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.

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,

Monaco International Clubbing Show, American Film Market, Salon de la Photo, Billboard Touring Conference, are highlights in November’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

The TV Connect trade show in Dubai strives to influence and advance the television service, delivery and telecom sector for the North Africa region through its resources. Planned lecture sessions, business seminars and conferences will put emphasis on issues like IPTV, OTTtv, multiscreen and Cloud TV services for local TV manufacturers and service providers. The event, once mostly rooted in IPTV, has evolved to include significant emphasis on OTTtv, multiscreen and Cloud TV services for regional TV service providers. The program agenda will shed light on monetising OTTtv, achieving the best broadcast quality through technologies including CDNs, transparent caching and web acceleration, the connected home, advice on growing revenue through the next level of quad-play services, focus on data centres and the debate on the convergence of telco business into caching business.

In a close-up of Day Two events on November 6 when the show closes, “Multi-screen services becoming part of the Digital Home” will offer insights into: Outlook of the Home of the Future and Facilitating Connected Lifestyles by Using the Power of 4G/LTE Network. A session on “User Interface and Content Discovery” shows the impact of social media on TV viewing habits – Defining Social TV and Taking content discovery to the next level by offering a premium user interface. TV Connect Middle East and North Africa will seek global exposure for all the leading domestic as well as international brands and service providers for showcasing various kinds of industrial products and services.

The Monaco International Clubbing Show (MICS) is an international meeting and forum assembled to address the needs of the nightlife and clubbing industry. The annual event, now in its fourth year happens in Monte Carlo. The highlights for this event are the conference, the exhibits and the DJ Festival. In the opening November 6 conference session, DJ Joachim Garraud, Sylvain Berretaga of Electrobeach Festival, and Fabrice Gadeau of Rex Club participate in a discussion on the rising prospects and profile within the DJ industry. The very next day, November 7, Dominique Wolton, Director of the Institute of Science and Communication of CNRS, and Pierre Chambon from UMIH Nuit will host speakers: Pierre Thomas of By Pass, Lionel Azoulay of Hostplatinium and Frederic Poulet of Optimize CHR as they build the case for how social networks are at the heart of commercial relations in todays nightlife establishments and in particular how Facebook remains the most effective tool for successful digital communication.

Another highlighted feature of the exposition are the showcase-clubbing parties. The Life Club is the official nightclub for these events, and on November 6, after the NRJ DJ Awards, there is an Official After Party with the dutch superstar AFROJACK for an exclusive DJ Set, followed by Reepublic, Niki Belucci, Paulette, Dj Oriska and Maeva Carter. On November 7, the dutch producer behind the record label Mixmash – Laidback Luke –  spins the turntables for an evening. On November 8, the DJ resident of the « Caves Du Roy » in Saint-Tropez, Jack-E, takes a turn. And on November 9, DJ Sub Zero, known as an American oriented French DJ, makes a return to the scene since two years that passed after his first performance at MICS.

AFM is the anticipated, annual film event that’s not quite festival, not quite conference, but mostly business opportunity — the business of independent motion picture production and distribution — set oceanside along Santa Monica beach. AFM will run from November 6-13. The AFM Conference Series will happen November 8-12, and will include conferences on Finance, Pitching, Production, Marketing and Distribution. Adam Carolla, comedian, podcast king, New York Times Best Selling Author and recent crowd funding leader, will deliver the Keynote Address at the American Film Market’s Production Conference on November 10. A Pitch Conference will be conducted November 9, and audience participants (pre-registered in advance) who will pitch to a panel of Hollywood decision makers, give feedback on each pitch – explaining what worked, what didn’t and why.

A special session on “How to Work the AFM” will be presented by Jonathan Wolf, AFM Managing Director, on November 6 and 9, and is limited to 100 people. New for 2013, the AFM Producers Forum offers access to specially designed educational sessions, including co-productions, working with sales agents, production incentives, and the amenities that lead to great networking and private hosted receptions. Another new presentation this year is “Hong Kong: Asia’s Co-production Centre and Gateway to China” which will be made by: Zhou Tiedong, President, China Film Promotion International (CFPI), Maria Orzel, Producer, Studio Strada, Jeffrey Chan, CEO, Distribution Workshop on November 7. Core Barre will be held at Exhale Spa at Fairmont Miramar Hotel on November 9, Yoga Flow at Viceroy Hotel – Bristol Patio on November 10 and both events are open to all AFM Badge holders.

AFM is produced by the Independent Film and Television Alliance®, the global trade association of the independent motion picture and television industry and the voice and advocate for the Independents worldwide. The American Film Market (AFM) is the market partner of AFI FEST. The association between the two events connects art and commerce (more on AFI in the next story below). AFM badges will allow access to many AFI events, including all public screenings. AFI FEST badges will allow access to the AFM screenings. AFI FEST filmmakers, whose films are part of the festival, will have full access to AFM (and to be able to promote their film to the AFM participant distributors. Shuttle buses will move participants between Santa Monica and Hollywood.

American Film Institute offers film enthusiasts a variety of events throughout the year, including AFI Fest every November in Hollywood presented by Audi. It operates in tandem with AFM in nearby Santa Monica running nearly identical dates. A Gala Tribute screening of ‘Osage County’ directed by John Wells is set for November 8. In this dramatic comedy Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts head an all star cast about a crisis that reunites the women of an Oklahoma family and re-ignites their dysfunction. Festival-goers will be able to obtain available tickets online at AFI.com/AFIFEST beginning Nov 2 until the last day of the festival, November 14. Additional tickets will be available all day, every day through Closing Night online and at the festival’s box office.

As a non-profit educational and cultural organization, American Film Institute carries a mandate to preserve the history of the motion picture, honor the artists and their work and educate the next generation of storytellers. It preserves the legacy of America’s film heritage for future generations through the AFI Archive, comprised of rare footage from across the history of the moving image and the AFI Catalog of Feature Films, an authoritative record of American films from 1893 to the present. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for the Short Films category of the annual Academy Awards. AFI FEST holds the FIAPF accreditation (FIAPF.org), assuring a high standard of quality and reliability for the international film community.

Salon de la Photo is the annual Parisian trade show and conference for creative professionals looking to update or enhance their studio and location equipment, get new tips and techniques, network with industry mentors and imaging gurus. From November 7-11 daily meetings with experts will be used to review legal, retouching, video, photographic projects, portfolio sessions, Visual correspondence. Demonstrations will be held of making and projecting picture shows (photo + video) via a programme of screenings and events focusing on the methods and tools available today from digital technology. Three topics are covered: Designing the show: taking the pictures, Making the show: software tools, Projecting the show: video-projection

Polka magazine will be organizing signing sessions with photographers. Portfolio sessions will take place every morning with members of the editorial team. In the afternoon: discussions and Q&A sessions with experts from the magazine take place. Fisheye magazine will launch its first photo competition at the Salon de la Photo, entitled “Suprise Us”. There will be experts giving technical advice for underwater photography. Five pro and amateur photographers reveal how they made photography their profession, talking about the choices they have made and the way they organize themselves in order to make a living from it. The Salon de la Photo is giving the ZOOM awards for the third year running. Nine photo magazines editors each choose their favourite up-and-coming professional photographer (French or living in France) who has real but as yet insufficiently recognized talent and whose work deserves to be brought to the attention of the general public.

Also on display will be the famous photography collection belonging to fashion designer agnès b., showing works by major photographers and new talents she supports as a patron of the arts and a gallery owner. The works exhibited are a selection of some sixty photographs chosen by her on the theme of “the young girl in the city”. Another featured exhibition will be  a retrospective of the work of Raymond Cauchetier, humanist photographer and emblematic figure of Nouvelle Vague film set photography. He began as a film set photographer when film producer Marcel Camus asked him to take photos for his film ‘Mort en Fraude’. He captured a notably iconic image of Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo on the Champs-Elysées in ‘Breathless’. He then worked on ‘Lola’, Jacques Demy’s first feature film, ‘Adieu Philippine’ by Jacques Rozier, ‘Jules et Jim’ by François Truffaut, ‘Landru’ by Claude Chabrol and other films most particularly with Jean-Luc Godard.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is organizing the second “State of the Entertainment Industry” conference for one day on November 12. The conference theme will be “Highlighting the Value of Hollywood’s Entertainment Industry to Los Angeles and California.” The conference is being presented by Variety and admission includes continental breakfast sponsored by Paramount Pictures and luncheon sponsored by The Hollywood Museum. Co-chairs of the conference are Paul Audley, President of FilmL.A., Inc and Chris Barton, Executive Vice President, Hudson Pacific. Speakers at the conference will be addressing the issues of how important the Entertainment Industry is for Los Angeles and what the outlook is for the future. The day closes with a cocktail reception.

At “State of the Entertainment Industry”, a special “Commitment to California” Award will be presented to an as yet unnamed awardee in the industry who has worked to keep production in-state. Last year’s honoree was Anthony E. Zuicker of CSI. Two days afterward on November 14 the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will hold its – unrelated – Leadership Luncheon Series with Assemblymember Richard Bloom at the Hollywood Chamber offices. This is a free event but space is limited, so it is essential to RSVP to the Hollywood Chamber in advance. The Mission of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is to promote and enhance the business, cultural and civic well-being of Hollywood. Significant accomplishments have come out of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce since its formation. For example, the Hollywood Sign and the Walk of Fame exist today due to the efforts of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

Started in 2004, the Billboard Touring Conference and Awards is an annual meeting sponsored by Billboard Magazine which also honors the top international live entertainment industry artists and professionals. Taking place in New York City for two days starting November 13, some program highlights include a featured keynote Q&A with Roger Waters whose most recent tour, The Wall Live, which captured Top Tour honors at the 2012 Billboard Touring Awards, an artist development panel with Florida Georgia Line, a Grateful Dead panel featuring Skrillex and Warren Haynes, and the Touring Conference Awards honoring George Strait. Each year features a keynote speaker from the performance industry, who in the past have included the likes of Gene Simmons of Kiss and 3 Doors Down.

On day one, following a late afternoon conference presentation: “Agents In The New World Order…” there will be an Agency Forum in which attendees can get some face time with active agents in all genres of touring including: Comedy, Country, Hip-Hop/R&B, Rock, Pop, Hard Rock/Metal, EDM. At the close of day one there is a “Welcome Cocktail Reception” followed by the 10th Anniversary Billboard Touring Conference Concert with performances by Florida Georgia Line with Dallas Smith and Chris Lane. The conference day closes with a Pre-Awards Reception, followed by The Billboard Touring Awards hosted by Gary Dell’Abate.

Beginning day two of the conference and following opening remarks from Ray Waddell, Executive Director of Content and Programming for Touring and Live Entertainment, Billboard, the subject matter of targeted and efficient marketing opportunities brought about by digital media,  mobile, social, e-mail, push marketing, and an array of non-traditional sales channels will be addressed in “Music Marketing In the Digital Age”, moderated by Joyce Szudzik, VP of Digital, AEG Live. Toward the end of day two, a pre-awards reception opens for the main event to follow in which Billboard will honor the industry’s top artists, venues and professionals of the year at the annual Billboard Touring Awards reception based on the Billboard Boxscore chart recognizing box office success and industry achievement in the period of October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month’s picture placement highlights the Salon de la Photo photography exposition in Paris, France. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it. In a preview of next month’s events, be aware that: International Film & TV Finance Summit will be in New York City, Florida Media Market will be held in Miami, 2nd Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival will be in Mumbai, Art Basel will be at Miami Beach, Asia Television Forum will be happen in Singapore, Cineasia Hong Kong 2013 will be in Hong Kong.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month’s picture placement highlights festivals of horor and gore reflecting the upcoming Halloween period and the Hawaii International Film Fest. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link and this link to view it. In a preview of next month’s events, be aware that: The annual American Film Market (AFM) arrives in Santa Monica. Running across town in Los Angeles and having a market partnership with AFM is American Film Institute (AFI) Film Fest in Los Angeles. Monaco International Clubbing Show will be in Monaco. Supanova Pop Culture Expo Brisbane will happen in Brisbane. Annual Content and Communications World is in New York City. Dubai International Character and Licensing Fair opens in Dubai.

Kulturborse Freiburg, Berlinale 2013, 55th Grammy Awards, Noise Pop Festival, are highlights in February’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

The European Spiritual Film Festival of Glasgow is a multi-venue, multi-partnership event which takes inspiration from and enhances the global image of Glasgow. Glasgow Music and Film Festival, in association with The Arches, celebrates innovation in music, film and the culture that unites them. GMFF features a series of one-off audio visual live events, complemented by a programme of music films at the festival. Back for its fourth GFF is festival guide, The CineSkinny. Published each day of the Festival by The Skinny’s skilled team of cinephiles, it is a definitive source for festival information listing, recommending the cinematic gems hidden within the Festival programme and the must-attend events happening all across the city till festival close on February 24. Artist Stephen Sutcliffe is this year’s winner of Glasgow Film Festival’s Margaret Tait Award. The award is supported by Creative Scotland and LUX and recognizes artists who are experimental, innovative and who work within film and moving image.

The International Kulturbörse Freiburg is not a festival, but a trade fair drawing in promoters, producers and experts from the event business to view approximately 170 live performances from theatre, varieté and gala, cabaret and comedy, jazz, pop and rock, world music, dance and performances, business-theatre and street theatre. It has been a meeting point for the culture and events industry followers for over 18 years now. Each year after a new jury is elected it then selects the performers entirely from the submitted applications. The International Kulturborse Freiburg is attended mainly by the following target groups: promoters, agents, experts in the event branch, producers, artists/groups as well as media representatives and those providing services for the cultural business. A new category at the 25th International Kulturbörse Freiburg which will run February 4-7 is the Newcomer Block. In addition to the winners of the Sprungbrett award and the Music award, the Freiburger Rampe, other young, creative artists will have the chance to perform in front of a large audience of experts from the events business. Attendance at IKF is mostly focused upon event agencies, agents, technical support and services in the event sector, but for anyone who wishes to attend the fair as a visitor there is no registration procedure. Tickets can be purchased on site or on the IKF website prior to the event. Staging area and headquarters for the event is the Hotel Stadt Freiburg.

At London’s Event Production Show 2013, over 200 event industry suppliers will be showcasing the latest, innovative event products and services through February 6 to a gathering attending to meet new suppliers, network with colleagues, discover new technologies and gather information at the workshops and seminars. The production team for Dragons’ Den, a BBC television series that invites entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas to investors, has informed the organizers of the Event Production Show that they intend to visit this year’s show. The Event Production Show 2013 will be scheduling seminars and workshops on the key issues facing the industry. Glastonbury Festival impresario, Michael Eavis, will appear on the main stage to give an insight on life after Festival Republic along with details on an event that’s a cornerstone to the success of other festivals across the country. Live Nation COO, John Probyn, hosts Question Time. The panel this year includes: Colin Rodger, head of event management for DF Concerts, Martin Green, LOCOG’s head of ceremonies, John Farquhar-Smith, owner of Flux Events, Paul Ludford, recently appointed operations director for Glastonbury Festival, and Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank, the man behind Bestival, Camp Bestival.

Typically, up to 400 films are shown every year as part of the Berlinale’s public programme, the vast majority of which are world or European premieres. Films of every genre, length and format can be submitted for consideration to the annual Berlin based event. The Berlinale is divided into different sections, each with its own unique profile: big international movies in the Competition, independent and art-house productions in Panorama, movies specially for a young audience in the Generation section, German cinema productions in Perspektive Deutsches Kino, an in-depth look at films from “distant” countries and experimental forms in the Forum, as well as an investigation of diverse cinematic possibilities in the Berlinale Shorts. The programme is rounded off by a thematic Retrospective and a Homage, which focuses on the lifework of a great cinema personality. Both of these sections, which are curated by the Berlin Film Museum, aim to place contemporary cinema within a historical context. An integral part of the festival which opens February 7-17, The Berlinale Talent Campus, is a creative academy and networking platform that brings emerging talent and seasoned film professionals together and offers them a platform to refresh their views, discover new horizons, find fellow filmmaking collaborators and discuss new trends and developments in contemporary cinema and media. The Campus lasts for six days and offers a variety of different programme elements for actors, directors, cinematographers, distributors, editors, film critics, producers, production designers, screenwriters, sound designers and composers.

The 55th Grammy Awards are set to go live February 10 from Los Angeles. The GRAMMYs are a peer-presented award to honor 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 honor this excellence in the recording arts and sciences. The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will take place in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in high definition and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 8 pm (ET/PT). The show also will be carried on radio worldwide via Westwood One, and covered online at GRAMMY.com, CBS.com, and on YouTube. For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy’s social networks on Twitter and Facebook. The GRAMMY Foundation® will host “Play It Forward: A Celebration Of Music’s Evolution And Influencers” — the 15th Annual GRAMMY Foundation Music Preservation Project — featuring live musical performances and archival footage from its preservation archives. The program set for February 7 in Beverly Hills will explore the history of legendary influencers in music and the invaluable contributions of those key players, the music they inspired and their impact on the American cultural landscape. The Awards open with Red-Carpet arrivals and closes with a reception. The 2013 ceremony will be hosted for the second time by rapper/actor LL Cool J.

The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival is dedicated to presenting and supporting Irish and international film. Held annually each February since 2003, the eleven day event opening February 14 showcases 130 feature films in conjunction with public interviews, industry workshops and masterclasses. Over 50 directors, actors and producers attend the festival to meet Irish filmmakers and audiences and discuss their work. The 2012 lineup included a special focus on Scandinavian Cinema, masterclasses with Marin Karmitz and Kenneth Lonergan and a special concert of the film music of Danny Elfman. In 2008 the festival inaugurated The Irish Talent Spotlight in order to profile exceptional new and established talent working in all areas of the Irish Film Industry. Ken Wardrop (Writer/Director), Margo Harkin (Producer), Tim Fleming (Director of Photography), Cartoon Saloon (Irish Animation Company) and Margeret Corkery (Writer/Director) have all been honored as part of this initiative. The Audience Award was won by the Indonesian action film ‘The Raid’. In addition, the festival gives its annual Volta Awards for Career Achievement to key international figures in the film industry and in 2012, recipients included Al Pacino, Stellan Skarsgard and Marin Karmitz. Jameson Dublin International Film Festival will form a partnership with The Church Restaurant, Bar and Venue for the 2013 season. The Church venue will play host to entertainment each evening, as well as offering an opportunity to mingle with filmmakers, festival-goers and the JDIFF team.

The Hollywood Post Alliance Tech Retreat is a gathering in the Palm Springs area of industry-engineering, technical, and creative talent, as well as strategic business leaders focused on technology, from all aspects of digital-cinema, post-production, film, television, video, and related technologies that attend from February 18-22 for the exchange of information. Most conference days begin with a Roundtable Breakfast. HPA is the trade association serving the professional community of businesses and individuals who provide expertise, support, tools and the infrastructure for the creation and finishing of motion pictures, television, commercials, digital media and other dynamic media content. After a full day of conference sessions, relax at the spa, play a round of golf, or swim in one of seven pools. Tennis enthusiasts have access to the pro hard surface courts and there is Badminton too. Available dining choices reflect the tastes and trends of restaurants from around the world. At the close of the last conference day – which begins with a Roundtable Breakfast before going into a half day Tech Retreat Conference – guests may decide to stay and enjoy the Hyatt Indian Wells or return home.

This year on February 20 and 21, Digital Media Wire combines Digital Music Forum East and West into one combined event titled DMW Music. It will be a gathering of music and digital media leaders assembled in Downtown New York City to socialize, share ideas, do deals and learn about new technologies and services. Rio Caraeff, CEO and President of VEVO and David Israelite, CEO and President of the National Music Publishers’ Association will join the “View from the Top” panel on February 20. Also on February 20, BMI’s Executive Director, Business Development New Media and Strategic Development, Michael Drexler, will be a participant on the panel, “Digital Copyrights – Broken System?” Spotify, YouTube/Google, Pandora, and Clear Channel will open their office doors to DMW Music guests for the inaugural Music-Tech Crawl on February 21. The format is similar to a bar crawl but with music tech companies instead of taverns. Guests will spend around 45 minutes at each office before moving on to the next stop. An Awards dinner is planned for February 20.

The Noise Pop Film Festival in San Francisco screens any kind of film or video narrative feature, documentary, short, animation, experimental or music video, that explores a connection to music, either in its subject matter, the talent behind or in front of the camera, or with an exceptionally prominent soundtrack. Submissions include feature-length documentaries or features that have music or musicians as the subject matter. This year Noise Pop has partnered with the Sketchfest comedy festival to present comedy and music shows. Promoting independent culture, past Noise Pop screenings include a secret sneak preview of “The Fearless Freaks” Flaming Lips documentary, “X: The Unheard Music,” “Directions: Death Cab for Cutie,” “The extraordinary Ordinary life of Jose Gonzalez,” “This is Noise Pop,” “Look at What the Light did now” Feist documentary, and “Neon Bible” with a live original score by Oranger – Theremin and all.

For two weeks leading up to Noise Pop, from February 14 to February 24, Noise Pop will take over 1772 Market Street and create a multi-dimensional experience, with music, entertainment and culinary events. This space will serve as a central hub for Noise Pop as it gears up for its 2013 festival which runs February 26 to March 3. The Noise Pop Film Series runs concurrent with the music festival at various theaters throughout San Francisco co-curated by SCORED to celebrate sound and music in films — all focusing on music. Noise Pop Culture Club returns for a third year celebrating the creative process of visionary artists in the music, film, art, design, food and technology communities. It stimulates the discussion of new ideas and collaborations and is mostly about inspiration and the DIY indie spirit. A Noise Pop Happy Hour happens nearly every day throughout the festival.

With a February 26 opening celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2013, CineKink is a film festival and screening series that celebrates and explores a wide diversity of sexuality, and encourages the positive depiction of sexuality in film and television, most visibly through this annual film festival, CineKink NYC, and subsequent touring series. Featuring a specially-selected program of films and videos that explore and celebrate a wide diversity of sexuality, the programming offers selections drawn from both Hollywood and beyond, explicit or not, with works ranging from documentary to drama, camp comedy, hot pornography, artsy experimental, mildly spicy, quite explicit and everything in between. In addition to screenings, the annual festival also includes a short film competition, audience choice awards, presentations, parties and a gala kick-off fundraiser, all followed by a national screening tour. The program culminates March 3 with Awards and AfterGlow Play Party.

Starting its seventh year, the Editors Retreat organized by Future Media Concepts has become an annual gathering where highly experienced TV, video and film editors come together in an intensive, interactive environment to network, exchange ideas, share tips and have fun. For five days and four nights running February 27 to March 3 in Rivera Cancun, the Editors Retreat offers advanced sessions on post, visual and audio techniques and features valuable insight into emerging trends and technologies. Keynote attendees have included such names as Alan Heim, Sally Menke, Geoffrey Richman, Dan Lebental and Jay Rabinowitz. Time on this year’s session agenda will be devoted to discussing the creativity, craft and business practices of successful editors. At the close of the February 28 session there will be a seventh annual Pizza and Poker tournament with a chance to win prizes. At the close of the March 1 session will be a “Out in the Cancun Scene” group evening of fun, a night of food, music and dancing.

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 55th Grammy Awards. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it. Looking ahead into the next month be aware that: Miami International Film Festival will be in Miami, Chicago Underground Film Festival will be held in Chicago, Vancouver Women in Film Festival will be in Vancouver, The SXSW Trade Show will be in Austin, International Film & TV Finance Summit will be given in Los Angeles, Records and CD Fair will be in Gent.

xKulturborse Freiburg, Berlinale 2013, 55th Grammy Awards, Noise Pop Festival, are highlights in February’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

The European Spiritual Film Festival of Glasgow is a multi-venue, multi-partnership event which takes inspiration from and enhances the global image of Glasgow. Glasgow Music and Film Festival, in association with The Arches, celebrates innovation in music, film and the culture that unites them. GMFF features a series of one-off audio visual live events, complemented by a programme of music films at the festival. Back for its fourth GFF is festival guide, The CineSkinny. Published each day of the Festival by The Skinny’s skilled team of cinephiles, it is a definitive source for festival information listing, recommending the cinematic gems hidden within the Festival programme and the must-attend events happening all across the city till festival close on February 24. Artist Stephen Sutcliffe is this year’s winner of Glasgow Film Festival’s Margaret Tait Award. The award is supported by Creative Scotland and LUX and recognizes artists who are experimental, innovative and who work within film and moving image.

The International Kulturbörse Freiburg is not a festival, but a trade fair drawing in promoters, producers and experts from the event business to view approximately 170 live performances from theatre, varieté and gala, cabaret and comedy, jazz, pop and rock, world music, dance and performances, business-theatre and street theatre. It has been a meeting point for the culture and events industry followers for over 18 years now. Each year after a new jury is elected it then selects the performers entirely from the submitted applications. The International Kulturborse Freiburg is attended mainly by the following target groups: promoters, agents, experts in the event branch, producers, artists/groups as well as media representatives and those providing services for the cultural business. A new category at the 25th International Kulturbörse Freiburg which will run February 4-7 is the Newcomer Block. In addition to the winners of the Sprungbrett award and the Music award, the Freiburger Rampe, other young, creative artists will have the chance to perform in front of a large audience of experts from the events business. Attendance at IKF is mostly focused upon event agencies, agents, technical support and services in the event sector, but for anyone who wishes to attend the fair as a visitor there is no registration procedure. Tickets can be purchased on site or on the IKF website prior to the event. Staging area and headquarters for the event is the Hotel Stadt Freiburg.

At London’s Event Production Show 2013, over 200 event industry suppliers will be showcasing the latest, innovative event products and services through February 6 to a gathering attending to meet new suppliers, network with colleagues, discover new technologies and gather information at the workshops and seminars. The production team for Dragons’ Den, a BBC television series that invites entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas to investors, has informed the organizers of the Event Production Show that they intend to visit this year’s show. The Event Production Show 2013 will be scheduling seminars and workshops on the key issues facing the industry. Glastonbury Festival impresario, Michael Eavis, will appear on the main stage to give an insight on life after Festival Republic along with details on an event that’s a cornerstone to the success of other festivals across the country. Live Nation COO, John Probyn, hosts Question Time. The panel this year includes: Colin Rodger, head of event management for DF Concerts, Martin Green, LOCOG’s head of ceremonies, John Farquhar-Smith, owner of Flux Events, Paul Ludford, recently appointed operations director for Glastonbury Festival, and Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank, the man behind Bestival, Camp Bestival.

Typically, up to 400 films are shown every year as part of the Berlinale’s public programme, the vast majority of which are world or European premieres. Films of every genre, length and format can be submitted for consideration to the annual Berlin based event. The Berlinale is divided into different sections, each with its own unique profile: big international movies in the Competition, independent and art-house productions in Panorama, movies specially for a young audience in the Generation section, German cinema productions in Perspektive Deutsches Kino, an in-depth look at films from “distant” countries and experimental forms in the Forum, as well as an investigation of diverse cinematic possibilities in the Berlinale Shorts. The programme is rounded off by a thematic Retrospective and a Homage, which focuses on the lifework of a great cinema personality. Both of these sections, which are curated by the Berlin Film Museum, aim to place contemporary cinema within a historical context. An integral part of the festival which opens February 7-17, The Berlinale Talent Campus, is a creative academy and networking platform that brings emerging talent and seasoned film professionals together and offers them a platform to refresh their views, discover new horizons, find fellow filmmaking collaborators and discuss new trends and developments in contemporary cinema and media. The Campus lasts for six days and offers a variety of different programme elements for actors, directors, cinematographers, distributors, editors, film critics, producers, production designers, screenwriters, sound designers and composers.

The 55th Grammy Awards are set to go live February 10 from Los Angeles. The GRAMMYs are a peer-presented award to honor 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 honor this excellence in the recording arts and sciences. The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will take place in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in high definition and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 8 pm (ET/PT). The show also will be carried on radio worldwide via Westwood One, and covered online at GRAMMY.com, CBS.com, and on YouTube. For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy’s social networks on Twitter and Facebook. The GRAMMY Foundation® will host “Play It Forward: A Celebration Of Music’s Evolution And Influencers” — the 15th Annual GRAMMY Foundation Music Preservation Project — featuring live musical performances and archival footage from its preservation archives. The program set for February 7 in Beverly Hills will explore the history of legendary influencers in music and the invaluable contributions of those key players, the music they inspired and their impact on the American cultural landscape. The Awards open with Red-Carpet arrivals and closes with a reception. The 2013 ceremony will be hosted for the second time by rapper/actor LL Cool J.

The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival is dedicated to presenting and supporting Irish and international film. Held annually each February since 2003, the eleven day event opening February 14 showcases 130 feature films in conjunction with public interviews, industry workshops and masterclasses. Over 50 directors, actors and producers attend the festival to meet Irish filmmakers and audiences and discuss their work. The 2012 lineup included a special focus on Scandinavian Cinema, masterclasses with Marin Karmitz and Kenneth Lonergan and a special concert of the film music of Danny Elfman. In 2008 the festival inaugurated The Irish Talent Spotlight in order to profile exceptional new and established talent working in all areas of the Irish Film Industry. Ken Wardrop (Writer/Director), Margo Harkin (Producer), Tim Fleming (Director of Photography), Cartoon Saloon (Irish Animation Company) and Margeret Corkery (Writer/Director) have all been honored as part of this initiative. The Audience Award was won by the Indonesian action film ‘The Raid’. In addition, the festival gives its annual Volta Awards for Career Achievement to key international figures in the film industry and in 2012, recipients included Al Pacino, Stellan Skarsgard and Marin Karmitz. Jameson Dublin International Film Festival will form a partnership with The Church Restaurant, Bar and Venue for the 2013 season. The Church venue will play host to entertainment each evening, as well as offering an opportunity to mingle with filmmakers, festival-goers and the JDIFF team.

The Hollywood Post Alliance Tech Retreat is a gathering in the Palm Springs area of industry-engineering, technical, and creative talent, as well as strategic business leaders focused on technology, from all aspects of digital-cinema, post-production, film, television, video, and related technologies that attend from February 18-22 for the exchange of information. Most conference days begin with a Roundtable Breakfast. HPA is the trade association serving the professional community of businesses and individuals who provide expertise, support, tools and the infrastructure for the creation and finishing of motion pictures, television, commercials, digital media and other dynamic media content. After a full day of conference sessions, relax at the spa, play a round of golf, or swim in one of seven pools. Tennis enthusiasts have access to the pro hard surface courts and there is Badminton too. Available dining choices reflect the tastes and trends of restaurants from around the world. At the close of the last conference day – which begins with a Roundtable Breakfast before going into a half day Tech Retreat Conference – guests may decide to stay and enjoy the Hyatt Indian Wells or return home.

This year on February 20 and 21, Digital Media Wire combines Digital Music Forum East and West into one combined event titled DMW Music. It will be a gathering of music and digital media leaders assembled in Downtown New York City to socialize, share ideas, do deals and learn about new technologies and services. Rio Caraeff, CEO and President of VEVO and David Israelite, CEO and President of the National Music Publishers’ Association will join the “View from the Top” panel on February 20. Also on February 20, BMI’s Executive Director, Business Development New Media and Strategic Development, Michael Drexler, will be a participant on the panel, “Digital Copyrights – Broken System?” Spotify, YouTube/Google, Pandora, and Clear Channel will open their office doors to DMW Music guests for the inaugural Music-Tech Crawl on February 21. The format is similar to a bar crawl but with music tech companies instead of taverns. Guests will spend around 45 minutes at each office before moving on to the next stop. An Awards dinner is planned for February 20.

The Noise Pop Film Festival in San Francisco screens any kind of film or video narrative feature, documentary, short, animation, experimental or music video, that explores a connection to music, either in its subject matter, the talent behind or in front of the camera, or with an exceptionally prominent soundtrack. Submissions include feature-length documentaries or features that have music or musicians as the subject matter. This year Noise Pop has partnered with the Sketchfest comedy festival to present comedy and music shows. Promoting independent culture, past Noise Pop screenings include a secret sneak preview of “The Fearless Freaks” Flaming Lips documentary, “X: The Unheard Music,” “Directions: Death Cab for Cutie,” “The extraordinary Ordinary life of Jose Gonzalez,” “This is Noise Pop,” “Look at What the Light did now” Feist documentary, and “Neon Bible” with a live original score by Oranger – Theremin and all.

For two weeks leading up to Noise Pop, from February 14 to February 24, Noise Pop will take over 1772 Market Street and create a multi-dimensional experience, with music, entertainment and culinary events. This space will serve as a central hub for Noise Pop as it gears up for its 2013 festival which runs February 26 to March 3. The Noise Pop Film Series runs concurrent with the music festival at various theaters throughout San Francisco co-curated by SCORED to celebrate sound and music in films — all focusing on music. Noise Pop Culture Club returns for a third year celebrating the creative process of visionary artists in the music, film, art, design, food and technology communities. It stimulates the discussion of new ideas and collaborations and is mostly about inspiration and the DIY indie spirit. A Noise Pop Happy Hour happens nearly every day throughout the festival.

With a February 26 opening celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2013, CineKink is a film festival and screening series that celebrates and explores a wide diversity of sexuality, and encourages the positive depiction of sexuality in film and television, most visibly through this annual film festival, CineKink NYC, and subsequent touring series. Featuring a specially-selected program of films and videos that explore and celebrate a wide diversity of sexuality, the programming offers selections drawn from both Hollywood and beyond, explicit or not, with works ranging from documentary to drama, camp comedy, hot pornography, artsy experimental, mildly spicy, quite explicit and everything in between. In addition to screenings, the annual festival also includes a short film competition, audience choice awards, presentations, parties and a gala kick-off fundraiser, all followed by a national screening tour. The program culminates March 3 with Awards and AfterGlow Play Party.

Starting its seventh year, the Editors Retreat organized by Future Media Concepts has become an annual gathering where highly experienced TV, video and film editors come together in an intensive, interactive environment to network, exchange ideas, share tips and have fun. For five days and four nights running February 27 to March 3 in Rivera Cancun, the Editors Retreat offers advanced sessions on post, visual and audio techniques and features valuable insight into emerging trends and technologies. Keynote attendees have included such names as Alan Heim, Sally Menke, Geoffrey Richman, Dan Lebental and Jay Rabinowitz. Time on this year’s session agenda will be devoted to discussing the creativity, craft and business practices of successful editors. At the close of the February 28 session there will be a seventh annual Pizza and Poker tournament with a chance to win prizes. At the close of the March 1 session will be a “Out in the Cancun Scene” group evening of fun, a night of food, music and dancing.

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 55th Grammy Awards. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it. Looking ahead into the next month be aware that: Miami International Film Festival will be in Miami, Chicago Underground Film Festival will be held in Chicago, Vancouver Women in Film Festival will be in Vancouver, The SXSW Trade Show will be in Austin, International Film & TV Finance Summit will be given in Los Angeles, Records and CD Fair will be in Gent.

Kulturborse Freiburg, Berlinale 2013, 55th Grammy Awards, Noise Pop Festival, are highlights in February’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

The European Spiritual Film Festival of Glasgow is a multi-venue, multi-partnership event which takes inspiration from and enhances the global image of Glasgow. Glasgow Music and Film Festival, in association with The Arches, celebrates innovation in music, film and the culture that unites them. GMFF features a series of one-off audio visual live events, complemented by a programme of music films at the festival. Back for its fourth GFF is festival guide, The CineSkinny. Published each day of the Festival by The Skinny’s skilled team of cinephiles, it is a definitive source for festival information listing, recommending the cinematic gems hidden within the Festival programme and the must-attend events happening all across the city till festival close on February 24. Artist Stephen Sutcliffe is this year’s winner of Glasgow Film Festival’s Margaret Tait Award. The award is supported by Creative Scotland and LUX and recognizes artists who are experimental, innovative and who work within film and moving image.

The International Kulturbörse Freiburg is not a festival, but a trade fair drawing in promoters, producers and experts from the event business to view approximately 170 live performances from theatre, varieté and gala, cabaret and comedy, jazz, pop and rock, world music, dance and performances, business-theatre and street theatre. It has been a meeting point for the culture and events industry followers for over 18 years now. Each year after a new jury is elected it then selects the performers entirely from the submitted applications. The International Kulturborse Freiburg is attended mainly by the following target groups: promoters, agents, experts in the event branch, producers, artists/groups as well as media representatives and those providing services for the cultural business. A new category at the 25th International Kulturbörse Freiburg which will run February 4-7 is the Newcomer Block. In addition to the winners of the Sprungbrett award and the Music award, the Freiburger Rampe, other young, creative artists will have the chance to perform in front of a large audience of experts from the events business. Attendance at IKF is mostly focused upon event agencies, agents, technical support and services in the event sector, but for anyone who wishes to attend the fair as a visitor there is no registration procedure. Tickets can be purchased on site or on the IKF website prior to the event. Staging area and headquarters for the event is the Hotel Stadt Freiburg.

At London’s Event Production Show 2013, over 200 event industry suppliers will be showcasing the latest, innovative event products and services through February 6 to a gathering attending to meet new suppliers, network with colleagues, discover new technologies and gather information at the workshops and seminars. The production team for Dragons’ Den, a BBC television series that invites entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas to investors, has informed the organizers of the Event Production Show that they intend to visit this year’s show. The Event Production Show 2013 will be scheduling seminars and workshops on the key issues facing the industry. Glastonbury Festival impresario, Michael Eavis, will appear on the main stage to give an insight on life after Festival Republic along with details on an event that’s a cornerstone to the success of other festivals across the country. Live Nation COO, John Probyn, hosts Question Time. The panel this year includes: Colin Rodger, head of event management for DF Concerts, Martin Green, LOCOG’s head of ceremonies, John Farquhar-Smith, owner of Flux Events, Paul Ludford, recently appointed operations director for Glastonbury Festival, and Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank, the man behind Bestival, Camp Bestival.

Typically, up to 400 films are shown every year as part of the Berlinale’s public programme, the vast majority of which are world or European premieres. Films of every genre, length and format can be submitted for consideration to the annual Berlin based event. The Berlinale is divided into different sections, each with its own unique profile: big international movies in the Competition, independent and art-house productions in Panorama, movies specially for a young audience in the Generation section, German cinema productions in Perspektive Deutsches Kino, an in-depth look at films from “distant” countries and experimental forms in the Forum, as well as an investigation of diverse cinematic possibilities in the Berlinale Shorts. The programme is rounded off by a thematic Retrospective and a Homage, which focuses on the lifework of a great cinema personality. Both of these sections, which are curated by the Berlin Film Museum, aim to place contemporary cinema within a historical context. An integral part of the festival which opens February 7-17, The Berlinale Talent Campus, is a creative academy and networking platform that brings emerging talent and seasoned film professionals together and offers them a platform to refresh their views, discover new horizons, find fellow filmmaking collaborators and discuss new trends and developments in contemporary cinema and media. The Campus lasts for six days and offers a variety of different programme elements for actors, directors, cinematographers, distributors, editors, film critics, producers, production designers, screenwriters, sound designers and composers.

The 55th Grammy Awards are set to go live February 10 from Los Angeles. The GRAMMYs are a peer-presented award to honor 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 honor this excellence in the recording arts and sciences. The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will take place in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in high definition and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 8 pm (ET/PT). The show also will be carried on radio worldwide via Westwood One, and covered online at GRAMMY.com, CBS.com, and on YouTube. For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy’s social networks on Twitter and Facebook. The GRAMMY Foundation® will host “Play It Forward: A Celebration Of Music’s Evolution And Influencers” — the 15th Annual GRAMMY Foundation Music Preservation Project — featuring live musical performances and archival footage from its preservation archives. The program set for February 7 in Beverly Hills will explore the history of legendary influencers in music and the invaluable contributions of those key players, the music they inspired and their impact on the American cultural landscape. The Awards open with Red-Carpet arrivals and closes with a reception. The 2013 ceremony will be hosted for the second time by rapper/actor LL Cool J.

The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival is dedicated to presenting and supporting Irish and international film. Held annually each February since 2003, the eleven day event opening February 14 showcases 130 feature films in conjunction with public interviews, industry workshops and masterclasses. Over 50 directors, actors and producers attend the festival to meet Irish filmmakers and audiences and discuss their work. The 2012 lineup included a special focus on Scandinavian Cinema, masterclasses with Marin Karmitz and Kenneth Lonergan and a special concert of the film music of Danny Elfman. In 2008 the festival inaugurated The Irish Talent Spotlight in order to profile exceptional new and established talent working in all areas of the Irish Film Industry. Ken Wardrop (Writer/Director), Margo Harkin (Producer), Tim Fleming (Director of Photography), Cartoon Saloon (Irish Animation Company) and Margeret Corkery (Writer/Director) have all been honored as part of this initiative. The Audience Award was won by the Indonesian action film ‘The Raid’. In addition, the festival gives its annual Volta Awards for Career Achievement to key international figures in the film industry and in 2012, recipients included Al Pacino, Stellan Skarsgard and Marin Karmitz. Jameson Dublin International Film Festival will form a partnership with The Church Restaurant, Bar and Venue for the 2013 season. The Church venue will play host to entertainment each evening, as well as offering an opportunity to mingle with filmmakers, festival-goers and the JDIFF team.

The Hollywood Post Alliance Tech Retreat is a gathering in the Palm Springs area of industry-engineering, technical, and creative talent, as well as strategic business leaders focused on technology, from all aspects of digital-cinema, post-production, film, television, video, and related technologies that attend from February 18-22 for the exchange of information. Most conference days begin with a Roundtable Breakfast. HPA is the trade association serving the professional community of businesses and individuals who provide expertise, support, tools and the infrastructure for the creation and finishing of motion pictures, television, commercials, digital media and other dynamic media content. After a full day of conference sessions, relax at the spa, play a round of golf, or swim in one of seven pools. Tennis enthusiasts have access to the pro hard surface courts and there is Badminton too. Available dining choices reflect the tastes and trends of restaurants from around the world. At the close of the last conference day – which begins with a Roundtable Breakfast before going into a half day Tech Retreat Conference – guests may decide to stay and enjoy the Hyatt Indian Wells or return home.

This year on February 20 and 21, Digital Media Wire combines Digital Music Forum East and West into one combined event titled DMW Music. It will be a gathering of music and digital media leaders assembled in Downtown New York City to socialize, share ideas, do deals and learn about new technologies and services. Rio Caraeff, CEO and President of VEVO and David Israelite, CEO and President of the National Music Publishers’ Association will join the “View from the Top” panel on February 20. Also on February 20, BMI’s Executive Director, Business Development New Media and Strategic Development, Michael Drexler, will be a participant on the panel, “Digital Copyrights – Broken System?” Spotify, YouTube/Google, Pandora, and Clear Channel will open their office doors to DMW Music guests for the inaugural Music-Tech Crawl on February 21. The format is similar to a bar crawl but with music tech companies instead of taverns. Guests will spend around 45 minutes at each office before moving on to the next stop. An Awards dinner is planned for February 20.

The Noise Pop Film Festival in San Francisco screens any kind of film or video narrative feature, documentary, short, animation, experimental or music video, that explores a connection to music, either in its subject matter, the talent behind or in front of the camera, or with an exceptionally prominent soundtrack. Submissions include feature-length documentaries or features that have music or musicians as the subject matter. This year Noise Pop has partnered with the Sketchfest comedy festival to present comedy and music shows. Promoting independent culture, past Noise Pop screenings include a secret sneak preview of “The Fearless Freaks” Flaming Lips documentary, “X: The Unheard Music,” “Directions: Death Cab for Cutie,” “The extraordinary Ordinary life of Jose Gonzalez,” “This is Noise Pop,” “Look at What the Light did now” Feist documentary, and “Neon Bible” with a live original score by Oranger – Theremin and all.

For two weeks leading up to Noise Pop, from February 14 to February 24, Noise Pop will take over 1772 Market Street and create a multi-dimensional experience, with music, entertainment and culinary events. This space will serve as a central hub for Noise Pop as it gears up for its 2013 festival which runs February 26 to March 3. The Noise Pop Film Series runs concurrent with the music festival at various theaters throughout San Francisco co-curated by SCORED to celebrate sound and music in films — all focusing on music. Noise Pop Culture Club returns for a third year celebrating the creative process of visionary artists in the music, film, art, design, food and technology communities. It stimulates the discussion of new ideas and collaborations and is mostly about inspiration and the DIY indie spirit. A Noise Pop Happy Hour happens nearly every day throughout the festival.

With a February 26 opening celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2013, CineKink is a film festival and screening series that celebrates and explores a wide diversity of sexuality, and encourages the positive depiction of sexuality in film and television, most visibly through this annual film festival, CineKink NYC, and subsequent touring series. Featuring a specially-selected program of films and videos that explore and celebrate a wide diversity of sexuality, the programming offers selections drawn from both Hollywood and beyond, explicit or not, with works ranging from documentary to drama, camp comedy, hot pornography, artsy experimental, mildly spicy, quite explicit and everything in between. In addition to screenings, the annual festival also includes a short film competition, audience choice awards, presentations, parties and a gala kick-off fundraiser, all followed by a national screening tour. The program culminates March 3 with Awards and AfterGlow Play Party.

Starting its seventh year, the Editors Retreat organized by Future Media Concepts has become an annual gathering where highly experienced TV, video and film editors come together in an intensive, interactive environment to network, exchange ideas, share tips and have fun. For five days and four nights running February 27 to March 3 in Rivera Cancun, the Editors Retreat offers advanced sessions on post, visual and audio techniques and features valuable insight into emerging trends and technologies. Keynote attendees have included such names as Alan Heim, Sally Menke, Geoffrey Richman, Dan Lebental and Jay Rabinowitz. Time on this year’s session agenda will be devoted to discussing the creativity, craft and business practices of successful editors. At the close of the February 28 session there will be a seventh annual Pizza and Poker tournament with a chance to win prizes. At the close of the March 1 session will be a “Out in the Cancun Scene” group evening of fun, a night of food, music and dancing.

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 55th Grammy Awards. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it. Looking ahead into the next month be aware that: Miami International Film Festival will be in Miami, Chicago Underground Film Festival will be held in Chicago, Vancouver Women in Film Festival will be in Vancouver, The SXSW Trade Show will be in Austin, International Film & TV Finance Summit will be given in Los Angeles, Records and CD Fair will be in Gent.

SXSW 2012, Martial Arts Film Festival, Variety and Academy TV Summit, Khayal Groove: East meets West, are highlights in March’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival will have many special events for its festival goers to take part in when it opens March 7-11. And it will actually utilize San Luis Obispo’s Hearst Castle to relive Hollywood heydays of the 1920s and ’30s for one night at the “Hollywood to Hearst Castle” event on March 9. Photographer Timothy White, the SLOIFF’s recipient of the inaugural Spotlight Award, will start off the evening’s festivities by flying onto Hearst Ranch’s private airfield just as William Randolph Hearst’s high-profile Hollywood friends once did. This year, there is a focus on women filmmakers and issues. And there is a “Hollywood and Vines” series, pairing great classics with local wine and food. Next, be prepared to join the sing-along while enjoying the 1958 musical classic, ‘South Pacific’ on the big screen at the Galaxy Theatres for another special event. Wear a costume and compete for prizes at the reception in the VIP Lounge (age 21+) or just come for the film which will be screened in the VIP and regular theatres (all ages welcome).

Khayal Groove is Aparna Panshikar on Vocals and Jayen Varma on Bass Guitar in collaboration with various artistes and bands across the world.

The Third Guangzhou International Theater and Cinema Facilities Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, March 9-11, is a full presentation platform for the theater and cinema facility industry that includes – but is not limited to – the categories: Cinema Playing Equipment, Theater and Cinema Furniture and Decoration Materials, Theater and Cinema Lighting and Sound Equipment, Cinema services, Film Production and Shooting.

In Austin, the much anticipated SXSW 2012 gets underway this year opening March 9 running through March 18. New festival offerings from last year that won praise will be given greater visibility this year, such as the combined SXSW Trade Show for the Creative Industries, which draws from all the events – Interactive, Film and Music. Other show features like the SXSW Block Party is modeled after a traditional pub crawl. Instead of bars, SXSW Registrants move between participating exhibitors for complementary refreshments and networking. SXsaloon plays host to the Trade Show Happy Hour is at 5 pm daily, and is generally used as a place to get a drink, meet friends, plan a schedule, and just recharge before hitting the trade show floor again. Next Stage is the destination for entertainment on the first floor. Like a variety show, this stage hosts panelists, filmmakers, comedians, and musicians that delivers a sample of all that is happening during SXSWeek. To enhance the networking experience, SXSW created a dedicated meeting space in the business epicenter of SXSW, the Trade Show Meet Up Pavilion. A First-timers Guide to the SXSW Experience is available online for download.

The Universal Martial Arts Film Festival (UMAFF) will be held March 17 in Paris, showcasing films that explore the martial practice, philosophy, aesthetic and spirituality. The Universal Martial Arts Film Festival (UMAFF) encourages an emerging generation of filmmakers whose films treat various aspects of the field of the martial arts; those of the arts of combat and the arts of health. The purpose being to collect and to protect the collective memory, to educate the public, to share and to pass on the knowledge. Short demonstrations of: Wushu, Aikido, Tai Chi, and other forms, will take place between each projection. At the end of the screenings, all viewers can vote for the People’s Choice Award. An evening cocktail reception will close the festival.

Hollywood Shorts Film Festival is a monthly screening program that celebrates the outstanding achievements in short filmmaking and animation from both U.S. and international directors and their creative teams. This month screenings run in Hollywood from March 18-20. Over 300 short and animated films are programmed year round, and submissions are accepted year round. Hollywood Shorts began on October 9, 1998 at a popular live music venue in Los Angeles called “the Joint”. The overflowing crowd packed the house, and filled the sidewalk outside watching films by David Fickas and Mark Kelly, Frank Tota, and animation by Joe Pearson. The annual Spotlight Screenings began as part of our monthly series. These events include: African American ShortsFest at The American Cinematheque in February, Women Filmmakers Shortsfest in Spring, Animation Shortsfest in the Fall.

Interested parties can join Variety and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation in an exploration of how tradiitional television revenue models are beng forced to adapt to the new disruptive technologies, and then to identify ways to continue to produce quality content and adjust financially to the new reality. Attending the 2012 TV Summit which will only be for one day on March 20 in Los Angeles will also benefit the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation’s wide range of educational activities. Established in 1959 as the charitable arm of the Television Academy, the Television Academy Foundation is behind such programs as the Archive of American Television, the Student Internship Program, the College Television Awards, the Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarship and the TV Faculty Seminar. An evening cocktail and networking reception closes the day’s activities.

Bloomberg BNA | CITE, formed specifically to educate U.S. and foreign multinationals and companies engaged in international business on the tax, legal and accounting aspects of doing business overseas, presents the International Film and TV Finance Summit in Los Angeles, March 22-23. The Summit focuses on obtaining finance and tax incentives to get independent and studio films made, distributed and marketed in today’s market place. In brief, the Summit agenda will: explain ways to generate financial support for films utilizing brand integration and product placement. Reveal how sales agents and distributors can generate the domestic and foreign distribution needed to make a film a success. The role of banks and specialized finance companies in providing financing for film production, and other industry related topics.

An innovator of Indian Slap Bass style, who is currently recording the first album with his band Khayal Groove featuring classical vocalist Aparna Panshikar, Jayen Varma (http://www.jayenvarma.net/) will have a series of engagements throughout March including song composing, recording sessions, master class workshops, and a major recital at Kochi’s largest performing arts venue, JT Performing Arts Center in Kochi-Kerala, March 24. In the Slap Bass style, Jayen Varma has applied Tabla/Mridangam finger technique on Bass Guitar. In 2008 The Registry of Official World Records (Record Holders Republic) USA & UK, declared him the world’s Fastest percussive bassist.

The Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF) celebrates its 10th Anniversary edition showcasing international women directors from around the globe when it launches its festival in Toronto, from March 28 through April 1. The FeFF selectively presents a few short films co-directed by a male/female team annually. The Script Development Program is open to female and male writers with the provision that the script features a female protagonist. All panel discussions, script readings, industry events, receptions and the Closing Awards will take place at the Novotel Toronto Centre.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely read languages. Also this month is a new undertaking to offer the news summary in various translated versions, viewable as a .pdf document and delivered via file sharing and content deliver network protocols among other means. Gazing ahead into the next month March, be aware that… The epicurean oriented Sonoma International Film Festival blending the pleasures of fine food, film and award winning wines will be in Sonoma. The Palm Beach International Film Festival comes to Palm Beach. Fantastic Planet: Sydney International Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film Festival, will be in Sydney. London Independent Film Festival for micro-budget and no-budget films launches in London. NAB 2012 will be in Las Vegas. And 2012 International Independent Filmmaker Expo will be in Miami, just to run through some events drawing close to be aware of. And don’t forget that the News and Events and the site blog have translation tools to deliver page content in an array of translatable languages other than English.

International Film Festival Summit, 2nd Street Jazz, Jingle Mingle Holiday Party, Monaco International Film Festival, are highlights in December’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

The annual Bahamas International Film Festival, held on Nassau & Paradise Island, runs through December 4 this year. BIFF is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the local island community and international visitors with a diverse presentation of films from around the world that might not otherwise be seen there. At the festival, BIFF features educational programs and forums for exploring the future of cinema. Panels and master classes will include: acting; directing; discussion on producing, fundraising and distribution, covering emerging trends and financing options. During the Festival, there will be a Rising Star Tribute to Zoe Kravitz (daughter of Lenny Kravitz). The opening night reception features live music by emerging Bahamian artists, including 4ever1 Band, and the closing night reception will promote a Bollywood theme requesting attendees to wear Indian style attire, and will feature live music and entertainment by Bollywood dancers.

Galileo Studio and the Azusa Pacific University Department of Theater, Film, and Television are hosting a conference on the art, craft and business of the short film, taking place in Azusa, from December 2-3. Titled “Much More than a Little Feature: The Splendor of the

Within the Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles, eclectic Matsumoto's 2nd Street Jazz weekly event showcase presents Jazz, Blues, Hip Hop, Rock n' Roll, Soul and R & B artists, as well as open mic opportunities and DJ turntable battles

Short Film”, day one will be presented as a short film movie night, while day two will be presented as a short film conference. Collaborating organizations for the event include the Angelus Student Film Festival, the Los Angeles Film Studies Center, and Act One: Training for Hollywood. A partial list of speakers include: Luke Matheny, Writer/Director, 2011 Academy Award® Winner for Best Short Film, Live Action “God of Love”; Randy Haberkamp, Director of Special Projects at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences; Bobette Buster, Story Consultant for Pixar, 20th Century Fox, Disney Animation, and Sony Animation and others.

Set in the noted entertainment capital of Las Vegas, with only a three and a half hour drive from Hollywood, the Nevada Film Festival hosts several world premieres, galas and parties during its run through December 3. This year’s festival line-up includes both award-winning and world premiere feature films, documentaries, short films, foreign films, animations, music videos, experimental films, a screenplay competition, and an actor’s showcase. Films of many genres will be screened including drama, comedy, action, horror, family and more. The festival also features panel discussions with the filmmakers where audiences have the opportunity to interact. Panel discussions include a range of topics and disciplines such as writing, directing, and producing. Priority access is available for all films, panels, Opening Night Party, Filmmaker Reception, Festival Awards Ceremony, and VIP reserved seating.

Sandra Lord who conducts the long-running Hollywood Networking Breakfast (usually held on the last Thursday of every month) conducts another seminar for this month in West Los Angeles on December 3 — “Taking Charge of Your Career or Business Direction in 2012”. Areas for investigation focus on strategies for guidance and a fresh perspective for the next step of your career planning, resolving common issues of having representation but with career advancement and aspirations still lagging, strategies for those who lack connections or don’t know how to effectively use the ones they have, and more. Although admission is free, reservations are required through an RSVP to the organization’s email address and by providing the requested details in the email note.

As an annual event, the International Film Festival Summit Conference in downtown Austin generally attracts over 300 music and film festival executive directors that are the decision-makers in the music and film festival industry. Examples of attendees include SXSW, Toronto International Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Summerfest, Telluride Film Festival, Moviemaker Magazine, IFC, Bonnaroo, AFI Fest, Atlanta Film Festival, Starz Denver Film Festival, Savannah Music Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival, River Run International Film Festival, San Francisco International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and other institutions that are in attendance for the festival, this year running from December 4-6. For 2011, award-winning actor, Matthew Modine, will provide an actor’s point of view on film festivals and what attracts above-the-line players to film festivals.

Within the Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles, eclectic Matsumoto’s 2nd Street Jazz weekly event showcase presents Jazz, Blues, Hip Hop, Rock n’ Roll, Soul and R & B artists, as well as open mic opportunities and DJ turntable battles. The doors usually open at 7:30 pm nightly and live entertainment starts at 9 or 10 pm. In addition to its original purpose as a jazz club for which it was begun six or seven years ago by one time trumpet player and entrepreneur Kohei Matsumoto, 2nd Street Jazz explores music which ranges from rock to electronic to hip-hop and of course, jazz. Monday nights is a NYC styled jazz jam with any musicians with instruments invited up to the stage to play and singers to sing. Hip Hop and MC beat battles happen on Thursdays. The club features a full bar and late night food from their kitchen.

Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival, running December 6-11 in Hollywood is committed to assisting the promotion and distribution of films made outside the major studio system. The Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival celebrates independent and international filmmaking and is a sister project to the long running Independent Filmmakers Showcase series of monthly events designed to bring awareness to new and independent filmmakers of merit. The Hollywood Reel Independent Film festival will screen its 35mm film winners with special screenings at the New Beverly Cinema, owned by landlord Quentin Tarantino and home to his Grindhouse Film Festival. Films screenings include Q & A with directors and are hosted by comedian Don Takano.

Join Central Florida’s media and entertainment associations for Holiday “Mingling”, networking and fun at the Annual Jingle Mingle Holiday Party in Winter Park this December 8. There will be entertainment, food, cash bar, silent auction and much more. The event is hosted by Women in Film & Television-Florida, and co-hosted by Digital Media Alliance Florida (DMAF), the Florida Motion Picture and Television Association (FMPTA) and Film Florida. Following on just several days later, Film Florida Legislative, Marketing and Board Meetings holds the quarterly business meeting of state’s trade associations for film, TV, digital media and commercial production, December 12 and 13 in Cocoa Beach. Its purpose is to offer to businesses and individuals the benefits of a statewide trade association to promote the creation of jobs in the film and entertainment production industries and to promote economic development and tourism in the state.

The Angel Film Awards, also known as the Monaco International Film Festival, is a celebration of peace, love, harmony, positive energy and non-violence in film and this year will add to the festival program non-violent shorts and features, when it runs December 8-11 from the seaside resort area at Monte Carlo — part of the tiny, prosperous principality of Monaco, famous in part for its posh, high-dollar casino and the annual Formula One Grand Prix. Special screenings of 2D and CGI Animation from across the globe are added to the program this year. Since its creation in 2003, the Festival has received wide coverage from global media and is known for its glamour, prestige, and networking industry party events. Venues include Hotel Hermitage, Salle Belle Époque, Monte-Carlo Bay Resort, Salle Empire at Hotel de Paris and the Pacific Lounge. Red carpet screenings will take place at the new Art Novo Theatre and Press Lounge in the Novotel, Monte Carlo. Built on the site of the old Radio Monte Carlo building, the Novotel provides state of the art projection facilities to view the festival program.

Four journalism professionals based in Colorado — Steve Outing, Vanessa Martinez, Sandra Fish, Mike Lewis — will form a panel that will discuss hyperlocal journalism and its various forms: free vs. paid content, innovative tools and online applications, and the roles of social media in journalism, on December 13 in Boulder. Whether your interest lies in journalism, blogging, social media, or other digital content creation, this discussion will attempt to makes its case through examples, case studies, ideas, and anecdotes on the state of journalism and its ever-evolving role in people’s daily lives. Admission to the event is free but registration is required to attend.

The Second Annual San Diego Christian Film Festival, happening December 27-30, showcases creative, high-caliber films, supports emerging filmmakers, and inspires audiences through the power of visual storytelling. The city-wide event in San Diego will also include  performing artists, workshops and networking opportunities that will make up its program.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media,
Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used languages. In a look ahead into January event dates, there is the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Palm Springs, the Victoria Independent Film Festival, in Sebastapol, Games Summit at CES, in Las Vegas, the very seminal Graphation film festival, combining the worlds of comic books, graphic novels and film with a unique perspective on adaptation, in Los Angeles, the Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, the SlamDance Film Festival in Los Angeles, the NATPE 2012 Market and Conference, in Miami. These and more are slated for the month ahead. Seasons greetings to all and all the best for the holiday period from The Actor’s Checklist!