Artists and are eligible for the benefits of NYTVF Connect.

PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo is a photography and imaging show happening in New York City and attended by professional photographers and enthusiasts. PhotoPlus Expo is organized by Photo District News (PDN), a monthly magazine for the professional photographer. At the expo, thousands of new products and services from exhibitors, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Epson will be on display. Over 90 educational seminars and intimate hands-on labs will be on the schedule to choose from. In “A Day Without News”, a keynote panel discussion, David Friend Vanity Fair’s Editor of Creative Development, Santiago Lyon Director of Photography at AP, and photojournalists Lynsey Addario, Ron Haviv, and Antonio Bolfo reveals first hand insights about how the increase in targeting of journalists at global conflict zones affects each panelist, their colleagues and the changing role of journalists overall.

PhotoPlus Expo conference seminars are held every day – October 29 through November 1 – are divided into nine program tracks: lighting, weddings and events, genres, social media/marketing, business, portraiture, filmmaking, post-production, steps. There will be a Master Class session limited to 25 participants covering Lighting/Posing, Portraiture, Editorial, Post-Production, Audio for Filmmaking, Business/Marketing, and more. A two-day Intensive Filmmaking Class, limited to 20 participants is offered. Over the two day session participants work with instructor Joe Switzer to capture, direct and produce the action and activities of the PhotoPlus Expo. The University will be a hands-on, interactive series of classes, suited for emerging photographers to learn from working professional photographers how to strengthen shooting and posing techniques as well as lighting techniques. ShootNYC @ PhotoPlus will be an informative three day event held in conjunction with the PhotoPlus Expo. It will conduct free seminars.

Jazz CD Review: Considering that ‘The Journey’ is a debut album (released July 2013), Ezra Brown’s opening shot comes across with veteran instincts about the kind of music resonating throughout our mass media culture and more than just a hunch about what people like listening to in our music ecosystem. It seems that the various tracks could have their own adaption into the various industries of the professional and commercial (retail) music worlds… e.g., television and film soundtracks, commercial advertising jingles, wedding celebrations, and of course just quality, audiophile level listening music. The smooth texture of notes blown from his tenor saxophone form jazzy, soulful melodies, but with a rhythm that could have you rock side to side (or forward and back). As alluded to previously, this album and the individual singles on it (in the viewpoint of this reviewer) figure into a range of possible adoptions in the music ecosystem. ‘Flower Pot’ is certainly a danceable tune and ‘New Joint’ could be too. ‘Slow Joint’ puts me in mind of a wedding anthem, particularly after a newly wed couple at their reception has just been toasted and then takes to the floor for the first dance.

The funky ‘Cookout’, another danceable tune, is one of my favorites. I imagine it being used as a track for an urban family TV sitcom — think Sanford and Son from the 1970s. ‘Her’ seems to have a more somber tone and one could see it adapted to such appropriate occasions. ‘New Jesse Song’ is a film score waiting for placement. I could go on about EZra Brown’s debut album, who at the time of this writing is taking his music across the globe with stops in regions like South America, Europe and the Far East, but its now up to you to form your own opinions. ‘The Journey’ is available now on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, CD Baby. And Ezra Brown, of course, maintains a Facebook Like page. This will be a great exercise for anyone purchasing Ezra Brown’s masterful work to attempt to figure out where in the professional/commercial/casual listening music spectrum do these musical pieces fit into. Your adventure awaits you!

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 opening of the Chicago International Film Festival and SoulMuzik Saxophonist, EZra Brown (www.ezrabrown.com), for which there is a review of his debut album, ‘The Journey’. 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 World Animation and VFX Summit returns to the California Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey, the American Film Market (AFM) begins a day earlier than last year in Santa Monica, Casual Connect Eastern Europe 2014 opens in Belgrade, AFI Fest 2014 will be in Hollywood, International Film Festival of Wales will be in Newport and Cardiff, The 15th Annual Latin Grammy Awards comes to Las Vegas.

Mezzrow Joins Smalls, Independent Film Week, Kiev Media Week, Pop Montreal, are highlights in September’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

The fifth annual Burbank International Film Festival – in Burbank – has Opening Night Ceremony and featured film, film screenings, seminars and panels with industry participants, parties and special events that will lead up to a Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony on the final day of the Festival. Opening night will feature the world premiere of the documentary feature, “Elvis: That’s The Way It Is”. It is preceded by a short film program. Day by day, the festival programming breaks down along these lines: Wednesday opening, short film and documentary feature film screening; Thursday, comedy and new media; Friday, drama; Saturday, family programming, including student films, animated films, faith-based films, films by women; Saturday, Sci-fi, Fantasy and Horror; Sunday, Documentaries, Foreign Films and the September 7 Closing Night Awards Gala.

This year the festival screens the 1956 MGM Science Fiction classic Forbidden Planet as part of the festivals “History of Cinema” Program. This new educational program introduces classic studio films from a historical perspective to inspire young audiences into a deeper appreciation for the art of filmmaking. Forbidden Planet was entered into the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in 2013, being deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” The film features special effects which were nominated for an Academy Award, and features the first groundbreaking use of an entirely electronic musical score by Louis and Bebe Barron who will be posthumously honored with a Special Award for their music at the screening. Similarly, and in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the classic, “The Little Mermaid”, the festival is set to screen a special presentation of this animated classic courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.

The Closing Night Gala Dinner and Awards Show will not only acknowledge the award-winning filmmakers, but will honor industry icons and professionals that have shaped and defined the world of cinema today. The Closing Night Gala will be opened with a Media Red Carpet, Hosted Cocktail Reception, Semi-Formal Dinner, Festival Honoree Presentations, Awards Show and finishing with a cocktail reception Under-The-Stars. In the 1920’s, Burbank began to flourish with both entertainment and aviation. Both industries came to Burbank because of its location and the available space. Today Burbank is a media and entertainment production destination, comprised of some of the best known studios and production houses including Warner Brothers, Disney, Universal Studios, ABC, NBC, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network to name a few.

Since 2001, the Nevada City Film Festival (NCFF) has brought independent cinema to the gold rush era town of Nevada City. The program presents four days of screenings, panels, comedy shows and live music. This year’s opening night feature is ‘Creep’, the directorial debut of Nevada County native Patrick Brice. Creep premiered at SXSW in Austin this past spring. The Director will be on hand for a Q&A following the film. Multimedia performance artist Miwa Matreyek – who has presented at Sundance – is scheduled to present two special performances of “This World Make Itself” and “Myth and Infrastructure” at the Festival during First Friday Art Walk in Nevada City. The artist combines animation with the art of movement, using a projection of her silhouette to interact with her creations.

Comedian Marc Maron from IFC series “Maron” and the podcast “WTF with Marc Maron” will headline NCFF’s Live Comedy Show. Maron has appeared on Louie, Letterman, Leno, Craig Ferguson, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Real Time with Bill Maher, John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up, and The Green Room. Maron’s podcast, ‘WTF’ with Marc Maron, premiered in September 2009. His IFC comedy series Maron is currently in its second season. In one of the planned NCFF workshops, Dave Kneebone, producer of such comedy shows as Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Drunk History, The Eric Andre Show and Nathan For You. Kneebone will discuss how to create a successful comedy series for both television and online on September 6. Another workshop for the same day explores “Storytelling With GoPro” which can be used to shoot time-lapse, still photos, and video for everything from extreme sports to mainstream movies. NCFF handles submissions through its website. Submissions for the next cycle reopen in December. The NCFF and it’s non-profit the Magic Lantern Corporation are a community service organization located in Nevada City.

The operators of the Smalls Jazz Club are opening a new music venue dedicated to jazz piano. The new listening room and lounge, outfitted with a classic 1923 Steinway, will feature stellar jazz pianists. It will be a place for cultivated listeners to enjoy the relaxed social atmosphere of a jazz club and to have an intimate experience with the artists who are performing. Mezzrow is owned and operated by the folks from Smalls Jazz Club (next door at 183 west 10th street) – a musical environment run by musicians for musicians. The new venue takes its name from Milton “MEZZ” Mezzrow, (November 9, 1899 – August 5, 1972), born in Chicago to a poor Jewish immigrant family. In his early youth as a juvenile delinquent, he was in and out of reformatory schools and prisons where he was exposed to jazz and blues music. He began to play the clarinet and eventually became a ubiquitous figure on the Chicago jazz scene of the 1920’s. In the late thirties, he moved to New York City’s Harlem community and continued to play as well as organize recording sessions with many great artists. Mezzrow opened on September 3 with Johnny O’Neal who continues there as a Monday night featured act.

Being practically next door to each other, Mezzrow and Smalls will likely operate in tandem, sharing and cooperating, and with patrons able to go back and forth between the two clubs. Although Mezzrow will start out with a tightly focused agenda as a listening room with  refined piano players in various duet configurations, Smalls has evolved a broad talent showcase and mentoring program over the years, anchored by a nightly jam session that invites visiting musicians, singers, dancers and poets to sit in on freewheeling improvisational sessions. It also works into its programming artist development sessions and events. On early Sunday afternoons there is a Vocal Masterclass with Marion Cowings, then, a Smalls Chamber Music Salon follows that. Wednesdays early evening, Tap Dancer Michela Marino Lerman hosts a formal Tap Dance Jam. There is a live video stream that lets you view the clubs nightly performances at Smalls (www.smallsjazzclub.com), free with a simple registration, there is an audio archive that will grant access to later listening of the club’s performances through the same registration form and there is a Music Store making available for sale audio recordings from the Smalls Live Catalog, the Photo Catalog and collectible merchandise.

Sync Summit is a focused networking event where music supervisors, heads of music in visual and interactive media (TV, film, video games, advertising, the internet and mobile), label executives, publishers, music libraries, composers, artists, technologists, lawyers, accountants, brand managers and service providers gather for two days of discussion, networking and dealmaking. The Beverly Hills located event will focus on the ways and means used to find music, how music is used and paid for, what are the considerations in terms of publishing, payment, music discovery methods, branding, the process of acquisition and best practices for maximizing profitability, success and how rights holders and creators can best meet and do business with music supervisors and heads of music in visual and interactive media. Sync Summit also presents an event in Paris and it will happen next on April 9-10, 2015.

A panel on “Bandvertising (Artist X Sync) = AudienceRevenue²” on September 8, presents experts on branding, sync and promotion as they discuss the process by which artists build their presence in the 21st century. The Summit’s final day, September 9, a panel examines “Changing Business Models of Music in Visual Media”, spotlights the ways and models, new and old, that content owners, creators and music supervisors use for administration, discovery, asset management and deal negotiation, with particular attention paid to the best practices, services and tools that are most successful and more efficient. Bands and performers slated to perform at the two-day Summit include: Mayaeni, Pierce Driessen, Gary Calamar, Debbie Reifer, Tribazik, Smoove and Turrell Sound-system, Dirty Vegas and others. A Sync Summit Hollywood Sync Competition is open to registered attendees and was started to give artists, composers and rights holders of all types opportunities to sync their original compositions or tracks to videos provided by the Sync Competition Jury.

NAB 2014 Radioshow opening in Indianapolis allows radio broadcasters and industry colleagues to come together to share knowledge, discover the latest innovations, network with industry colleagues and explore creative business strategies to help radio thrive in the digital age. There will be sessions in content segments targeted to sales managers, group executives, engineers, programming professionals, marketing professionals and others. The show, stretching from September 10-12, will also feature an exclusive vendor resource and networking destination – The Marketplace – and a number of sessions focused on: Sales and Marketing, Finance, Legislative/Regulatory Issues, Digital Media, Management, Programming. The Radio Advertising Bureau and National Association of Broadcasters have partnered to bring the show to the radio industry. At September 10 opening session, advertising notable Bob Hoffman offers insights during his keynote presentation, “The Golden Age of BS” during the opening session. Attendees will also learn about the current radio landscape and what the future holds for radio. Erica Farber, president and CEO of the Radio Advertising Bureau and Gordon H. Smith, president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters will make presentations and offer insights. On September 11, at the Leadership Breakfast, hear from radio’s top executives as they identify challenges facing the industry, share their strategies for growth and explain their vision for radio’s future. The Awards Dinner & Show will be held September 11 and will recognize stations and individuals for their excellence and performance in 21 categories.

DocMiami International Film Festival presents The Florida Documentary Film Festival, a new edition of DocMiami set up to bring the festival experience to different cities throughout Florida. This DocMiami event will be conducted from Boca Raton. The 2014 Florida Documentary Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing documentary filmmakers worldwide. From September 12-14 there are planned documentary screenings, expert panel workshops for filmmakers and the community to attend. The opening night cocktails and hors d’oeuvre celebration is paired to a screening of ‘This Land is a Skeleton’.

Speakers lined up for DocMiami 2014 include: Melissa Mackenzie, Senior Vice President Worldwide Film Acquisitions and Creative Development, Maverick Entertainment Group Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area; Mariana Rodriguez, Anchor Acceso Total Show/Entertainment Reporter, NBC/Telemundo Miami; William Garcia, President, Playworld Pictures Hollywood, Florida; Eloy Cepero, Cuban Music Historian and Writer and Television Host, Grandes Leyendas Musicales (Grand Music Legends) Coral Gables, Florida; Chief Nathaniel B. Styles, Jr., Executive Director, OsunMiamiACCAC/ Community Builders HDC. Tito Puente, Jr and his band will perform at the awards ceremony which includes cocktails and hor’dourves. The 2014 “el Rey” Tito Puente Contribution to the Arts Award recipient is esteemed drummer for Bon Jovi, Tico Torres.

Independent Film Week 2014 in New York City draws the international film and media community to New York City to seed new projects and their creators and support the future of storytelling. Independent Film Week combines the Filmmaker Conference, and the concurrently run Project Forum, showcases how media projects and creatives connect with collaborators and audiences to create works that are viewed across multiple platforms and mediums. The Project Forum is part of Independent Film Week, which is comprised of selected projects in four sections: RBC’s Emerging Storytellers, Independent Filmmaker Labs, No Borders International Co-Production Market, and Spotlight on Documentaries. Oculus’ Director of Film and Media, Eugene Chung, will provide a Keynote address at the 2014 Filmmaker Conference.

Each day of the IFW conference, running September 14-18, guides filmmakers in the art, technology and business of independent filmmaking. The IFP organization championed the early work of pioneering independent filmmakers Charles Burnett, Todd Haynes, Mira Nair, Michael Moore, Joel and Ethan Cohen, Kevin Smith, Todd Solondz, and Wayne Wang. Recently, it has also played a role in launching the first films of many of today’s up and coming on the independent scene including Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild), Debra Granik, (Down to the Bone) Miranda July (Me, You and Everyone We Know), and Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (Half Nelson).

The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) supports the future of media makers by connecting artists with essential resources at all stages of development and distribution. Nurturing an independent storytelling community through its year-round programs is done through Independent Film Week, Filmmaker Magazine, the Gotham Independent Film Awards and the Made in NY Media Center by IFP, a new incubator space developed with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. From the Project Forum, media artists connect with financiers, executives, influencers and decision-makers in film, television, new media and cross-platform storytelling that can help them complete their latest works and connect with audiences.

IFP will place a spotlight on RBC’s Emerging Storytellers program for producers developing episodic content for digital platforms. This new Web Storytellers spotlight includes works from filmmakers Desiree Akhavan (Appropriate Behavior, HBO’s Girls), Calvin Reeder (The Rambler), and Gregory Bayne (Person of Interest) and others. The documentary selection includes new work from seasoned non-fiction directors such as Emmy winners Robert Bahar and Almudena Carracedo (Made in LA), Pamela Yates (Granito: How to Nail a Dictator), Ramona Diaz (Imelda; Don’t Stop Believin’) Gini Reticker (Pray the Devil Back to Hell) and others. IFP membership provides access to IFP events and resources and is easily handled via its online website.

Over five days in the city of Kiev, Kiev Media Week consists of a range of events for professionals of TV, movie, new media and other media industries that facilitates networking among colleagues in a formal and informal atmosphere (the organizers are planning a number of special entertaining events), to tie up beneficial contracting opportunities and to learn about current trends of the international media business. The planned LIONS Creativity Days is a range of activities organized by the official Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity Representatives in Ukraine. It is the professional section dedicated to advertising that will be held on final day, September 19. For the days agenda, eight advertising industry experts will be presenting the best cases of promotional execution in: Promo and Activations, Cyber, PR, Film and Film Craft, Branded content and Entertainment, Design, Media. There is also a planned VIP-party and TVC-screenings of the best of 2014 Cannes Lions in Film and Film Craft categories.

Kiev Media Week arranges the consolidation of different and separate industrial events in order to achieve synergy and create a unified communication platform for media professionals with varying interests from all around the world. Format Show is a conference with speeches of European experts of the format business and screening of the newest and most popular TV formats from across the globe – including the complete catalogue of Ukrainian TV formats, held on September 15. The Ukrainian Content Market 2014 Innovation, from September 16-18 sets up a Screening Room that gives content sellers a unique opportunity to present their projects to UCM 2014 buyers through a virtual online catalogue. The September 16 KIEV CoProduction Meetings is a regional content marketplace structured for pitching and promotion of TV projects in different formats that seek co-production, as well as facilitate the co-production market in the region by allowing the local Producers to cooperate with international TV projects.

PayTV in Ukraine-2014, a September 16 conference dedicated to current issues of the pay TV industry in Ukraine, will be organized by Telecommunications Chamber of Ukraine Association with the support of Ukrainian entertainment market leader — VOLIA company. The September 16 Film Business event will feature a Producers’ Workshop, Legal Workshop and Financial Workshop and allows the attendees to have direct conversation with the film industry professionals from different countries. A September 18 Television As Business session is planned as a meeting place for legends of Ukrainian television industry, Leading TV-brands managers, media experts and investors discuss current content, finances, management and new media technologies. The Kiev Media Week Opening Party is set for September 17.

Entering its 13th year of operation, POP Montreal International Music Festival is an annual not-for-profit curated cultural event that champions independence in the arts by presenting emerging artistic talents from around the world. It amounts to five days of concerts — fielding over 400 bands in 40 venues, symposium discussions, artisan and visual art exhibitions, fashion shows, film screenings, and, a few all-night parties added in for good measure. Matthew Zapruder is the festival’s 2014 Lit POP poetry judge. He is the author of several collections of poetry, including the recent release ‘Sun Bear’, (Copper Canyon/Anansi). A partial listing of artists scheduled to perform September 17-21 include: Calypso Rose & Kobo Town, Dot Wiggin Band, Grey Lands, Kid Congo Powers & The Pink Monkey Birds, Lydia Ainsworth, Mozart’s Sister, Joachim Pastor, Sheryl Crow, Shonen Knife, The Gaslight Anthem, Zebulon, Suzanne Vega, Stranger Cole, others.

POP Montreal’s programming is comprised of six separate event sections. Spring POP is a weekend-long event with live outdoor shows, with Kids POP activities and the Puces POP fair. POP Lafontaine is a free two-night concert series at a Theâtre in Parc Lafontaine. Espace POP is a non-profit community event space in the Mile-End neighborhood of Montreal, available for short-term rental. Puces POP which was born in 2004 brings together the assemblage of designers, crafters and artists that Montreal can fit into one marketplace. Today Puces POP is more than a fair, it has developed beyond the marketplace and organizes several year-round events, including the two day business seminar Lil’ Biz, the fashion gala and competition Fashion POP, the POP Up Shop Vintage POP sales, the Record Fair, and the design contest Design POP. Kids POP is the kid-focused segment of POP Montreal that happens every spring and fall, offering programming with the same quality and innovativeness as its older sibling, but suited to kids of all ages. As the visual arts component Art POP seeks to present and help facilitate new ideas and collaborations through exhibitions, site-specific installations, performances, screenings, and artist talks.

POP Montreal’s Symposium program offers a range of the figures, ideas and forces at the heart of today’s music world, focusing on the relationships between art, culture and creativity. The Symposium presents a series of conversations about pressing music-related issues. Each year, Film POP presents a variety of music-related film events, including important premieres, retrospective screenings, expanded cinema performances, live film scores, music videos and free family screenings at a variety of professional and unconventional spaces. POP Montreal accepts submissions every year between the month of November and May, either by mail or through Sonicbids. You can get all the info at the submission area of the website. POP Montreal also offers year-round concerts, activities and special events.

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 opening of Mezzrow, a new jazz piano lounge by the owners of the Smalls Jazz Club in New York City and the POP Montreal Festival in Montreal. If the photo does not appear in this post please visit the blog page to view it. Looking ahead into the next month that begins the fall season, be aware that: the 12th Annual Hispanic Television Summit opens in New York City, Durango Songwriters Expo opens in Broomfield, PLASA London comes to London, MIA Animation Conference is in Miami, GameSoundCon will be in Los Angeles, the New York Television Festival opens in New York City.

Revelation Perth International Film Festival, Skip City D-Cinema Festival, Comic-Con International, Kaua’i Music Festival, are highlights in July’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

A 24/7 Expo happening right in downtown L.A., Anime Expo is considered North America’s largest anime and manga celebration and the second longest running anime convention after A-kon in Texas. The Expo wants fans to meet and hear from veteran anime, manga and musical artists from Japan and get involved with everything from costume play, karaoke and video competitions while offering exclusive screenings, non-stop video gaming competitions and the anticipated Masquerade in which fans transform themselves into their favorite characters through creative costuming, accessories and make-up and put on their own show before an audience of thousands. A simple online application process is available to anyone wishing to take part in or present at Anime Expo, obtainable from the web site. The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is the parent organization which funds and manages Anime Expo.

There are many segments making up Anime Expo, which runs through July 6, including the Masquerade, Anime Music Video Contest, Concerts, Battle of the Bands, and the AX Fashion Show. Anime Expo is a 24-hour convention that offers late-night dances, all night video programming, tabletop gaming rooms, and open-mic Karaoke in the late evening/early morning hours. Many of the attendees cosplay while attending the convention, and there are many gatherings for fans of different anime and manga series.

There are numerous areas of event interaction that Anime Expo will have going on — in some cases 24/7. Last Comic Standing is a showcase for visitors to show off their comedy skills. There is programmed Japanese music entertainment, featuring J-Pop, Ani-Song, Japanese rock, and Idol Performers. The Anime and Manga Studies Symposium will schedule talks and lectures on Japanese comics and animation given by scholars from colleges and universities around the world. Live Panels put on by industry companies as well as attendees, range from announcements directly from the industry to fan discussions. AX Fashion unveils trends in Japanese street-wear and design from Harajuku and Shibuya through panels, a showcase fashion show, and  guest designers and models.

eGames area is a free play area at Anime Expo for everyone attending Anime Expo that love video games. The Table Top Gaming will host tournaments in favorite games like Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic The Gathering, Settlers of Cataan, and Texas Hold’em, to a casual gaming environment and this year will be joining forces with Arcade, and Console gaming. The anticipated Masquerade is an Anime Expo highlight with costumes and performances competing for the trophy. Lounge 21 and Manga Lounge will be separately themed lounges for relaxation and entertainment. The Artist Alley is a venue for amateur and semi-professional artists to celebrate Japanese pop culture through works of art.

Taking place in cinemas, bars and clubs about Perth, but centered in Leederville, with live music, performance, conferences and movies, Revelation Perth International Film Festival strives to put a unique slant on its programming. Opening night screening is Jonathan Glazer’s ‘Under The Skin,’ adapted from the book of the same name by Michael Faber, in which Scarlett Johansson plays an alien driving through Scotland in a van to seduce men and lure them back to her mysterious lair. Getting its start back in 1997 in the basement back room of the Greenwich Club, a regarded Perth jazz venue, Revelation is part of the Australian film festival season and interacts with the Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and New Zealand International Film Festivals and any number of Australian screen culture organisations with program, print sources and curated projects.

The Revelation Screen Conference (RevCon) is structured to highlight and investigate issues, approaches and perspectives that are part of international independent film process. Held over two weekends during the festival, RevCon aims to be an ‘ideas market’ that draws in industry participants from the creative, cultural and business sectors for discussion and analysis oriented panel sessions that are free to attend. Complimentary to RevCon is an academic sidebar – Revelation Academic – that will take on areas such as: the current state of play of the international independent scene, a television masterclass with Aaron Pedersen (at cost), getting ideas through from concept to screen, creating new cinematic worlds. Separately from the conferences, Magnolia’s Late Night Live Revelation Special, a live talk show with a substantial following, brings together artists and musicians to chat about entertainment and cinematic appreciation led by Tristan Fidler (RTRFM’s Movie Squad), at a scheduled July 7 appearance at Bill’s Bar and Bites.

Revelation strives to bring out the unique, weird and unusual in its festival programming. Revelation will celebrate Vladmaster’s View-Master reels —  handmade View-Master reels. As a seated audience holds their viewmasters in hand the audio soundtrack starts accompanying the 3D stereoscopic slides with the audience clicking-on the viewers as the soundtrack demands. The result becomes a visionary form of storytelling where the music, narration, sound effects and dings let the audience know when to advance each image or change discs. A selection of experimental films, from abstracted forms through dreamscapes and diaries and very personal explorations of the potentialities of cinema will be screened in the Experimental Showcase. The REVEL-8 Showcase was conceived to challenge a filmmaker to shoot one reel of silent Super 8 film in camera lasting only three and one-half minutes. A composer’s challenge was to compose and record a music soundtrack without meeting the director. The resulting public showcase of matched films and scores will compete for prizes.

Revelation’s program carries live music, gallery based visual arts and associated activity generated by the event or independent curators. Entries for the 2015 edition will open on September 1. Subscribing to the newsletter is one way to receive notification as it happens. Presently, the festival includes 100 international films presented at cinemas, galleries, cafes and bars across Perth. The 26th Annual WA Screen Award (WASAs) will be held at the Heath Ledger Theatre in the State Theatre Centre of WA on July 14 as a grand finale event to the Revelation Perth International Film Festival.

With an emphasis on music in film, the San Francisco Frozen Film Festival features a music competition as well as a film competition. There is also the July 17 opening night gala, live concerts, music winners, youth programs and film screenings with filmmaker discussion that round out this Bay-Area festival held in the Mission district. Last year’s festival featured surf and skate films, international films, animated shorts, dramatic shorts, comedic shorts, Art House / experimental shorts, feature films, digital films, music documentaries, prison documentaries, and two musical concerts. In addition to the annual film festival, the SFFFF Youth Program is very focused on providing underserved youth pathways to help them find a career in the film arts.

The 2014 festival features a Gala-party, a concert with the music winners, another concert with bands from one of the movies, and a closing night awards ceremony set for July 20. The Frozen Film Festival invites all filmmakers and musicians to submit their work for programming with a strong commitment to music, shorts, and Bay Area related films, and more than 10 bands who played concerts at various spots around the city during the festival. The festival takes in submissions on VHS or DVD/Blu-Ray disc. More information is available on the website or by emailing: frozenfilmfestival@gmail.com. Filmmakers whose work is accepted into the festival are invited to come to the festival to screen and discuss their work.

Skip City International D-Cinema Festival is an international competitive festival taking place in Saitama, created to encourage and contribute to the development of Digital Cinema (D-Cinema), focusing just on works shot and produced digitally. The Festival’s mandate is to encourage and contribute to the development of Digital Cinema and to cultivate filmmakers in Digital Cinema through international competitions, screenings and awards for digital filmmakers and their works. Categories up for competition for this festival with dates from July 19-27 will include: Feature Length, Short Length Competition, Animation Competition, Current D-Cinema 2014, Cinema Kabuki, Special Screenings, Barrier Free Screenings with Japanese subtitles and Audio Guidance and Guests.

All entries are screened by a 4K Digital Cinema projector at Skip City. Awards will be presented at the Closing Ceremony by an international jury committee. Overall, there will be several unique side events that will accompany the screenings and competitions, most of which are suited for the entire family. There will be three evenings of outdoor screenings (July 20-22) with an appearance by action hero Ultra-man Tiga on evening one, three NHK animations will screen on evening two, the original Ultra-man series will screen on evening three. Learn how to cook with secret recipes (July 20) and sample various dishes prepared with Bulldog sauce.

In Skip City musical programming, a local big band, New Notes Orchestra, will perform movie soundtracks (July 21-26). The annual bon dancing festival with international guests (July 21). UWF, a popular student wrestling team, will appear at Skip City (July 26) and visitors can enjoy tap beer and snacks in the Beer Garden. A Waku Waku Workshop (July 19, 22, 26) will show visitors how to make a thaumatrope, the origin of the motion picture reel. Kids special screenings of TV programs from NHK Archives and popular animation programs will be screened (July 20, 21, 25). An exhibition of on-set location photos provided by Film Commission Office in Saitama can be viewed from July 19-26.

Casual Connect USA 2014 happens in San Francisco with a July 22 starting date. Casual Connect USA is the largest of all the Casual Connect conferences. Casual Games Association produces these events for the casual games industry with over 6,500 professionals attending Casual Connect each year. Along with the conference sessions, indie developers will be showcasing their works in the Indie Prize Showcase and established developers will be presenting their games in the IDEA Showcase. The remaining Casual Connect series set for this year is set for November 10-12 in Serbia.

Lectures at Casual Connect are programmed to focus on cutting edge topics in the video games space. Presenting at the series, Jill Braff, Commerce Mobile Gaming Social, discusses “Beyond the App Store: Where’s the Casual Games Market in a Post-Zynga World?” Another presentation features Mike Delaet, Kabam; Andrew N. Green, Tinyco; Simon Jeffery, Backflip with Moderator Ben Chen, SponsorPay, taking part in a panel titled “Indie vs. Blockbusters… or a Match Made in Heaven?”

The International Design, Entertain and Amaze (IDEA) Showcase at Casual Connect invites established developers looking for international partners for publishing, user aquisition, game performance monitoring and logistical support. Among the benefits offered by IDEA is a dedicated showcase area, online game listing and online meeting system listing. Hosted four times a year in conjunction with Casual Connect and Indie Prize, the IDEA Showcase™ highlights developers from all over the world in showcases in Western Europe, Asia, USA and Eastern Europe. Promising developers just getting started are encouraged to apply for the Indie Prize scholarship. Submission is handled through an online application process (http://www.cvent.com/d/w4qs56/4W).

Casual Connect is often reputable for its parties and networking events. Networking mixers will include: A Pre-Funk & Badge Pickup with StartApp on July 21. The next day, July 22, there is an early evening Mingle with Tapjoy followed by the Official Opening Night Party, presented by InMobi + Pandora, which will be a dance party featuring DJ Youngblood Hawke and Tender Buttons at Mezzanine. For July 23, Mingle with Fiksu, opens the early evening then followed by Dinner with Vegas World, Indie Prize Awards Ceremony, ending in an evening of music and dancing with App Annie and Upsight at Party @ City Hall. On the final convention day, July 24, there is the Women’s Lunch with DeNA starting at noon.

Comic-Con is a multigenre entertainment and comic convention taking place annually since 1970 when it originally began as Golden State Comic Book Convention. Once only exclusively showcasing comic books and science fiction/fantasy related film and television arts, the convention now includes a larger range of pop culture and entertainment elements across most all genres. On the Wednesday evening prior to the official July 24 opening of the convention, there is a preview for professionals, exhibitors, and select guests pre-registered for all four days. Comic-Con International opens with Preview Night on July 23, marking the 45th year for the show.

There are several event areas that happen at Comic-Con. Comic-Con International’s 2014’s Artists’ Alley will feature artists and illustrators working in comics, science fiction and fantasy, and related popular arts fields. Anyone interested in applying for exhibit space in Comic-Con International’s Artists’ Alley can go to their website to download the Artists’ Alley Exhibitor Application. The Comics Arts Conference which started in 1992 at Comic-Con has an academic orientation and offers panels, seminars, and sessions covering all four days of Comic-Con. The Comic Creator Connection is the convention initiative that brings writers and artists together to enable creative collaborations.

Located in the Sails Pavilion upstairs at the Convention Center, the Art Show displays the nominated books and comics for this year’s Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards and houses a special exhibit devoted to members of the Will Eisner Hall of Fame in addition to original works by both amateurs and professionals. Carrying over an arrangement of past years, fan tables will be set up across the convention exhibit hall.

Comic-Con International also produces two other conventions, WonderCon and the Alternative Press Expo (APE), both held in San Francisco. Comic-Con has also awarded its annual Inkpot Award on guests and persons of interest in the Popular Arts industries, as well as on members of Comic-Con’s Board of Directors and the Convention Committee. It is also the home of the Will Eisner Awards. Comic-Con is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to creating awareness of, and appreciation for, comics and related popular art forms, primarily through the presentation of conventions and events.

The Kaua’i Music Festival (KMF) Songwriter Conference and Concert Series is a four-day annual event is held on the island of Kaua‘i focusing on the art and craft of songwriting, embracing most genres — rock, pop, R&B, country, urban, contemporary Hawaiian. At Kaua’i, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization now in its 12th year, attendees can learn songwriting or refine skills through interaction with actively professional songwriters. In addition, throughout the conference performed music will be heard by active industry veterans. Through one-on-one meetings, small group sessions, workshops, panel discussions, open mic activities, and more, there are ample opportunities to consult with and get feedback from industry representatives that include producers, TV and Film Music Supervisors, A&R Executives. An evening discussion set for July 30 covers, “How the Grammys Work”.

In addition to the regular songwriting workshops and one-on-one meetings, Kaua’i Music Festival will provide a number of “Informational Workshops” to help working musicians and songwriters. There will be two workshops sponsored by the State of Hawaii, DBEDT, Creative Industries Division: “Everything You Need to Know About the Business of Placing Your Music in TV & Advertising”, led by Chris Jackson, Comcast Entertainment Group, and “Everything You Need to Know About the Business of Placing Your Music in Film and Cinema”, led by David Trotter, Studio 51. Other workshops are available and a CD “Demo Derby” will be held during the early morning session of August 2 with participants encouraged to bring their CD’s.

As in past years, Kaua’i Music Festival will hold it’s songwriting contest for registered attendees to participate in. Submissions would have had to have been registered in advance. The final competition will be held on the second day of the Festival. Each of the selected Finalists will perform their submitted song in the competition. In 2014 there are two concert nights. On August 1, a Po`alima Concert featuring Mainland Artists will present Hot Chelle Rae, ‘Hookman’ Marlin Bonds, Mark Feist, Richard Harris and other artists. And on August 2 a Pau Hana Concert features Hawaiian Artists, showcasing Kenneth Makuakane with the Pandanus Club, Eric Gilliom, John Cruz, Kimo Knox and other performers. The Festival closes out on August 2 with an Open Mic followed by Party time in the Makai Lounge.

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 Mumbai based film sound designer, Harikumar Pillai as the subject of a profile by Dhaka based Jamuna Television and the official show poster for Comic-Con in San Diego. If the photo does not appear in this post please visit the blog page to view it. Looking ahead into the next month, although the industry gets quiet during the summer months, be aware that: the Florida Film Industry Expo 2014 opens in Tampa, Texas Association of Broadcasters 61st Annual Convention and Trade Show opens for two days in Austin, the 3rd Kolkata Shorts International Film Festival-14 is a one day festival in Kolkata, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest known film festival – Melbourne International Film Festival – opens in Victoria for an 18 day run, the 10th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival opens in Hollywood, the Monitor Latino Convention will be in Los Angeles over three days, the Brazil Promotion Trade Show 2014 will be in Sao Paulo.

Canadian Music Week, Festival de Cannes, Casual Connect Asia, PALM Expo, are highlights in May’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

In Century City, the Music Business Association, formerly NARM (National Association of Recording Merchandisers),  opens Music Biz 2014 for a three day run. Along with its hub for digital initiatives, digitalmusic.org, the summit agenda is to advance and promote music commerce. The summit runs through May 8. As a non-profit membership organization that advances and promotes music commerce, particularly through the Music Business Association’s flagship annual event, Music Biz 2014, the Music Business Association is a community committed to the full spectrum of monetization models in the industry.

Day one gets started with the Music Biz Academy, a program that travels across the country educating music startups and app developers on how to get through barriers of entry to the music industry. A networking breakfast follows that early session and then there will be a formal welcome and introduction as Music Biz President James Donio gives an industry overview including some of the newest stats on sales and consumer behaviors. The talk will review the resources the Music Business Association has available to help artists, managers, students, and startups navigate the music industry. Up for exploration is an entire range of delivery models: physical, digital, mobile, and otherwise.

Some of the other Music Biz topics that will be reviewed during the summit, most of which are handled in 30, 45 and 60 minute time limits: Keep Social Sexy: Using Your Profiles To Build Your Brand, Navigating The Music Industry Online, Alternative Revenue Streams: Making It In Today’s Music Biz, The Music Industry Infrastructure Of The Future, Grow Your Audience On YouTube, Metadata Summit: Information And Technology In The Music Business, Managing The Complexity Of An Artist’s Digital Experience, Country Music Meetup, Licensing and Royalty Payments From An Artists Perspective. The summit ends with a closing reception.

In Toronto, Canadian Music Week 2014 will have music industry business, learning and discovery sessions blueprinting how to guide projects to the next level. Planned film screenings offer a mix of music-oriented films, special screenings, documentaries and movie premieres along with special appearances and Q&As with some of the films’ acting talent, directors and crew in appearances. Added to the convention’s agenda since 2012, the Canadian International Comedy Fest features stand-up, with performances from some of Canada’s emerging comedy talent as well as headline talent from comedy venues worldwide. The festival’s Indie Awards is the principal closing event for Canadian Music Week.

The CMW Synch Summit is suited to music supervisors looking to place music in upcoming advertisements, films and TV productions and gives presenting submitters an opportunity to pitch music to them face to face. The International Festival Network, an exclusive networking and matchmaking session for companies to meet with representatives from various international festivals, booking agencies and promoters from around the world will be open. An international marketplace and Export Buyers’ Program featuring a Spotlight on Germany and a Focus on Austria and Switzerland with market overviews, presentations and incoming delegations is planned. The Digital Media Summit at CMW brings together media and brand specialists that focus on the task of outlining an integrated Digital Media strategy.

Now in its 17th year, the New York City Streaming Media East event is a showcase for all forms of online video business models and technology. It is focused on the “business” of streaming media in the Media and Entertainment, Enterprise, Education and Broadcast sectors. Convention events feature extensive multi-day panel sessions producing an executive forum on current topics from industry technology leaders to executives from companies utilizing streaming today. Essentially the two-day convention running till May 14 brings together digital media experts and professionals in order to exchange ideas, strategies and success stories.

The Streaming Media East Exhibit Hall will be the showplace for anyone selling streaming products, services, or content for use in corporate communications, digital media entertainment and technology, marketing, or the streaming industry itself. The shows provide an interactive exhibit floor enabling vendors to exhibit their products and solutions to businesses and organizations looking to incorporate streaming media enterprise solutions into their infrastructure. The Keynote address will be delivered by Matthew Szatmary, senior video encoding engineer at Twitch where he develops next generation encoding services and playback technologies to serve live video. Day one activities close with an evening reception.

Pre-conference seminars will actually be held before Streaming Media’s official open, on  May 12. Among the topics, “Setting up Live Streaming Workflows On-Premises and In The Cloud,” with Chris Knowlton, VP, Product Management, Wowza Media Systems; “Producing A Webcast From Soup To Nuts: Part One,” with Jan Ozer, Principal, Doceo Publishing; “Building A Better Web Video Player,” with Robert Reinhardt, Founder, videoRx (dot) com; “Producing A Webcast From Soup To Nuts: Part Two,” with Jan Ozer, Principal, Doceo Publishing. Other areas to be explored after the start of the regular conference, include: “Online Distribution and Monetization Strategies for the TV Industry,” “The Future of Digital Entertainment in a Multiscreen World,” “Making the Move to Multiscreen 2.0,” “New Opportunities for Monetizing Premium Video” among other topics.

Festival de Cannes, the anticipated film festival started in 1946 and held in Cannes, previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from around the world. Concurrent to the festival, France also hosts its national film awards, the César Awards – generally considered to be the French equivalent of the American Academy Awards – at the same time. Admission to the festival which stretches May 14-25 is by invite only. Festival organizers have already announced that “Party Girl,” from the trio of directors Marie Amachoukeli, Claire Burger and Samuel Theis, will open up the Un Certain Regard sidebar, a category originally created to showcase the most experimental, left-of-field and smaller-scale films that didn’t make the Competition cut. Film director Sofia Coppola, actors Gael Garcia Bernal and Willem Dafoe will join Jane Campion on the Cannes film festival jury for 2014.

There will be several featured event stops set up throughout the Festival complex. The Directors’ Fortnight (La Quinzaine des Réalisateurs) is a parallel section independent of the Festival de Cannes, organised by the French Directors Society (Société des Réalisateurs de Films). Critics Week, La Semaine de la Critique is a parallel section independent of the Festival de Cannes, organised by the French Film Critics Syndicate (SC). The ACID Programme in Cannes will be a parallel selection independent of the Festival de Cannes organized by the Association for Independant Cinema and its Distribution (ACID). Cannes Cinéphiles is an event organised by Cannes Cinéma and the Festival de Cannes to provide public screenings from the Official Selection, as well as films from the parallel sections. Cannes Cinema will be adding to this program with two international selections: Ecrans Juniors and Cinéma des Antipodes.

TV Festival de Cannes, co-produced by CANAL+, Orange and the Festival de Cannes, will cover the red carpet, the press conferences, the photo calls and interviews for films in Competition, as well as a number of event highlights. TV Festival de Cannes will be broadcast in French and English throughout the Palais complex and in most hotels along the Croisette. It will also be available on “Web TV”, YouTube (Canal+/English) and DailyMotion (Orange/French). The Official Selection is revealed through the awarding of the Palme d’Or to the best film entry during the Closing Ceremony. Un Certain Regard selection, “Party Girl,” which depicts the life of a 60 year-old night club hostess who still loves men and enjoys partying, was shot with the lead role is played by the real-life Angélique.

WINSTON | BAKER will be hosting the 5th Annual International Film Finance Forum in association with Variety magazine in Cannes during the 67th Festival de Cannes. The Film Finance Forum® Series was created by the Winston Baker team to educate equity and debt financiers on the latest trends and strategies for film investing while reducing risks, provide producers with effective approaches to fundraising, and demonstrating ways to create great content and generate revenue through various distribution platforms. This particular forum will be a half-day program focused on international issues such as what it takes to make films today, worldwide sales and distribution strategies, emerging film finance resources, applying risk mitigation across borders, co-production opportunities and strategies, subsidies and incentive updates. There will be a featured keynote on the globalization of entertainment.

World Arts Film Festival in Jacksonville seeks to highlight voices of young artists and filmmakers, giving individuals with special needs such as autism and their peers the opportunity to learn side by side. Individuals of all ages and abilities have been encouraged to participate in World Arts’ events and programs to gain success in the creative industries and beyond. World Arts Education + Film Festival is run by a team of dedicated volunteers who serve in their free time to promote and support quality film programs. Special panels and presentations during the festival will include: a Meet the Filmmakers Q&A, Film Creativity + Education panel, on May 15, the Festival’s start; Farm to Film Social panel discussion and panel, Dream It, Learn It, Live It, Love It, on May 16; Girl Directors, Young Directors and Animation Stories are the focus for panels on May 17, Festival closing date, among other topics. There is also the Kaleidoscope Awards presentations in all categories followed by closing ceremony and storytelling performance with David Gonzalez on the final day.

As part of WAE’s global educational outreach, the festival will bring diverse groups of filmmakers of all ages and backgrounds, including those with special needs, to meet and mentor each other and their audiences through this new venue. Created by individuals in New York, Los Angeles and Jacksonville, and supported by a growing network of advisors around the world, the organization is dedicated to a global message of inclusion through the arts and education. An Improv Acting Workshop with Guest Artists Hester Wagner and Sabra Shelley will be conducted. Hester Wagner of Inclusion Films and Futures Explored and co-director Sabra Shelly, who is a New York based actress, Autism specialist and teaching artist, will lead the three-day festival workshop on the 5th Floor at the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville. All day interactive workshops for all ages, Drawing-On-Film, will be conducted with Guest Artist Lois Siegel, instructor of Video Production at the University of Ottawa, Department of Communication.

At the 2014 Seattle International Film Festival, the opening night gala will be, ‘Jimi: All Is By My Side’ with Outkast’s André Benjamin in the lead role of this biopic about rock legend Jimi Hendrix. ‘Jimi: All Is By My Side’ looks at the early, momentous years in London in the life of the legendary guitarist after his beginning as an unknown backup guitarist in New York. The Director, John Ridley (Academy Award®-winning screenwriter of ’12 Years a Slave’) is scheduled to attend. Tickets include a walk on the Red Carpet, a private reception, reserved seats for the film, an exclusive after-party in the Red Carpet Lounge. The Seattle International Film Festival is an Academy Award-qualifying festival for short films. SIFF presents the annual Seattle International Film Festival and year-round programming at our SIFF Cinema venues the Uptown (Queen Anne) and the SIFF Film Center (Seattle Center). The Closing Night Gala will have one last night of mingling with Festival guests and friends while enjoying live music, food, and cocktails.

Global gaming convention, Casual Connect is the place to learn more about the video game industry, which entertains 300 million people each month. This gaming convention which has a trail through many international cities will be held in Singapore, May 20-22 as Casual Connect Asia 2014. Along with the conference sessions, over 80 indie developers will be presenting their games at the Indie Prize Showcase. Also making its debut is the International Design, Entertain, and Amaze (IDEA) Showcase, where established developers are looking for international partners for publishing, user acquisition, game performance monitoring and logistical support, will be presenting their recent projects. The International Design, Entertain and Amaze (IDEA) Showcase, Hosted four times a year in conjunction with Casual Connect, acts on behalf of established developers looking for international partners for publishing, user aquisition, game performance monitoring and logistical support.

Many lectures and talks are scheduled at Casual Connect Asia. On May 20, Robin Sagacious NG, head of International Business, Asiasoft Online Pte Ltd, leads a session that will provide an overview of the South East Asia online and mobile gaming markets and its projected trends. Later that same day Stephen Lee, head of publishing at 6waves, where he leads all business development and publishing-related matters, will share perspective from a publisher’s perspective and highlight key issues developers should be mindful of when getting ready to launch and grow their games globally. On May 21, Si Shen, a co-founder and CEO of PapayaMobile, will discuss the trends, obstacles, and strategies that Asian game developers must know in 2014 for Asian game studios to climb to the top of app store charts in Western app markets. On May 22, Bob Meese, Global Head, Games Business Development, Google Play, conducts a workshop on “Growing Your Business with Google Play.”

Networking and reception events begin with the Badge Pickup and Pre-Funk Party the day before the official convention start on May 19. On opening day, there will be the Official Casual Connect with servings of beer, wine and light snacks. Three receptions for May 21 will include a Womens Lunch at noon, an Official Casual Connect Party with beer, wine and cocktails and the Indie Prize Awards. The final convention day on May 22 is a simple “Mingle” with beer and light snacks. The Indie Prize Showcase is part exclusive gaming arcade and part scholarship program for up and coming indie development teams who show promise to be future leaders in the games industry besides being able to display games to a lot of publishers and industry gurus.

Founded in 2005, the Casual Games Association is a professional international trade organization providing educational resources and community support for those involved in creating games for the mass market consumer. Developed for the general public and families, casual games are video games that are fun and easy to learn and play. The games are platform agnostic, so they can be played via the Internet, PC and Macintosh computers, Facebook, Xbox, PlayStation, iPhone, Nintendo DS, Wii, Android and even mobile phones. They’re nonviolent, arcade-style games that involve puzzles, words, board and card games, game show and trivia. Popular games are Mahjong, Tetris, Solitaire, Bejeweled, Mystery Case Files, and Farmville.

PALM™ Expo in Mumbai serves the Indian pro audio, sound and lighting market by showcasing the wares of global vendors. The Expo draws its base of participants from the global pro audio, live sound and lighting, music production and system integration industries. This year, Music Expo – a dedicated trade show for the MI Industry – will be co-located with PALM Expo, located in Hall 2 of the Bombay Exhibition Center. Music Expo is dedicated to showcasing the latest MI products from major brands in an industry expanding MI consumption of western musical instruments to an expanding consumer base in the 200 million strong youth market.

The 2014 PALM Expo has several feature areas to explore and take part in while it is in session, May 29-31. The HARMAN PALM Live Arena is a secluded space for stage, sound, light and music to come together, provides visitors with an equipped stage to identify, evaluate and analyse how to enhance audio requirements and deliver the best sound quality. New this year, PALM Expo introduces the demo hall facility enabling audio companies to demonstrate their products and latest features in a private cube structure that is specially tailored for this purpose.

Innovator of Indian Slap Bass and Bass Guitarist for The Khayal Groove band, Jayen Varma (www.jayenvarma.net), is appearing at Palm Expo, May 30-31, doing performances for ROCKIN’ 24/7 on behalf of GRUV GEAR Wraps. He is known for developing Tabla and Mridangam style finger technique on bass guitar to play slap bass, a style developed by him and termed Indian slap bass, and in 2008 and 2011 respectively, the Registry of Official World Records (Record Holders Republic), USA&UK and The Record Setter Book of World Records USA, declared him the Fastest Bass Guitar Player. Jayen Varma plays with his band, The Khayal Groove made up of Aparna Panshikar on north Indian classical Vocals and Jayen Varma on Bass Guitar in collaboration with the French Drummer, Jean Davoisne and various artists and bands across the globe. Since the release of the band’s first album, ‘Reflections of a Purple Moon,’ it has since been working on its second album.

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 67th Festival de Cannes and Bass Guitarist Jayen Varma at PALM Expo in Mumbai. 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 59th Annual Drama Desk Awards will be held in New York City, CineGear LA comes to Hollywood, BANFF World Media Festival opens in Alberta, annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival comes to Manchester, Barcelona Film Festival opens in Barcelona.

NAB 2014 Show, French Quarter Festival, Supanova Pop Culture Expo, Tribeca Film Festival, are highlights in April’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

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.

World of Women’s Cinema, MIFF 2014, SXSW 2014, Hong Kong International Film and TV Market, are highlights in March’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

In Hollywood, Winston Baker will launch the Sixth Annual Film Finance Forum West in association with Variety from March 4-5. The flagship event of the ongoing Film Finance Forum series will be hosted just a few days after the 86th Academy Awards at the  hotel Ballroom which hosted the presentation of the first ever Academy Awards in 1929. The forum will offer an optional day of workshops on Financing Basics for Filmmakers, Intro to Film Business for Investors, and Innovative Immersion which will tackle next generation financing, sourcing, marketing and distribution strategies. The main conference day will host industry leaders who will address such topics as financing alternatives beyond the traditional capital stack, strategies for content creation, monetizing on IP and the new realities of distribution.

Opening day is devoted to Workshop Day and includes offerings such as: “Filmmakers: Structuring and Financing Micro to Medium-Sized Projects”, “Financiers: Film Investment Models, Valuation and Risk Mitigation”, “Innovative Immersion: Evolving and Succeeding in the Digital Age”, “One-on-One Speed Networking”. Opening Day closes with a private reception featuring live entertainment at Beacher’s Madhouse. The second day is Main Conference Day and offers opening remarks by Winston Baker, “State of the Industry: Content is King – Monetizing IP in a Fragmented World”, a keynote address by Dr. Jeffrey Cole: “Navigating through the New Capital Stack for Single Picture Deals”, Case Study Presentations: “How Creative Financing Can Be Applied”, “Alternative Methods of Distribution and Content Acquisition by Independents”, “Soft Money Re-defined: Identifying and Maximizing on Film Commissions” and more topics.

The Film Finance Forum® Series was created by the Winston Baker team to educate equity and debt financiers on the latest trends and strategies for film investing while mitigating risks, provide producers with effective approaches to fundraising, and offer both audiences ways to create great content and generate revenue through various distribution platforms. Other installments of the Film Finance Forum Series include: TV and Film Finance Forum East in New York City, in April; International Film Finance Forum in Cannes, in May; Film Finance Forum China, in Shanghai, in June; Film Finance Forum Latin America, Rio de Janeiro, in August; Film Finance Forum @ Zurich Festival, Zurich, in September.

World of Women’s Cinema – WOW 2014 – is a short film competition and screen culture event celebrating International Women’s Day, with awards on March 6 and an Australian wide tour running from March 2014 to March 2015. There will also be international screenings. The opening night program of Australian Shorts 1 will be followed by an After Party and live music by Entangled Note, made up of Annette Golden and Cath Golden. Filmmaker ‘In Conversation’ events will be held in Sydney at Surry Hills Library and at the Art Gallery of NSW with ABC TV film critic Margaret Pomeranz, to celebrate International Women’s Day. On March 5, a photographic exhibition of images from classic Australian cinema, ‘Still Women’, opens at The Blackeye Gallery.

Dance lovers at WOW festival can view a program of Australian and international contemporary dance films at Metro Screen and the Powerhouse Museum. WOW (which stands for World of Women) and the Australian Writers Guild (AWG) present a Writers Forum with screenwriters – both of which are alumni at Lucasfilm on the Star Wars live action television series – Jacquelin Perske and Louise Fox at the Powerhouse Museum. The WOW Film Festival Tour begins the day after the festival closes on March 14 with Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute’s screening of From the Spirit of Our Mother Program in their Spirit Festival. The WOW Tour will travel to various locations throughout Australia and overseas throughout 2014 into March 2015.

The 20th San Luis Obispo International Film Festival features a diverse spectrum of contemporary narrative features, documentary and short films from participating independent filmmakers all over the world. Although screenings take place in numerous venues, March 5-9, many will happen in downtown San Luis Obispo. Past Festival highlights have included epic surf and extreme sports films, cutting-edge new films, local and youth films, behind-the-scenes panels, a focus on women filmmakers and issues, and classic film “Hollywood & Vines” events pairing great classics with local wine and food, including historic screenings at Hearst Castle.

On March 5 at the Fremont Theatre, the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival’s Opening Night event will feature ‘Starring Adam West’, a new documentary by Director, James Tooley. Adam West will be at the screening for a Q&A and will receive the Festival’s third annual Spotlight Award, presented by self-confessed Batman idol and popular Los Angeles radio host on KROQ, Ralph Garman.

Every year, the King Vidor Award for Excellence in Filmmaking is presented at San Luis Obispo to a well-respected industry professional who has made a notable artistic contribution in any facet of the industry. Past recipients include Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin, Elmer Bernstein, Eva Marie Saint, Norman Jewison, Robert Wise, Sir Richard Taylor and John Hawkes. Each year independent film awards are presented to talented independent filmmakers, and five days of screenings, parties, wine tasting and workshops allow filmmakers networking opportunities. Local filmmaker hosts are also assigned to make navigating the festival and the screening venues spread across the county more manageable.

The Miami International Film Festival had its beginnings as the main activity of the Film Society of Miami, Inc., which was founded in 1983. Domestic theatrical distributors and broadcasters participating in the Festival have included Paramount Vantage, Sony Pictures Classics, Focus Features, Fox Searchlight, Music Box Films, IFC, Sundance Selects, HBO, HBO Documentary Films, HBO Latino, and Miramax, to name but a few.

This MIFF 2014 features a Close-up on China showcasing a number of the year’s relevant artistic exports focused on this growth cinema market. MIFF will be collaborating with MDC’s Confucius Institute to program this featured section of the work. The films in the 2014 program are: American Dreams in China (中國合伙人), by Peter Ho-Sun Chan (China); Bends, by Flora Lau (China); Trap Street (Shuiyin Jie), by Vivian Qu (China); Web Junkie, by Shosh Shlam & Hilla Medalia (Israel / USA).

The Festival’s inaugural ACE (Ateliers du Cinéma Européen) Co-Production Lab will happen from March 13-15. The Co-Production Lab aims to build an environment for professional development for film companies in Latin America and Europe searching for the opportunity of working together to turn a project into a film. The three-day workshop will bring together over 30 European and Latin American film industry professionals to develop opportunities for artistic and financial cooperation between these territories. The project-based workshop will consist of case studies, pitching sessions, panels, one-on-one meetings and networking events.

Miami International Film Festival’s Knight Competition consists of dramatic works from Latin America, Spain and Portugal, as well as Latino-themed works produced in the United States. The films are competing for cash prizes courtesy of James L. and John S. Knight Foundation. Competing films are eligible for a cash Knight Grand Jury Prize that will be split between the filmmaker and the U.S. distributor of the film. If no U.S. distributor is secured before April 17, 2014, then the full award will be made to the filmmaker.

The festival’s VeoMiami program is the industry market of the Festival and is open to all film professionals, including (but not limited to) sales agents, buyers, producers, production executives, craftspeople, financiers, festival programmers, film commissioners, film publicists, and exhibitors. VeoMiami gives access to Industry/Filmmaker invite only events, Happy Hours and networking opportunities, access to Masterclass Seminars, access to online library of films and other privileges. The Freedom Tower plays host to MIFF’s Pyrat Gold: Awards Night Rum Party on February 15 the night before the festival close.

Austin’s South by Southwest (SxSW) Conferences and Festivals is a trifold event consisting of original music (March 11-16), independent films (March 7-15), and interactive emerging technologies (March 7-11). New media presentations, music showcases and film screenings form the live performance aspect and entertainment for audiences. Conference panel discussions present a forum for learning and business activity. The Digital Creative Job Market at SXSW is presented by Publicis Groupe amd is a meeting spot for the career minded and  companies looking to hire. The Digital Creative Job Market enables talented professionals to match their skills with the 21st century, cutting-edge employers. A directory of the companies in attendance is available to view.

SXSW Film has plenty of programming relating to things musical, and the edition of Filmmakers in Focus talks to the filmmakers behind three music films at SXSW 2014. Alex Steyermark’s The 78 Project Movie demonstrates a novel way to record live music. Adam Kahan’s The Case of the Three Sided Dream is a portrait of the influential jazz pioneer Roland Rahsaan Kirk, while Jeff Broadway looks at the Stones Throw Records archive with Peanut Butter Wolf and co. in ‘Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton’ (This is Stones Throw Records)

Taking in the scope of all there is to do at SXSW could be overwhelming. There is obviously much to do and take part in at the SXSW festival. The remainder of this rundown focuses on parties and receptions for registrants to take part in. For instance, the 2014 SXSW Interactive portion of the Festival will host more than 75 official parties and evening events by itself.

March 7, SXSW hosts it’s third annual Taco Meet Up at Palm Park. This event – open to Film, Interactive, Gold and Platinum badges – allows guests to network with fellow SXSW attendees and try tacos and sides. Vegetarian options will be offered as well. Guests can meet on the evening of March 11 in the East Tent of Brush Square Park for the Music Mixer and Fajita Meet Up. Music Conference and Festival staff and veterans will be on hand to guide you through your SXSW experience. Savor fajita buffet (including vegetarian options) and complimentary beverages in the East Tent of Brush Square Park. On March 7 celebrate SXsports with this special kick-off reception hosted by Octagon. Connect with other SXsports enthusiasts over food, drinks and music.

March 8 marks the first full day of daytime programming at the 2014 SXSW Interactive Festival. The evening of March 8 also customarily serves as one of the most active nights of social events, ranging from low key happy hours to large concerts to informal geek-centric sporting events. This also includes The Mix at Six Party which usually turns out to be one of the top networking events of all of SXSW Interactive.

The SXSW Fusion Party will be on the evening of March 9. Presented by Associated Press, this get-together is one of the best places to connect with people outside your industry. At the SXSW Fusion Party, the creative worlds of Interactive and Film come together for an evening of cross-fest love. Filmmakers, designers, social media mavens, producers, activists and more converge — and the results can launch a thousand ships. The SXSW Fusion Party is open to all Interactive, Film, Gold and Platinum badge holders. The 27th annual South By Southwest Closing Barbecue and Softball Tournament, is the traditional closing social event of the SXSW week on March 18.

The Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART) is an annual film market organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). Now known as a cross-media, cross-industry entertainment trade platform in Asia, FILMART’s objective is to promote Hong Kong as the regional hub for distribution and production of film, TV programs and entertainment-related products in Asia pacific and to facilitate cross-media, cross-businesses partnerships. More precisely, it will champion co-operation in areas of film financing, distribution, production, post-production, TV, digital entertainment, film and broadcasting equipment and location shooting.

This year’s Entertainment Expo, from March 24-27, will feature nine multimedia events: the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART); the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF); the Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony (HKFA); the Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF); the Hong Kong Asian Pop Music Festival (HKAMF); the IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award; ifva; the Asian VFX and Digital Cinema Summit; and the Digital Entertainment Forum.

FILMART’s TV World, which turns eight, is expected to welcome more than 260 exhibitors. The theme of TV World’s International Forum this year is “TV’s New Century: Asia’s Live Programmes.” A series of workshops will also be held, focusing on issues ranging from the Internet and business opportunities to forecasting film and TV content. FILMART will once again present the Intellectual Property Business zone, as well as zones spotlighting location shooting and micro-film, the latter offering award-winning movies.

Among the region’s major film-financing events, this year’s HAF is held March 24-26. Nearly 30 film projects from 11 countries and regions have been selected, attracting film investors, producers and distributors internationally. Independent film and visual media in Hong Kong and throughout Asia will be on show at the 19th edition of ifva, March 13-23. The fourth HKAMF, March 28 at the HKCEC, features seven up-and-coming Asian performers. The singers, from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore, compete in the Super Nova Awards. Asian music industry business forums will also be held.

At the seventh Asian VFX and Digital Cinema Summit, March 25, industry experts discuss digital post-production trends. Recent 3D movies will be shown to introduce production techniques. The fourth Digital Entertainment Forum, March 26, examines visual media from full-pixel, real-time motion capture to interactive design and other new production technologies. A city-wide promotion: “Enjoy Great Movies, Enjoy Special Offers”, will be repeated from last time in support of Entertainment Expo. The campaign offers the public a 10 per cent discount at any of more than 40 cinemas in Hong Kong.

A statutory body established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and service providers. With more than 40 global offices, including 12 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organizes trade fairs and business missions to connect companies with opportunities in Hong Kong and on the mainland, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and online.

The JUNO Awards celebrates the best in Canadian music. This year will mark the 43rd Anniversary of The JUNO Awards and the 13th Anniversary of its broadcast on CTV. Winners are currently chosen by either members of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences or a panel of experts depending on the award. In almost all of the main general categories, such as Album of the Year or Artist of the Year, nominees are determined by record sales during the qualifying period. New members of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame are also inducted as part of the awards ceremonies.

Juno Week 2014 is from March 24-30, and events in that week include: Juno Cup, Juno Fan Fare, Juno Fest 14 Winnipeg, SOCAN presents Juno Songwriters’ Circle, PRIX Juno 2014 Awards Broadcast. Official Juno lead up events will include: Dancin’ Tones and Buzzin’ Bones: Celebrating the 2014 JUNOS, Junior JUNOS – Featuring the 2014 Children’s Album of the Year Nominees, JUNO Photography Exhibition, The JUNO Tour of Canadian Art, Sirius XM JUNO Awards Kick-Off, Friday Night Live @ ROM: The JUNOS After Dark. The official JUNO Kick-Off Party is March 27 at Manitoba House. The Juno Awards events were not conducted outside Toronto until 1991 and the various locations often host a number of supporting events and festivals surrounding the awards. This year’s event is in Winnipeg, showcasing a new host city and their music scene for the year.

This year, country singer Brett Kissel, seven-time CCMA Award winner Dean Brody, 16-time CCMA winner Gord Bamford are set to join earlier announced performers Matt Mays, Robin Thicke, Serena Ryder, The Sheepdogs, Tegan and Sara, and Walk Off The Earth. In addition, Canadian songstress and eight-time JUNO Award winner Sarah McLachlan will take the stage as a special presenter for MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with CARAS. The Awards Committee is partnering with SiriusXM Canada to host a JUNO Kick-Off party at Manitoba House featuring performances by The Trews, The New Meanies and Attica Riots. There will be a celebration of Winnipeg’s diversity with a Francophone music showcase and an Aboriginal Nominee Honouring Ceremony.

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. The 86th Academy Award winners at the March 2, 2014 Oscar ceremony included: Lupita Nyong’o taking Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Jared Leto taking Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Cate Blanchett taking Best Actress in a Leading Role, Matthew McConaughey taking Best Actor in a Leading Role, ’12 Years a Slave’ taking Best Picture. This month’s photo placement highlights the 2014 Academy Awards. 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 2014 NAB Show opens in Vegas, MIPDOC and MIPTV 2014 opens in Cannes, Florida Film Festival will be in Maitland, On te heels of Mardi Gras French Quarter Festival opens in New Orleans, Winston-Baker will conduct the 6th Annual Film Finance Forum East from New York City,

Berlinale, Country Radio Seminar, Publishing and Media Expo, Byron Bay Film Festival, are highlights in February’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

In Cannes since 1967, the annual MIDEM (acronym for Marché International du Disque et de l’Edition Musicale) event has thrived as an international b2b event encompassing tradeshow, conferences, competitions, networking events and live performances, as well as a platform for showcasing new artists, musical trends and music-related products, and conferences educating about the music industry and new revenue streams. Since 2000, the night before MIDEM opens, the Palais des Festivals hosts the NRJ Music Awards. The awards ceremony is organised by NRJ, a French multimedia conglomerate.

Slated speakers at this year’s MIDEM Talks include, Rita Ora, Jean Michel Jarre, will.i.am, Marc Geiger, Lyor Cohen and others. Competitions and participative music events at MIDEM 2014 will include: Open Mic, Midemlab, Pitch Your Song, Midem Hack Day, Play Midem Live, Sync Sessions. Reed MIDEM is the owner and organizer of the annual midem conference which runs through February 4.

In this year’s program, Brazil will be the official “Country of Honour” and therefore will receive special conference and performance attention. “The Brazilian Music Experience,” presented by The Ministry of Culture, will comprise three evenings of concerts demonstrating the musical diversity of this country. The scheduled lineup of performers, including Alceu Valença, Rita Benneditto, Leandro Fregonesi, Renata Jambeiro and Márcio Faraco offer genres ranging from samba to bossa nova, through shades of jazz and hip hop. There will be a scheduled industry talk, “Inspiration From Brazil” that will explore the impact of emerging markets and Brazil’s role in this trend.

The European Film Market runs for nine days through February 14 in the city of Berlin as part of one of the most regarded film festivals internationally, the Berlinale. Taking place as early as it does in the year, it is a strong draw for international film industry professionals and is considered a barometer for the upcoming year in film. The EFM is the business centre of the festival, taking place in the renaissance exhibition hall of the Martin-Gropius-Bau (MGB) in the heart of Berlin.

This year on the first day of the Market, the EFM offers an introductory session, “Shortcuts for First-Timers” at the Gropius Mirror restaurant. The event will inform first-time EFM participants about the European Film Market, the Berlinale Co-Production Market and the Berlinale Talents, as well as about current Festival offerings.

For some years at the festival a selection of German films has been spotlighted in a German Cinema series which was reformed in 2011 to become German Cinema – LOLA@Berlinale. The program presents films slated for the German Film Awards (aka Lola) by the German Film Academy. Active honorary member of the German Film Academy, Heinz Badewitz, long-standing head of German Cinema, continues to host the series. LOLA@Berlinale is a joint project of the Berlin International Film Festival, the German Film Academy and German Films, the national company for promoting German films.

The European Film Market 2014 welcomes the Berlinale Talents at the newly instituted Berlinale Talents Market Hub hosted by Canon. Talents prospects will not only learn of EFM structures, but can also use this platform to introduce themselves to trade representatives and establish sustainable contacts. EFM visitors get a first impression of the 40 film projects developed in the various Berlinale Talents project labs, exchange ideas with emerging distributors and producers and discover new Talents.

The Berlinale Co-Production Market is a two-and-a-half-day event for about 450 international producers, sales agents, distributors as well as broadcasting and funding representatives active in the field of co-production. The eleventh Berlinale Co-Production Market takes place from Sunday to February 9-11. Each autumn, production companies from around the world seeking co-production partners can submit projects. What this eventually results in is the arrangement of customized meetings that is part of the service offered by the Berlinale Co-Production Market.

Further to the one-on-one meetings, participants can find the latest hands-on information and make new contacts through the many networking opportunities during the market. Case Studies on Berlinale films elaborate on current trends in co-production and financing opportunities and in Theme Talks participants can exchange experiences with experts and colleagues on selected topics.

During the nine days of the EFM, the Martin-Gropius-Bau’s beautiful Renaissance exhibition halls, dating back to 1881, are outfitted to host over 8,000 industry professionals. The main meeting place is in the Central Hall, whose café atmosphere make it a comfortable and productive networking area. There is also the EFM Lounge on the second floor – an ideal place to work or meet for a drink. The lounge also hosts events and receptions during the Market.

Taking place for one day, February 12, the Westminster Media Forum in London holds a conference that will examine the emerging commercial, regulatory and public policy challenges for the European audiovisual sector in the context of the European Commission Green Paper — “Preparing for a Fully Converged Audiovisual World: Growth, Creation and Values”. The conference will offer delegates an opportunity to examine the impact of convergence on media, telecoms and technology markets. In particular, the forum explores the effects on competition, innovation and sector financing, the emerging priorities for reform of the AVMS Directive and options to deliver a future regulatory framework able to keep pace with rapid developments.

Westminister Forum guests who will deliver keynote addresses include, Lorena Boix-Alonso, Head of Unit, Converging Media and Content, DG CONNECT, European Commission and Louise McElvogue, Principal, Macleod Media and Member, Convergence Review Committee 2011-2012, Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Australia.

Next, another Westminister Media Forum conference set for February 28 will cover the UK music industry – streaming services, social media and market consolidation. This conference will assess how the music industry is positioned to adapt to the emerging financial and business challenges created by technological and media convergence. Crispin Hunt, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Featured Artists Coalition; Francis Keeling, Global Head of Digital Business, GDB, Universal Music Group and Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive, BPI (British Recorded Music Industry) will deliver keynotes offering insight as to how services such as Spotify, Vevo and iTunes Radio are changing the economics of music, and the implications of increased disintermediation between artists and fans – in particular the developing challenges for marketing and public relations from the use of social media.

London based Westminster Forum Projects (WFP) operates a group of influential, impartial and cross-party forums. The forums organise senior-level seminars on a wide range of public policy areas. None of the forums has a policy agenda of its own, other than simply to raise the quality of debate on public policy developments and so create opportunities for informed discussion.

The Country Radio Seminar is an annual Nashville convention put together to educate and promote through an exchange of ideas and business practices in the Country music industry, with emphasis on issues relevant to Country radio. The Country Radio Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony unofficially opens the Country Radio Seminar each year. February 18, the Country Radio Hall of Fame Cocktail Reception is followed by the Country Radio Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony.

The Country Radio Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of those individuals who have made significant contributions to the radio industry over a 20-year period, 15 of which must be in the Country format. There will be an official opening night reception set for February 19 and a kick-off night performance with a lineup includes Grand Ole Opry members Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts and Old Crow Medicine Show, along with Thompson Square, Love and Theft, Brandy Clark, Will Hoge, and Eric Paslay. The event will start at 19:00, immediately following the CRS Opening Night Welcome Reception.

Some of the CRS highlights to expect include conference presentation of data from a comprehensive Country music research study on the increased popularity country music is seeing with  12-34 year-old age groups. Iconic producers/musicians (Hall, Johnson and Oldham) are featured in a new documentary: Muscle Shoals (Magnolia Pictures), telling their tale of the surge in music trend setting within a small town on the Tennessee river which started in the sixties amidst the backdrop of the societal revolution of the 60’s Civil Rights movement, and that helped to set the benchmarks for the Rock, Pop, R and B, Soul and Country movements. The screening will feature clips from the film and conversation with the musicians.

And in other CRS highlights running through the February 21 conference close, the CMA Vocal Group of the Year, Little Big Town, presents a panel about perseverance in the country music industry at CRS 2014. Bob Kingsley will conduct an interview with the band throughout the session, which will take place February 19 in the Nashville Convention Center. A “Team UMG at the Ryman” luncheon will feature artists from the Universal Music Group roster.

Publishing abd Media Expo in London is an event intent on revealing the future of publishing with its multi-channel content demands, and unites the media industry reflecting the emerging new and traditional forms, with new ideas and solutions. Established in 2005, Publishing and Media Expo sets out to define the future of publishing through keynotes, seminars and exhibition areas from February 25-26. Keynote speaking assignments happen in the Keynote Theatre. Simon Birkenhead, Director of Global Advertising Sales, Telefónica Digital will address the “Future of Mobile – What’s next after the Smartphone”.

The expo will have education content spread across three key areas representing the industry. The “Audience and Data Theatre” program will examine the next wave of digital disruption in publishing is aimed at removing boundaries and enabling people to interact with digital content across their devices. Catherine Flynn, Manager, Global Marketing Solutions (UK), Facebook will delve into “The future of social media as a marketing platform” and how Facebook will continue to adapt and evolve as a marketing tool. Simon Birkenhead, Director of Global Advertising Sales, Telefónica Digital reviews the Future of Mobile and What’s next after the Smartphone. There will be an exploration of the issues and pitfalls facing the real monetisation of mobile media.

Numerous networking hot spots situated across the show floor including: the TFM&A Networking Bar, the OA&A Networking Bar, the GMA Lounge, the By Invitation Only Lounge (Open to VIP only). The latest solutions & technology. Ensure attendees are adapting ahead of their competitors, visit the vast range of solution providers offering the latest technology and innovation.

Independent filmmakers from over 40 countries and at all stages of their careers are able to to showcase their work across all genres at the Byron Bay International Film Festival in New South Wales. Social networking engagements include the gala red carpet opening and closing night parties, or festival-wide access to the sunset bar for a quiet drink, mingling with Australian and international industry figures. A free Full Moon Beachside Cinema event will be held on February 14. The film’s chosen selection for the evening will be heart-warming, funny and impacting with the themes of ‘connection’ and ‘relationships’ chosen for the evening’s programming.

This year the festival during the course of its run from February 28 – March 9 will host a range of workshops, panels and networking opportunities. There is a presentation through alternative funding and distribution options and how to run a successful crowdfunding campaign. There is a scheduled talk about composing music for different screen environments and how to develop a career in composing for screen. A Masterclass with Australian cinematographer Don McAlpine will be held following the BBFF screening of Show Me the Magic (Cathy Henkel).

An opportunity for filmmakers to meet international and Australian film buyers and find out what they are looking for is on the agenda. There is to be a constructed meeting place sanctuary for established and emerging filmmakers to greet, network and make creative connections with figures in the film and television world. Charles Schuerhoff, Don McAlpine ACS ASC, Mandy Chang (ABC) and Ted Emery and other special guests will be in attendance. A final Red Carpet Gala Party happens a day before festival close on March 8 where awards will be handed out, including the big one for Best Film.

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 reflects The Oscars will honor the 75th anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz”. Oscar Week events begin February 14 and the Academy Award presentations will be March 2. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it (http://actorschecklist.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/WizardofOz.jpg). In a look ahead into next month’s calendar events, we have: American Model Awards, in Las Vegas; Guangzhou International Interactive Multimedia Fair 2014, in Guangzhou; the 6th Annual Film Finance Forum West comes to Los Angeles; SXSW Convention, returns to Austin; 6th Annual Film Finance Forum West, comes to Los Angeles; Hong Kong International Film & TV Market 2014, in Wanchai; The Oscars, will be held in Hollywood.

London Short Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, 2014 NAMM Show, 56th Grammy Awards, are highlights in January’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Irvine International Film Festival at Laguna Hills anticipates a festival running through January 16 where industry members can network and host a venue for the public to watch film and interact with film makers mostly through Q and A after the screenings. On January 11, “Karen Black: On Acting” will be a screening followed by a panel discussion with the director, Russell Brown that was given by the late actress who was an Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner. In 75 minutes, the in-depth interview from this very respected performer of her generation covers everything from perfecting regional accents to finding a character’s inner needs. There is a scheduled International Cinematographers Guild Panel Discussion on January 12, with the presentation of 10 short films honoring the best of ICGs emerging cinematographers.

Multi Emmy award-winning actor, Ed Asner, a former Mary Tyler Moore show regular and past president of SAG, is IIFF’s 2014 recipient of the festival’s “Lifetime Achievement Award” as an actor and will attend January 12 for a special screening and discussion. John G. Avildsen, Oscar winning Director of “Rocky” is the festival’s 2014 recipient of the “Lfetime Achievement Aard” as director and will be in person on January 16. Festivities begin with an Opening Night Party and concludes with an Award Show at which Oscar nominations will be announced.

The London Short Film Festival is now in its 11th year in the City of Westminster district. During the nearly two week run from January 10-19, screenings are run out of a number of independent cinemas and venues in the area showcasing short films and interactive events. There are special event sessions that are planned as well. On January 13, the British Council stages an event appealing to both filmmakers and those interested in developing a career in the festival sector. On January 14, TorinoFilmLab, an international organization supporting young talents from all over the world through training, development and funding activities, and with a principle focus on first and second feature films, makes a presentation. Following this, Cinema Jam conducts a panel discussion outlining three perspectives on how people working in the short film format can build a viable career. On January 15, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art conducts a session specifically designed for directors on how best to work with actors. On January 16, ThinkSync offers a music supervision session for selecting the right track for a short film. Later on, a panel of industry experts from London Film Academy and the Institute for International Film Financing present the most recent insider knowledge and tips on how to secure film funding.

Other London Short Film Festival special event screenings will include: a programme of inventive shorts made on a shoe-string budget on January 10, a comedy selection in association with the British Film Institute’s Future Film for younger audiences on January 11, the first of three documentary programmes in this year’s festival, screened January 12, an eclectic mix of animation, documentary and experimental footage offered in this year’s Music and Video program, January 13, the BFI’s Gothic season with a selection of disturbing and thought provoking shorts titled “The Gothic and the Grotesque” on January 14, and “Celluloid Traces” drawn together in a program of experimental work, on January 19. The London Short Film Festival is meant to be a mecca for the UK’s young creative talent combining independent shorts, plus live music, training, parties, art and fashion.

Celebrating its 30th year from Park City, The Sundance Film Festival showcases dramatic and documentary films from emerging and established artists, innovative short films, filmmaker forums and panels, live music performances and film composer events, while seeming to add to the program listing of events and activities year over year. In addition to discovering filmmaking’s newest talent through the Festival’s program of documentary, dramatic, and short films, Festivalgoers experience live music performances, panel discussions with leading filmmakers and industry figures, cutting-edge media installations, parties celebrating the Festival community, and more.

The 2014 Sundance Film Festival opens with screenings from the competition film line-up, as well as the opening of New Frontier. A planned fundraiser and kick-off for the 2014 Sundance Film Festival takes shape as an evening to celebrate independent artists and their work. This event includes cocktails with filmmakers, reserved seating at the Day One screening, dinner with artists and everything ending with a party at Legacy Lodge at Park City Mountain Resort. This year, Sundance Institute is honored to congratulate President and Founder Robert Redford on his Golden Globe Best Actor nomination for his role and performance in J.C. Chandor’s film ‘All Is Lost’. In addition, the Institue congratulates Julie Delpy on her nomination for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her performance in Richard Linklater’s ‘Before Midnight’.

On the festival grounds, YouTube on Main Street will be hosting the filmmaking community to daily activity that include live Sundance Film Festival production, screenings, panels, happy hours, and much more. Canon U.S.A., Inc has planned a January 20 panel discussion and screening spotlighting the craft of cinematography in the field of Microcinema. Panelists will share valuable insights, anecdotes, and technical knowledge, as well as discuss their real-world experience with the Canon Cinema EOS line of professional digital cameras and lenses. To celebrate the U.S. premiere of Doug Aitken’s project, The Source (evolving), the artist, with art collector, Maurice Marciano, will discuss how ideas begin and the future of creativity in the 21st century. The January 18 talk is to be an exploration across creative disciplines — film, visual arts, music and architecture.

In April, Sundance offers its third Sundance London program, presenting a cross-section of films fresh from Sundance Film Festival – a mix of documentary and narrative features, made by first-time and established directors, and short films from around the globe. Sundance London is presented by Robert Redford, Sundance Institute, and AEG Europe. The closing night Awards Ceremony and Reception ends with the Awards Night Party at Basin Recreation Field House.

About 31 miles down the road (in a manner of speaking) from the Sundance Festival in Park City, Slamdance Film Festival has carried on its tradition serving as a showcase for the discovery of new and emerging talent and nurturing new independent artists and their cinematic vision for 20 years now. For its 20th anniversary, January 17-23, Slamdance has planned Special Screenings, Beyond and Shorts programs, the premiere of the DIY documentary that follows the historical development of the Do-It-Yourself indie film movement. An expanded short film programs include 62 American and International productions including 24 World, five North American and eight U.S. Premieres. The 2014 Shorts showcase includes Narrative, Documentary, Animation, Anarchy and a new Experimental Program.

The Slamdance Screenwriting and Teleplay Competition is a mainstay of the festival. The competition consists of four categories: feature, short, horror, original teleplay/webisode. Awards are given to the top three scripts in each category. In addition to that, JuntoBox Films and Slamdance will present the new Grand Prize for the best feature length screenplay. MixBit.com, and The Slamdance Film Festival have joined forces to launch a new trailer contest that gives emerging Slamdance directors a chance to create their best trailer for the 2014 Slamdance Film Festival. To compete, filmmakers whose films have been accepted into the 2014 Slamdance Film Festival will agree to upload their trailers to MixBit.com, where Slamdance attendees and the MixBit community can remix the high quality clips and repurpose the trailers in new and creative ways. The competition goes live December 6th, 2013 at http://www.MixBit.com/Slamdance and will close January 3rd, 2014.

Slamdance counts among its alumni many notable writers and directors who first gained notice at the festival, including Christopher Nolan, Marc Forster, Jared Hess, Benh Zeitlin, Lynn Shelton and Lena Dunham. Oren Peli’s PARANORMAL ACTIVITY originally acquired from Slamdance went on to gross over $190 million at the Box Office. In 2013, more than half of the Slamdance competition features were picked up for VOD distribution. Each year significant cash and service prizes are awarded to all Sparky Award recipients. Slamdance offers selected feature and short films theatrical showings during the following year through the Slamdance On The Road program.

NAMM is the anticipated music products industry trade event of the year based in Anaheim, that features the latest innovations and gear from more than 1,400 exhibitors and nearly 4,500 brands from around the world. From January 23-26, visitors get a close-up of the latest Pro audio sound technology, training, skills refinement in the Hands-On Training (H.O.T.) Zone and a stage where you can see it in action, refine your skills and improve the quality of your productions and attend the NAMM TEC Awards. To get the party started, there will be the NAMM Pre-Show Block Party, starting at 17:30 on January 22. The night features live music from Bernie Williams and Gil Parris, plus networking, food trucks and a beer garden at the NAMM GoPro Stage on the Grand Plaza.

Reflecting on a trend of a strong growth trajectory and the Electronic Dance Music and club-music craze attached to it, over 300 brands will debut in the area of DJ-related gear at the 2014 NAMM Show. EDM grabs center stage every night of the NAMM Show on The Venue Stage presented by Pioneer DJ. Located between the arena and the Hilton, the Venue stage will play club music from 17:00-20:00 Thursday and Friday nights. On Saturday night, DJs sponsored by Monster Products take the stage.

This year’s NAMM experience will also include a group music-making experience at the show on three occasions: an “All-Industry Drum Circle” will be hosted by REMO Inc. on January 24; Conn-Selmer, Inc. will sponsor a “pBone Trombone Workshop” where elementary students with little to no music background can create a brass instrument musical experience, on January 26; the third annual Uke Circle with ukuleles provided by Kala Brand Music, is set for January 26.

The Grammy Awards are set for January 26 this year and will take place in Los Angeles. The show will be broadcast in high definition and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 20:00-23:30 (ET/PT). The show also will be carried on radio worldwide via Westwood One, and webcast online at GRAMMY.com and CBS.com, and on YouTube. The GRAMMYs are a peer-presented award honoring artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position. A GRAMMY is awarded by The Recording Academy’s voting membership to acknowledge this excellence in the recording arts and sciences. Two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J returns as host of this year’s GRAMMY Awards.

Some performers announced early for this 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards® telecast include: current GRAMMY® nominee Daft Punk; nominee Kendrick Lamar joined by nominees Imagine Dragons; nominees P!nk and Nate Ruess (of FUN.); and a special “GRAMMY Moment” featuring two-time GRAMMY winner Merle Haggard, three-time GRAMMY winner and 2014 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Kris Kristofferson, seven-time GRAMMY winner Willie Nelson, and current nominee Blake Shelton. This will be Daft Punk’s first television performance since they last performed on the 50th GRAMMY Awards telecast in 2008. Merle Haggard will be performing on the GRAMMY stage for the first time, and this will be P!nk’s and Nate Ruess’ first time performing together on network television.

Kendrick Lamar has seven nominations: Best New Artist, Album Of The Year and Best Rap Album for Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, Best R&B Performance for “How Many Drinks?” (with Miguel), Best Rap Performance for “Swimming Pools (Drank),” Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “Now Or Never” (with Mary J. Blige), and Best Rap Song for “F***in’ Problems” (with Tauheed Epps, Aubrey Graham, Rakim Mayers and Noah Shebib). Two-time GRAMMY-winning group Daft Punk are up for four awards: Album of The Year and Best Dance/Electronica Album for Random Access Memories and Record of The Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Get Lucky” (with Pharrell Williams). Imagine Dragons, three-time GRAMMY winner P!nk, two-time GRAMMY winner Nate Ruess, and Blake Shelton each have two nods.

The 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, and David Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers. Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. The Academy maintains a focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music will be a lasting part of this culture.

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 reflects the upcoming 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it. In a look ahead into next month’s events, we have: MIDEM 2014, in Cannes; American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) hold their annual Outstanding Achievement Awards, in Hollywood; Westminister Media Forum: European media policy…, in London; European Film Market, in Berlin; The music industry – revenues, consolidation and the digital artist, in London; The American Model Awards, in Las Vegas; Country Radio Seminar, in Nashville.