Kennedy Center Honors, TV 3.0, ABC TV's New Year's Dance Party, Film Florida Meeting, some highlights in December's Media and Entertainment Industry

In Monte Carlo, the Monaco International Film Festival runs through December 5, and the Eighth Edition Angel Film Awards take place as an established art house cinema event recognizing themes of peace, love and movies from around the world, short and feature film, and separate screenplay award nomination. Red carpet screenings will take place at the new Art Novo Theatre & Press Lounge in the Novotel, Monte Carlo.

For this year’s Kennedy Center Honors, happening December 5 in Washington, DC, the selection of recipients to be honored at the 33rd annual national celebration of the arts are: singer and songwriter Merle Haggard; composer and lyricist Jerry Herman; dancer, choreographer and director Bill T. Jones; songwriter and musician Paul McCartney; and producer, television host and actress Oprah Winfrey. The gala will broadcast on CBS on December 28 from 9-11 pm, ET/PT, and the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors Gala concludes with a supper dance in the Grand Foyer.

At this year’s International Film Festival Summit in Las Vegas, a special break-out event with members of the Austin Film Festival staff will discuss the organization and operation of their annual eight day festival and conference as well as their year round events. Another break-out event, “Festivals Impact on Social Change and Culture,” a group of experienced panelists will address the impact film festivals have on the way we see the world. There will also be an Opening Cocktail Reception on the Exhibit Floor, and the "Dinner With Strangers" event at this annual event that runs December 5-7.

Every Monday, a singers search and open mic is held in Manhattan, at a noted Broadway lounge right around the corner from the David Letterman show. Talented newcomers and experienced singers are all welcome. A pianist is resident or bring your background tracks or CDs. The showcase, “Gotta Sing!”, which continues on December 6 is open to the public, inclusive of all ages and all styles, and is produced by the long-running showbiz team of Billy Shepard and Judi Jourdan who also produce their own television show "How to Succeed in Show Business By Really Trying" shown on Time Warner Cable every Tuesday at noon on channel 56.

The One Mic Nite Open Talent Showcase is another performer’s open mic, and a blend of indie music or dance, theatre, poetry, and art of a decidedly urban influence, backed by the grooves of the resident Artist DJ on the turnatables. The open jam session, preceded only by the house band, is an Open Mic acoustic-style event, and an evening of informal networking for artists of all kinds presented by industry veteran Marcos Luis starting after 9:30 pm and currently being presented from a venue on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

Tbilisi International FilmFestival, founded in 2000, is a registered organization of “Prometheus Cinema Art Centre”. As a diverse cultural event the festival is directed toward familiarizing the Georgian public with new trends of world cinema and promoting development of the Georgian film industry. The festival is partnered by Georgian National Film Center, Ministry of culture, monuments protection and sports, Association of Independent Filmmakers of South Caucasia, Georgian Events Company, “Hot Chocolate” and “Kino” magazines. Goethe Institute together with the Georgian-German company Medea present a program of new German films “Made in Germany” on an annual basis. A French films show is also held within the framework of the festival with Dumas French Culture Centre assistance. This year’s festival runs December 6-12.

This year’s TV 3.0 Innovations in TV Content and Delivery Conference in Los Angeles, December 7-8, enables you to hear and network with over 50 expert speakers from across the TV and content value chain, who will present and debate the latest innovations in TV and content delivery. Some keynote speakers include: Verizon Communications' Senior Vice President, Eric Bruno; President of CBS Vision, David Poltrack; ESPN Vice President, Bryan Burns. The TV Innovation Awards, Reception, Awards Presentations, and After Party, features complimentary cocktails, hor d'oeurves, carving stations, and networking.

Winter Park’s Jingle Mingle, an annual holiday event assembling Central Florida's media and entertainment associations for the long-running holiday "Mingling", networking, fun. entertainment, food, cash bar, silent auction and more, happens this year on December 8. 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.

From December 8-10, you can gather your dancing friends and head down to a Hollywood ABC TV studio to dance (club style) on national television. This casted show is taped in advance so you can actually watch yourself on TV as you ring in the new year of 2011. Free giveaways and prizes are included in this New Year’s event to be hosted by Fergie. Noted performers scheduled to appear include: Jason Derulo, Natasha Bedingfield, Drake, Mike Posner, Far East Movement, Jennifer Hudson, La Roux, Train, Avril Lavigne, Willow Smith (featured artists subject to change). Dress code is classy to hot cocktail, and you should be prepared to submit your date of birth, and photo ID. Contact Beverly Hills based Talents Connection (talentsconnection#at#yahoo.com or 877-228-6778) for arrangements and more info.

A New York MPSE Sound Show, produced by the Motion Picture Sound Editors organization and Manhattan Edit Workshop, takes you behind the scenes of a major motion picture to understand the intricate sound work crafted by the movie’s team of audio artists. In this December 9 session the group will explore the sound design of Paramount Pictures’ Shutter Island, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Excerpts from the movie will be presented with special “pre-dub” mixes to illustrate the variety of elements used to create this particular sonic environment of the film.

Film Florida is a not-for-profit group that assumes a leadership role in Florida's film and entertainment industries by representing a coalition of interests, including private industry, local film commissions, industry associations and labor organizations, holds its Quarterly Marketing and Business Meeting, December 9-10 in Key West. Working closely with the Florida Governor's Office of Film and Entertainment, 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.

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 any chosen language. A look ahead into January's event dates can help you prepare for the Palm Springs International Film Festival, opening January 6; Flickerfest 2011, opening January 7; the Sundance Film Festival opening January 20 in Park City. The latest Video News Summary presentation now running showcases the talents of: AMSTELLARDAM’s teaser for The Lonely Sound, Gilli Moon’s album release of, The Stillness, the pre-feature trailer for dark docudrama, Nitrate, GuerrillaMonster Films’ Grindhouse flick, Cigarette Girl. Past videos from the monthly video news summary are archived on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video. Happy Holidays to all our readers from The Actor’s Checklist!

Latin Grammy Awards, Miami Music Festival, InfoComm Asia 2010, Dubai International Convention, Highlight November Media and Entertainment Industry Networking Events

The sprawling American Film Market (AFM) practically took over the beach front area at Santa Monica beach. Run in conjunction with the AFI Fest film event, the AFM is a marketplace, and not a convention, where production and distribution deals are closed.  The AFM transforms The Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, the Le Merigot Beach Hotel, and many other venues along the Santa Monica beach front area into a busy marketplace where 23 screens on the Santa Monica Promenade and the surrounding community become AFM screening rooms for the entire event.

The Oaxaca International Independent Film and Video Festival, November 8-11 in Oaxaca, is an official cultural event of the long and storied city of Oaxaca de Juarez, showcasing films exploring a broad range of subject matter and spanning multiple genres. The Festival will also play host to the Oaxaca International Literature Competition — dedicated to providing a forum for the writer to display their talents — that will run concurrently with the film festival. The “event within the event”, celebrates writing as the interaction of a complex of processes-rhetorical, cognitive, social, and intuitive-that develop through social acquisition, formal training, and reflective practice.

Camila, Pedro Fernández, Juan Luis Guerra, Enrique Iglesias, Rosario, and Wisin y Yandel are early names announced by The Latin Recording Academy as performers for the 11th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, November 11 in Las Vegas. The awards will be airing live on the Univision Network from 8–11 pm ET/PT (7 pm Central). Actor/comedian Eugenio Derbez and actress/singer Lucero will co-host this year's celebration. The 11th Latin GRAMMY Awards will be supported on radio via Univision Radio (the official Spanish-language radio network of the Latin GRAMMY Awards), and highlighted on the Internet at www.latingrammy.com and www.univisionmusica.com.

Mockfest Film Festival of Hollywood, November 11-14, aims to showcase the best mockumentaries from around the world. Mockfest features mockumentaries of all types and lengths. Comedic, dramatic, and experimental mockumentaries are showcased at the festival, including works from the past, present and future. An 80s theme kick-off party will happen at Pangaea. Closes with Awards Ceremony, Sunday at 6:30 pm.

The Miami Music Festival conference, November 12-13, for emerging artists is a series of panels, master classes, workshops and interactive sessions designed to give musicians hands-on instruction and information about navigating the new music industry. While focusing on, all major genres, the MMF conference offers sessions on music creation, performance, publishing, recording technology and live sound, law and more. MMF takes place during the newly arranged Live Music Month in Miami and will include two daytime sessions on five stages in Bayfront Park and a show at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. Conference events will feature A&R executives, producers, music publishing and touring executives, entertainment attorneys, leading technology developers, media and marketing executives, radio program directors, film music supervisors, advertising executives and other buyers of music. An all-ages daytime BBQ on Saturday and Sunday features performances at various stages at Bayfront Park.

ASCAP and Music Unites, a non-profit organization supporting musical artists and professionals through performance and education opportunities, have teamed up to present four workshops to offer insight on integral aspects of the music business. Beginning November 16 in New York, the first of the four sessions will focus on music publishing and will feature a panel of executives from EMI Music, Downtown Music Publishing and Shapiro Bernstein. Each workshop will consist of an hour long panel discussion followed by a 20 minute Q&A session. Cantora Records’ Savoir Adore is scheduled to end the first evening with a live performance.

InfoComm Asia 2010 in Hong Kong, November 17-19, presents an opportunity for AV distributors and systems integrators, as well as business operators and IT managers, to find out how to leverage AV technology in corporate or marketing strategies for the goal of optimizing business success. Conference attendees can expect to see the latest AV technology, applied in diverse industries e.g. digital signage and video walls used in retail malls and transit halls; sound, visual and data integration systems for command and control centers in transportation, defense and security; interactive e-boards for classrooms and training centers; collaborative conferencing equipment and fittings for corporate boardrooms; multiple screen presentation systems, complete with state-of-the-art sound and lighting effects for fixed installation and staged events.

Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, located in Tallinn, November 19 through December 5, combines a feature film festival with sub-festivals of animated films, student films and children/youth films. The festival aims to present its audiences with a comprehensive selection of world cinema, with the emphasis on European films, and providing an atmosphere for interaction between the audience, Estonian filmmakers and colleagues from abroad. The Black Market Industry Screenings at the festival further cooperation on both sides of the Eastern border of European Union (EU) and Nordic countries, and give filmmakers visibility and access to the bigger audiovisual markets around the world. In addition to the Black Market, a Literary rights market "Books To Films" will be presenting, promoting film literature from Estonia, Latvia. Lithuania, Finland, Russia, Georgia and Ukraine. Up to 14 titles will be selected and presented to possible producers and filmmakers who are looking for new ideas.

In 1973, legendary music show host Dick Clark created the American Music Awards to pay tribute to the top musicians who ruled the album charts, topped national sales, and assembled legions of devoted followers. Going into its 37th year this November, the show has honored hundreds of artists with the AMA trophy, allowing the best and brightest stars in the music business to shine. This year the 2010 American Music Awards will air live from the Nokia Theater, Sunday, November 21, in Los Angeles,  at 8 pm on the ABC Television network.

There will be three separately themed entertainment industry conventions taking place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, opening November 29. MyContent is a marketplace for producing, co-producing, selling, buying and distributing entertainment content, especially geared to professionals involved in the TV, film, animation, kids programs, documentary, mobile and internet content, comics and digital media industry. The Dubai International Character and Licensing Fair conducts the Third Dubai International Character & Licensing Fair dedicated to trade events in the Middle East for production, marketing and licensing of cartoon characters, animation, logos, films, brands, arts and designs. The Third Dubai World Game Expo is devoted to introduce a wide variety of computer games, including entertaining video games, online gaming, mobile games, edutainment and infotainment software, game related hardware, and next-generation platforms.

Government Video Expo attracts a regional contingent of video production, post and broadcast professionals, running November 30 through December 2. The DC based conference is structured for production and post production professionals. In cooperation with GVExpo, the DC Film Alliance has created a special space on the GV Expo Exhibit Floor for the Washington, DC regional film, video and media arts community to come together complete with a screening room and coffee house. If you want to network with government video producers who hire outside contractors for their projects the “Meet the Government Producers” (MGP) panel hosted by TIVA-DC will take place at the event.

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 www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert its contents into any chosen language. A look ahead into December’s event dates can help you prepare for the International Movie Trailer Festival, in Los Angeles, December 1-2, the International Film Festival Summit, December 5-7 in Las Vegas,  and the annual holiday Jingle Mingle in Winter Park, on December 8. The latest Video News Summary presentation now running showcases the talents of: AMSTELLARDAM’s teaser for The Lonely Sound, Gilli Moon’s album release of, The Stillness, pre-feature trailer for dark docudrama, Nitrate, GuerrillaMonster Films’ Grindhouse flick, Cigarette Girl. Past videos from the monthly video news summary are archived on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video which serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.

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

In Cannes, the annual MIPCOM event is known among industry professionals for creating, co-producing, buying, selling, financing and distributing entertainment content across all platforms. At this year’s event, which runs through October 8, "The Connected Experience" showcases trend-setters and innovators in the industry that will provide unique perspectives on how they see the new digital future unfolding, and in "Engaging Your Audience Through Social Media", Facebook’s Joanna Shields will share her vision of future business models for Facebook content.

Now in its 15th year, Durango Songwriter’s Expo is a bi-annual musical event held in Colorado and in Santa Barbara, wine country. The October 7-9 event in Broomfield promises golf enthusiasts among its songwriting workshop participants a 27-hole championship golf course, as well as the Mokara Spa for use of massage, body treatment, sauna, fitness room, steam room and inhalation room. As usual, Expo enrollment is limited to 200 participants to provide greater attention from the music industry professionals conducting the sessions.

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

ShowBiz Expo is the annual event held on both West Coast and East Coast presenting many opportunities to network, build contacts, and be cast in upcoming productions. This month the show is in New York for one day on October 9. Auditions at ShowBiz Expo have a limited number of appointments available and must be made at Casting Registration upon entering the Expo. A VIP networking after-party, with open bar and hors d`oeuvres, follows the Expo event. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page which now has a language translation button to convert its contents into any chosen language. The companion video news summary can be found on the podcast blog as well as on the most popular video sharing sites. A look ahead into November's event dates can help you get ready for the American Film Market, on November 3-10, and American Film Institute Fest, November 4-11, both in Los Angeles. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter. Streaming video can now be played directly into your Real Media Player, and your Windows Media Player. Past video from the monthly video news summary is archived on the Free Home Video Showcase which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.

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

Popkomm 2010, SCENEPR!, Film Society of Lincoln Center, Pop Montreal, Highlight September Media and Entertainment Industry Networking Events

The 67th Venice Film Festival will premiere the anticipated new action film, Machete, conceived as an expansion of the faux Grindhouse trailer, directed by Robert Rodriguez with Ethan Maniquis. The International Jury for the Competition at the 67th Venice International Film Festival has been selected, with American director and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino as president. American Director Julie Taymor’s The Tempest has been chosen as the closing night film (Out of Competition) for the close of the festival, September 11.
Each year the Salento International Film Festival introduces filmmakers worldwide to the Salento area's resources, while celebrating the history and future of the film industry. This year the guest country is Mexico, and to celebrate the bicentenary of Mexican independence from Spain (1810 - 2010), and the centenary of Mexican revolution (1910-2010), Salento International Film Festival under the guidance of the Mexican Embassy in Italy will dedicate ample resources to the Mexican culture represented by its folklore, music, and traditional food. A traditional Mexican Fiesta Party happens September 3 while the festival continues till September 12.
UNESCO, the UN Office for Partnerships, and Wheel Houz combine efforts on International Literacy Day, Wednesday, September 8, for the Symposium, "Literacy: An Essential Foundation for Development" to be moderated by CBS News Chief National Correspondent and author, Bryon Pitts. Speakers include Laura Bush, Honorary Ambassador for the UN Literacy Decade; Irina Bokova, Director-General, UNESCO; and Jacob Atem, Founder, Home at Southern Sudan Health Care and former “Lost Boy of Sudan.” and creations by iconic 1970s pop artist, Peter Max. Seating is limited and early registration is strongly recommended.
Popkomm 2010 International Music Business Market and Showcase, presents artists to an international audience of interested specialists from the world of media and music at concerts and showcases in more than seven clubs and venues. Exhibiting labels are in attendance to showcase their artists who perform in all musical genres. There are three activity areas to Popkomm: B2C and B2B marketplaces, conference and festival — the live music segment of Popkomm. In 2010, Popkomm is an integral part of the first “Berlin Music Week”. Popkomm takes place in the historical (and decommissioned) Airport Berlin - Tempelhof, the world’s largest integrated building complex when it was built in 1923, and often referred to as the “mother of all airports”. It is still regarded third largest building in the world after Peking Airport and the Pentagon. The New Music Award together with the Popkomm opening party will take place at Airport Berlin - Tempelhof (entrance hall) on September 7, and the festival carries on through September 10.
The Americana Music Association is a professional trade organization whose mission is to provide a forum for the advocacy of Americana music, host a yearly Americana Conference, publish the weekly Americana Airplay Chart, produce the annual Americana Awards Show, participate in other industry events that advocate and support this genre of music noted as an amalgam of roots musics formed by a confluence of sounds from folk, country, rhythm & blues, rock & roll, but popularly referred to as alternative country. That includes the annual Convention & Festival, running this year, September 8-11 in Nashvillle.
SCENEPR!, a career event organizer and networking hub for media entrepreneurs and professionals working in independent film, launches its first major social event for the month, September 9, SoHo, New York, geared to a crowd made up of musical artists, filmmakers, photographers, models, and other creatives, to enjoy ambient sounds, exchange business cards and ideas. Attenders are also encouraged to bring headshots, postcards and other promotional material for distribution. With an international call for entries, the group is beginning a new short film series with subjects of any genre, shot in HD, titled, Cinematique, the first screening set for September 15 in Astoria. Then, on September 29, SCENEPR! presents "The Main Event," a recurring event series for men (and women) who want to learn how to maximize their time, better their health, augment their careers, improve their looks/style, networking, education, male bonding, professional enrichment, and for fun.
BMI will present its President’s Award to founding member of the Black Eyed Peas, will.i.am, at the 10th Annual Urban Awards ceremony. The BMI President’s Award is presented on unique occasions recognizing an individual who has distinctly and profoundly influenced the entertainment industry. This honor celebrates will.i.am’s work as an artist, producer, and humanitarian. This invitation-only event will also honor the world’s premier r&b, rap and hip-hop songwriters, producers and publishers of the past year’s top urban music, as well as crown the Urban Songwriter, Song and Publisher of the Year. The Awards will be hosted by Del R. Bryant, President & CEO of BMI, and Catherine Brewton, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta.
A recurring theme for this year’s annual Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival, September 9-12, is "Other Places", and about 90% of film selections are non-US productions, helping to fulfill the festival mission of promoting cross-cultural understanding through film. Opening night there's a sunset cocktail reception with live music on the roof of the Mansion House Inn overlooking Vineyard Haven harbor. Friday and Saturday night feature post-screening parties with world music, prepared appetizers, and refreshing drinks provided by festival sponsors. Closing night will be on the deck of the Vineyard Haven Marina where Festivalgoers will hear live bluegrass by Ballyhoo, appetizers by Vineyard faves Blue Canoe restaurant, Net Result, and Il Tesoro of the Charlotte Inn along with libations from the fest sponsors.
During this year's 35th Toronto International Film Festival, opening September 9-19, industry professionals host the "Meet With..." series of informal and intimate information sessions on pressing topics in today's film industry. The sessions give insight into the fundamentals of the business and craft of filmmaking. Filmmakers’ Lounge, formerly the Match Club, is a new meeting space for Festival filmmakers and industry professionals, and the site for panels and industry sessions as well as a place to meet, work, dine, have a drink and talk films. Now in its seventh year, Talent Lab is presented by Canadian Initiatives during the Toronto International Film Festival and is an intensive four-day artistic development program that provides emerging talent with an opportunity to learn from established film artists.
The West Coast Documentary and Reality Conference in Santa Monica, September 13-15, brings together accomplished producers, directors, writers, network executives, agents and distributors for stimulating discussions, as well as networking opportunities. WESTDOC runs two areas of professional interest, designated as The Documentary Village and The Reality Village. Attendees and speakers are able to take full advantage of both of these arenas and to select seminars from any village they choose. The third day of the conference is entirely devoted to PitchFest, a live presentation for Documentary and Reality producers to pitch new concepts to network and development executives for potential acquisition in front of a live audience.
The Oldenburg Film Festival is a non-competitive film festival, and embraces an “open” format for what it screens. There is a cinema-trailer part to the festival that is usually popular highlight, stressing off-beat innovations and ideas to stimulate the festival audience. Another feature of the festival, which goes from September 15-19, “Speed Pitch,” is overseen by the Wirtschaftsförderung Oldenburg, which functions as an economic development zone, which is focusing on the promotion of creative businesses by creating networks between economic development agencies and creative entrepreneurs.
The Boston Film Festival opens September 17-23 this year. This year there will be a 35th Anniversary screening on Opening Weekend of Steven Spielberg's legendary film Jaws, starring Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfus. The festival’s Closing Night film is a special sneak preview of Iron Cross, a thriller starring the late Roy Scheider as Joseph, a retired New York police officer and Holocaust survivor. Evening receptions are hosted by the region's signature chefs and restaurants where filmmakers are able to network, and for the festival’s closing night, special events will feature the recording Group Ernie and The Automatics with a special performance by James Montgomery.
As the annual Independent Film Week and Filmmaker Conference gets underway in New York, September 19-23, the Project Forum offers a meetings-driven forum connecting filmmakers who have new narrative and documentary projects with industry executives interested in identifying projects with which to become involved with at the financing or distribution stage. Another new section, IFP Independent Filmmaker Labs, will introduce and support “under-the-radar” new talents — first-time feature directors who have little previous industry exposure and live outside the film hubs of New York and LA — providing them with the access, mentorship and tools necessary to ensure that their unique stories reach audiences. Opening each day at the Filmmaker Conference, a “Conversations With...” series sponsored by Kodak, features one-on-one, in-depth discussions with luminary writers, directors, executives and new-media experts about their experiences in the industry and where filmmaking is heading next.
Held annually each fall in New York City, the birthplace of modern television, and this year from September 20-25, the New York Television Festival brings all interested parties together to celebrate the medium and to help shape its future. NYTVF's Independent Pilot Competition has put in place a pipeline allowing producers, writers, and directors to showcase their original TV pilots directly to the decision-makers of the industry. Along with the Independent Pilot Competition, the Festival presents parties, seminars, and other special events designed to honor television as an institution and as an art form. Launched in 2007, the TV Festival PassPort Program offers an opportunity for outstanding TV producers, writers, and directors to showcase their work on an international stage through an exchange program.
Opening in Port of Spain September 22 and running through October 2, the trinidad + tobago film festival presented by FLOW and supported by Trinidad and Tobago Film Company, mounts an exhibition of films made in the Caribbean region, including Latin American countries in the Caribbean Basin, Caribbean people of the Diaspora, and international filmmakers that reflect Caribbean culture and way of life both in the Caribbean and the Diaspora. Also, continuing the ttff's heritage initiative, that started last year with a focus on the cinema of India, the Festival is this year focusing on African cinema. Also, this year the ttff will present, in association with the Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brasil, a showcase of Brazilian cinema with Daniela Thomas who will be hosting a mini-retrospective of her work. During her slated time, she will be leading a workshop on directing feature length films with screenings of her work at Studio Film Club.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center opens the 48th New York Film Festival September 24, running it through October 10, in New York City. The Festival includes main slate program selections along with special events, panel discussions, the experimental film showcase, Views from the Avant-Garde, and more. The Film Society of Lincoln Center was founded in 1969 to celebrate American and international cinema, to recognize and support new filmmakers, and to enhance awareness, accessibility and understanding of the art among a broad and diverse film going audience. One NYFF special event will be, Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff, screening with A Matter of Life and Death and Dracula (George Melford, Director) the 1931 Spanish-language version of the classic tale freshly accompanied by an eerie live solo guitar performance by guitarist, composer, and Grammy-nominated songwriter Gary Lucas.
Opening in Nashville September 27 and running into October 3, International Bluegrass Music Association Week, the annual business conference for the bluegrass music industry with artist showcases, an exhibit hall totaling more than 100 booths, professional development seminars, member constituency meetings, one-on-one networking, and more. From October 1-3, certain highlighted activities will be, Fan Fest, an indoor music festival featuring performances by some of the industry's top acts, a Masters Workshop Stage, a Roots & Branches Stage, exhibit hall, and scores of jam sessions. This year's International Bluegrass Music Awards Show happens on September 30 of the event week. The After Hours presentations are part of the overall event, but are hosted by individual groups and organizations, and are ticketed and do require conference registration or a music pass to attend or take part in.
Organizers for the Pop Montreal International Music Festival claim to have an open interpretation of what pop music is, and so it admits a wide range of artists and genres. So as the program opens September 29, its FilmPop category will showcase, Dark Night Of The Soul is a music and visual art project put together by Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse and a host of guest vocalists with a collection of original David Lynch photography, who's imagery is wholly inspired by and based on the music providing a visual narrative to the record. Then, aside from the music, Lil Biz, a small business conference for artists, designers and the self-employed, offers four workshops that are completely free. Puces Pop Record Fair, will be a two day Record Fair in the Mile End featuring volumes of record collectors, instrument repairs and international and local indie record labels. This event runs along side Puces POP, Montreal's largest do-it-yourself festival where over one hundred local and international artists, crafters, and indie record labels come to sell their wares.
The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which will now have a language translation button to convert its contents into any chosen language. The companion video news summary can be found on the podcast blog at http://actorschecklist.com/loudblog as well as on the most popular video sharing sites. Last month the video news summary featured Grey Duck Production's 'The Telephone Game', Matt Oakey of Toronto based music and film producers, Padded Cell Productions with ‘Little Noise’, Indian Slap Bass master out of Kerala, India, Jayen Varma, Parisian film director Vince Bosco with latest work, ‘Beyond Love’, Pop Rock  band out of  São Paulo, MegaRex. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/actorschecklist. Streaming video can now be played directly into your Real Media Player at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/realaudio_realvideo.html, and your Windows Media Player at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/windowsmediastream.html. Past video from the monthly video news summary is archived on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.

Vince Bosco\'s Beyond Love, Padded Cell\'s Little Noise, Brazilian band MegaRex, The Telephone Game, Jayen Varma, world\'s fastest bass guitar

 

 This month on video you will see Grey Duck Production's 'The Telephone Game', due to hit the festival circuit in September 2010, shot using no script, with all dialogue improvised by the cast. Matt Oakey, who plays sets which can bridge Funky, Electro, deep, Underground and Dirty House, presents 'Little Noise', featuring remixes by Nev Scott and Saint George, from the sound stable of Toronto based music producers, Padded Cell Productions (http://www.facebook.com/WhereMusicLives), that creates sound experiences in trance, electronica, ambient music and more. Jayen Varma (www.facebook.com/jayenvarma), awarded recognition as World's Fastest Bass Player in 2008 by the Registry of Official World Records (Record Holders Republic) USA & UK, and for developing Indian Slap Bass, is based in Kerala, India. In 'Beyond Love', director www.facebook.com/vinceboscoVince Bosco stars with Kristina Nguyen, John McNulty, Cindy Cayrasso and Emile Weber. MegaRex, the Brazilian band out of São Paulo that mixes Pop Rock with Brazilian Popular Music performs 'santo.com'' in the video. MegaRex makes a limited time offer to the public to download their music for free at MegaRex's site (http://www.megarex.com.br/) or Sonicbids (http://www.sonicbids.com/megarex) in return for introducing two new people to the band. All past video uploads are now archived without the audio news narration to the Free Home Video Showcase

 

Lollapalooza 2010, PhantomCon, Sandestin Music Festival, MCA-I Beach Party, Strasbourg International Film Festival, Highlight August Media and Entertainment Industry Networking Events

In the South Wales industrial town of Port Talbot, the International Youth Film Festival runs through August 7. This festival is an IMDb Qualifying Festival, and Sir Anthony Hopkins is the Festival Patron. Film makers and friends are welcome to attend the Nominees Party and Mayors Reception on August 6, which will be the festival’s main networking event, where film projects may be openly discussed, and there will also be an unveiling of a brand new life size oil painting of Patron Sir Anthony Hopkins. Located on the banks of Lake Maggiore at the foot of the Alps, the medieval town of Locarno conducts the Locarno Film Festival for new films from all over the world. This year, the Pardo d’onore Swisscom, will honor two esteemed contemporary filmmakers: Chinese filmmaker JIA Zhang-ke and Swiss filmmaker Alain Tanner. And in another ceremony, the Locarno will confer the Excellence Award Möet & Chandon to the French actress Chiara Mastroianni, followed by a roundtable discussion with the actress. Celebrity etiquette and networking expert, Naomi Torre presides over a “Cool Down On Sunset…”, a Los Angeles summer mixer on August 5 where B2B Marketers come to relax, socialize, network, and take advantage of Luxe Hotel's happy hour menu. The evening is organized  by the Business Marketing Association, Southern California, dedicated to business-to-business marketing executives, company presidents, and marketing communicators.

Lollapalooza 2010, the annual musical extravaganza held in Chicago’s Grant Park, August 6-8, features such acts as the Grammy-nominated electropop band Hot Chip. GALApalooza is the official preview party of the Festival, and will treat guests to a one-of-a-kind cocktail party and private concert under the stars of Grant Park. Also, online social networking community Do312 — www.do312.com — is the official Lollapalooza after-shows organizer, with scheduled shows at multiple Chicago venues. Koffeehouse presents its Fourth Annual “Evening of Independence” Concert benefitting MusiCares® with featured performances by Verve/Universal recording artist and actress Katharine McPhee, Island Def Jam recording artist Jon McLaughlin, Ironworks recording artist HONEYHONEY, LA-based indie rockers The Daylights, and two-time Grammy-nominated, Sixpence None The Richer — who are reuniting for their first show in the U.S. in six years. Available VIP tickets include pre-paid parking, access to the VIP lounge with open bar and food, a mention of you or your company in the official event program, gift bag of goodies, and the best seats in the house. Noted Casting Director Helen McCready offers two workshops to take place as follows: Boynton Beach, August 7; Bonita Springs, August 8. The workshops cover: Auditioning for leading and supporting roles; The differences between those who book work and those who don't; Auditioning sides for guest starring roles; How to stand out and book supporting and co-starring roles; How do you connect to Hollywood. Additionally, fully registered attendants will be emailed over 1,000 email addresses of Hollywood contacts active in the industry.

At the 2010 University Film & Video Association Conference, August 10-14 in Burlington, will be world-class screenings, panels, script readings, and new media exhibits. And there is also the traditional Thursday night picnic at Echo Lake Aquarium and Science Center, the UFVA golf tournament at Kwiniaska Golf Club in Shelburne on Friday morning, and then the Saturday evening dressy-casual banquet closing the conference at the IDX Student Life Center overlooking Lake Champlain. PhantomCon is an annual conference celebrating paranormal research and the Horror movie industry. The organizers goal is to connect fans, followers, researchers, sensitives and skeptics with an audience interested in their findings. The Western North Carolina Paranormal Research Society invites all interested parties down to Hickory to attend, and hosts a Meet & Greet Dinner on opening evening August 12. Co-sponsored by BMI, along with the Sandestin Resort and Southwest Airlines, the first annual Sandestin Music Festival will divert voluntary donations collected at the festival to support the National Audubon Society and its efforts to help birds and other wildlife affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The celebrations, which are free with a printed ticket, opens with singer/songwriters at Hammerhead's Bar & Grill, then moves onto Rum Runner's for a jam session, and finally settles into Graffiti & The Funky Blues Shack for a late-night concert. There’s also a VIP Package that includes priority seating and a meet-and-greet with all the performers on Sunquest Cruise’s yacht, the Solaris, after the show on Saturday.

At the upcoming North Park Music Thing - San Diego Music & Media Conference, August 13-14, conference attendees can learn about the music business during panel discussions, workshops and demo review sessions. NPMT will present speakers who are involved in local, regional, and national music – including keynote speaker Kim Fowley, who managed the all-girl band, The Runaways, from the 1970s. At the "Music Industry 101" workshop, panelists will discuss recording a quality demo, developing an effective promo package, building a functional website, booking and promoting consistent gigs, and releasing your first record. Each night following the workshops, NPMT showcases nearly 100 musical acts from throughout the Southwestern United States, at 14 select San Diego-area venues. The Feel Good Film Festival in Hollywood, August 13-15, is a competitive showcase encouraging the development, production, and distribution of short or feature length film with happy endings, that make audiences laugh, and that capture the beauty of this world. Winning projects will be entertaining, optimistic, humorous, and/or heartwarming, and leave the audience feeling good. Opening and closing night celebrations highlighting festival submissions take place in the venue's courtyard.

During the 2010 monitorLATINO Convention in Guadalajara, August 15-18, registered attendees can take part in the "Demolition Demo" in which a panel discusses the importance of "a good composition and excellent performance as keys to music industry success. Producers may register their demos for a chance to have it reviewed when the Panel reaches a selection of demos submitted while sharing their tips for helping the composer/producer to take a career to the next level. Film Florida, which fills a leadership role in Florida's film and entertainment industries by representing a coalition of interests, including private industry, local film commissions, industry associations and labor organizations, conducts a quarterly marketing, legislative, councils and admin meeting over two days beginning August 16 in Naples. At the SCFEO August Film Mixer / Reception on August 17, a discussion on the “virtual” future of film and television production will be discussed by Darren Frankel, President - Stargate Studios, with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages served, in an evening hosted by University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee. Peachtree Village International Film Festival in Atlanta is presented by The African American Cinema Gallery (AACG) & Gipp. Museums, and showcases feature length films, shorts, music videos, documentaries, and screenplays from around the globe. During the festival’s run, August 19-22, for one of the slated panels, "Cast Me If You Can", panelists tackle the subject how to prepare for television and film auditions, followed by a Q&A. There is a Meet-up each night of the festival in the lobby of the host Hotel for networking and drinks.

Media Communications Association-International holds its Beach Party August 22 in Mission Bay Park, and this year provides a full "Tostada Bar" complete with chicken, beef, and vegetarian toppings, with pineapple upside down cake for dessert. Enjoy lawn games, water sports, of course networking, and if you arrive to the party with your jet ski or boat, you can pull up right next to the swim area. The goal of BLUE Ocean Film Festival, as a film festival and conservation summit of underwater filmmakers and marine researchers, is to share the latest insights on what is happening in our oceans, when it runs from August 24-29. A companion community festival shares highlights of the film competition with presentations from the filmmakers and scientists who created them. Other special events will include: "Intro to Underwater Filmmaking Boot Camp", a "Welcome to Monterey Networking Reception", with samplings of local food and wine from the Monterey area, a VIP Gallery Reception for a David Doubilet photography exhibit. This summer, Strasbourg International Film Festival runs from August 27 through September 5, and is focused on industry networking working at a grassroots level to build community involvement and participation. There will be filmmaker introductions to films followed by questions and answers after screenings, industry panels/workshops, out-of-competition screenings, and free filmmaker brunches. The film festival also plans to have special events for students and the community-at-large.

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 www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which will now have a language translation button to convert its contents into any chosen language. The companion video news summary can be found on the

podcast blog at http://actorschecklist.com/loudblog

as well as on the most popular video sharing sites. Last month the video news summary featured Grey Duck Production's 'The Telephone Game', Matt Oakey of Toronto based music and film producers, Padded Cell Productions with ‘Little Noise’, Indian Slap Bass master out of Kerala, India, Jayen Varma, Parisian film director Vince Bosco with latest work, ‘Beyond Love’, Pop Rock  band out of  São Paulo, MegaRex. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/actorschecklist. Streaming video can now be played directly into your

Real Media Player

at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/realaudio_realvideo.html, and your

Windows Media Player

at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/windowsmediastream.html. Past video from the monthly video news summary is archived on the

Free Home Video Showcase

at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.

Tejano Music 2010, Asian American International Film Festival, Casual Connect Seattle, LA Shorts Fest, ITVFest, Highlight July Media and Entertainment Industry Networking Events

Now in its 11th Anniversary, Latin Alternative Music Conference which will be held in New York this year, July 6-10, is geared towards the marketing of Spanish-language alternative music, addressing topics such as: Marketing to Urban Latino Culture, Approaches to Retail, Print Media/Television/Radio, Advertising and Sponsorship, Non-Traditional Revenue, Technology, International Markets, Music in Film, and others. Galway Film Fair, based in Galway and running July 6-11, co-ordinates pre-scheduled meetings between filmmakers with projects in development and invited Film Financiers, Distributors and Producers. Among slated workshops this year, the Actors Masterclass 2010 will provide an intensive interactive environment in the skills, methodology and aesthetics of film acting whilst dealing with all the common fears and questions actors have regarding work in front of the camera. The Long Island International Film Festival, happening this year, July 8-18 in Bellmore, shows approximately 120 short and feature-length independent films from the world over, but also includes panels, parties, publicity and networking opportunities. The LIIFF’s week is started with an complementary opening night party. Opening July 9-11 in San Antonio, this year's Tejano Music 2010 unites the 7th Annual Tejano Music National Convention with the 30th Annual Tejano Music Awards and the 6th Annual Tejano Academy Awards for the first time. Aside from the music masterclasses, Tejano Dance Instruction is one of the more popular Convention programs, an opportunity to learn basic technique of Tejano dancing, or to add new techniques to what you already know.

Future Media Concepts conducts a session on Introduction to Sound Editing in Final Cut Studio on the Apple Macintosh, in Washington, D.C. The course focuses on practical, professional techniques used to add professional music and sound effects to video and multimedia projects. Kids First! Film Festival, a showcase for children's films, TV shows and DVDs from major studios and independent filmmakers, builds on its kid-interactive program by partnering with more than 150 venues worldwide who host more than 10,000 screenings of Kids First! films year-round to an audience of more than one million, with youth given a true voice - as curators, as audience members, as film critics, as volunteer staff and as filmmakers showing their work in the July 15 Santa Fe event. Asian CineVision, Inc. is a not-for-profit national media arts organization dedicated to the development, promotion and preservation of film and video arts by and about people of Asian descent, stages the Asian American International Film Festival in Manhattan’s Chelsea district, July 15-24, presenting 23 features and 71 shorts from international and national filmmakers, in addition to presenting Asian and Asian American films, the festival will host workshops, panels and after parties featuring live music. The final installment of a three-part series examining the business of music, songwriters, and music publishing, will be conducted from a New York venue on July 17, and explores the interplay between songwriting, publishing deals, and recording contracts - examining the differences in copyright protection between musical compositions (songs) and sound recordings (masters).

The annual Casual Connect Seattle, from July 20-22, brings together knowledgeable experts in the casual gaming field to further the casual games industry through networking and learning. For instance, a Pre-Funk Party sponsored by ChaYoWo Games happens at Triple Door on July 19; the Games For Gamers mingle happens July 20 in the Founders Room for people interested in console, indie, and game studio start-ups; the Official Casual Connect Party sponsored by Samsung will be held at the Seattle Art Museum, July 20; the July 21 Mobile Mingle in the Founders Room is for people interested in the Mobile space; and the Official Casual Connect Speaker Dinner sponsored By Plimus will be July 21 at a local restaurant. An Opening Gala for the Okanagan International Film Festival will be held in Kelowna Community Theatre, and a separate VIP Party will be July 24 in the Mon Reposa Luxury Penthouse. The force behind the festival, which runs July 21-25, the Okanagan Film Festival Society, founded in 1998, is a not for profit charitable organization, whose mission is to educate and promote the Canadian and International film industry through film screenings, competitions and professional industry workshops and forums. Hollywood’s LA Shorts Fest is accredited by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, and reportedly, in past years, 33 participants have earned Academy Award nominations, with 11 filmmakers taking home the Oscar. This year, the NXT Stage Conference will be held in conjunction with LA Shorts Fest on July 27. LA Shorts Fest will run July 22-30. NXT STAGE is where content producers, media executives and digital entrepreneurs meet to develop key business relationships.

Expresión en Corto is a state-sponsored, non-profit, cultural event that does not charge admission to its viewing audience and is made possible in large part thanks to: the State Government of Guanajuato, and other institutions. From July 23 through August 1, more than 300 films are screened from 10 am until 4 am each day in 18 venues, which include such unusual locations as: the Jardín Principal (main square) of San Miguel de Allende; the classical open-air staircase of the University of Guanajuato; the subterranean streets and tunnels beneath Guanajuato Capital (where gay, lesbian, erotic and underground films are projected); as well as horror films that are screened in the municipal graveyards (panteónes). The festival hosts an annual International Pitching Market as well. BMI is a sponsor of the Kauai Music Festival, a four-day immersion into the art of songwriting taking place on the island of Kauai. At the Conference, participants can consult, one-on-one, with award winning songwriters, Grammy-winning producers, A&R, and other music industry professionals. In addition, any music submitted can be heard in small group seminars by established songwriters, as well as be placed in the songwriting competition. The Independent Television Festival (ITVFest) is a Los Angeles festival for independently produced, original and innovative television pilots and web-series. The focus is on TV pilots at this festival happening July 30 through August 5. Now in its fifth year, the festival maintains support from institutions like Comcast, Current TV, Brightcove and FX, and the talent of pilotmakers from all over the world.

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 www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. Video and podcast versions of this news summary are also available at popular video sites around the Web like MySpace, YouTube, Daily Motion, as well as on The Actor's Checklist podcast blog at http://actorschecklist.com/loudblog. Last month the video news summary featured Grey Duck Production's 'The Telephone Game', Matt Oakey of Toronto based music and film producers, Padded Cell Productions with ‘Little Noise’, Indian Slap Bass master out of Kerala, India, Jayen Varma, Parisian film director Vince Bosco with latest work, ‘Beyond Love’, Pop Rock  band out of  São Paulo, MegaRex. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/actorschecklist. Streaming video can now be played directly into your Real Media Player at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/realaudio_realvideo.html, and your Windows Media Player at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/windowsmediastream.html. Past video from the monthly video news summary is archived on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.

CMA Music Festival, Tony Awards, Los ...

CMA Music Festival, Tony Awards, Los Angeles Film Festival, Sexy International Paris Film Festival, JazzAscona, Highlight June Media and Entertainment Industry Networking Events

As the Aruba International Film Festival gets underway, opening night will be "Island Chic" themed with a relaxed, lounge and chic ambiance on the beach surrounded by fire pits and torches, food stations, open bar and live entertainment that will include a screening of Hachiko, A Dog’s Tale, starring Richard Gere, who will also take part in the Festival’s “In Conversations With” series. Running until June 11, the festival will also include a Latin Night and a Bollywood Night, where the ballroom of the Aruba Marriott Resort in Santa Cruz will be converted in a Bollywood venue, decorated with draped ceilings, lounges and colorful mandalas, with an exotic menu served “ family style”, open bar with a noted Bombay DJ, and live performance drawn from Oscar winning ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, directed by the film’s choreographer. International Animated Film Festival is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year during the festival which runs June 7-12 in Annecy. The International Animation Film Market (Mifa) runs alongside the Festival and opens with a cocktail sip at Brasserie du Parc de l'Impérial Palace. And at a DreamWorks master class, followed by a DreamWorks Animation recruitment session, Sion Otto and Kristof Serrand bring you behind the scenes of a atypical DreamWorks film.

The IFP Independent Filmmaker Narrative Lab is a program in Brooklyn, from June 7-11, supporting first-time feature directors with low-budget, independently produced films at the crucial rough cut/post production stage. The Labs are an intensive, free mentorship program providing professional and creative guidance to directors. CONNECTIONS: The Digital Living Conference and Showcase is an executive event taking place in Santa Clara, June 8-10, focused on the market developments and growth factors for advanced digital lifestyle solutions, offering recommendations for new business models and opportunities in digital media/content, connected consumer electronics, broadband and value-added services, and home systems. SCENEPR is hosting a panel for Internet Week New York to explore Social Media's influence on both on Film and Television, and how social media is used to launch films, build social communities around TV series and films. Following “The Socialization of Film,” the program of which is a panel/Q&A moderated by Brian Reich, a free (RSVP needed) after-party follows until midnight at SoHo restaurant/lounge, Delicatessen. The Billboard Country Music Summit opens June 7-8 in Nashville, and is co-presented by the Country Music Association. In a key event, Grammy Award-winning Kansas native Martina McBride takes part in a Keynote Q&A interview with Wade Jessen, Senior Chart Manager, Billboard, discussing her career, her take on the current state of the music business, and her personal observations about career longevity.

The Country Music Association actually begins it’s own CMA Music Festival a couple days later, opening June 10-13, also in Nashville. The festival is broken into activity zones with a lot to do, including the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall where fans can connect with the country music artists they admire. Taylor Swift will be hosting “Taylor Swift’s 13-Hour Meet & Greet” at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena during the Festival. Half of the proceeds from CMA Music Festival  have been earmarked as support for public school education, but the remaining 50% will aid flood victims from the recent flooding. The American Theatre Wing's 2010 Tony Awards® honoring exemplary feats of the stage will be held in New York on June 13. The Black-Tie only ceremony will have a live telecast over the CBS Network starting at 8 pm ET, and Sean Hayes, the star of  Promises, Promises, and Will & Grace, will host the Awards. At the Banff World Television Awards, opening June 13-16 in Alberta, the Drama categories at this year’s Rockies Awards will now expand to include Soap Operas, and three Francophone categories will be added to the roster. And this year at Banff’s Canwest Showrunner Training Program, up to five experienced series writers will be chosen to participate in the program which provides further insight into the demands of producing series television.

Manhattan Repertory Theatre in New York launches its SUMMERFEST 2010, where over 350 plays and over 1700 theatre artists have participated. Among selected playwrights offerings, Curveball, by Brendan Burke, is a one act play about a young couple, one of them a former star baseball player, coming to terms with the end of their youth amid the recent banking crisis. Another production of the play will be presented at the Strawberry One Act Festival at nearby St. Clements Church in August. There is an "Opening Twilight Reception" at Hotel Wallea, a "Starry Night MoonDance following at Tommy Bahama Tropical Cafe, and Zac Efron, the star of Disney's "High School Musical" will accept the Maui Film festival's Shining Star Award to open the Maui Film Festival in Kahului, June 16-20. As before, the Emerald Golf Course will be available to golfers, and one-on-one or small group private Maui surf lessons and adventures created especially for festival goers will be available. North by Northeast is celebrating its 16th year as an annual Toronto showcase and showcase for the best new music and music-related films — screening music movies, from concert classics to the latest indie docs. “FM USA” – The NXNE Music Meeting will offer insight into the inner workings of some of America’s most influential radio programs, and in "SOCAN – The Mountains and Revenue Streams", a panel of experts will discuss their experiences in both writing songs, and making money from them.

Los Angeles Film Festival, organized by the non-profit Film Independent organization, runs June 17-27, and fields 200 features, shorts, and music videos, from more than 40 countries, including the Pat Tillman documentary, The Tillman Story, Focus Feature’s The Kids Are All Right, and Revolución,, a collaboration by ten renowned Mexican filmmakers. LAFF also carries over its usual offerings of the Filmmaker Retreat, Ford Amphitheater Outdoor Screenings, Poolside Chats. Eighth Film Palace Festival happens this year June 19-26, in the Black Sea town and resort of Balchik in Southern Dobruja, within the former summer residence of the Romanian queen Marie Alexandra Victoria of Edinburgh. Film Palace puts an emphasis on aiding the professional contacts between showcasing filmmakers and producers through workshops and Film Market: where submitters show their films to buyers and programmers via the Market Video Library. The Sexy International Paris Film Festival’s (SIPFF) opens in Paris, from June 20-27, and its goals are to discover, promote and screen the best independent films from around the world that explore the themes of “Sexy” — sexuality, love, marriage, divorce, lust, romance, seduction, relationships and the erotic — by both jury panel and audience voting. To be sure, The festival follows a code of ethic, with the festival being porn-free and smut-free.

Spike Lee will be on hand at this year’s American Black Film Festival in Miami, June 23-26, to discuss various aspects of developing a film from the vantage point of his 25+ years of experience as a writer/director. The Opening Night Party sponsored by BET Networks happens at Klutch Nightclub, a Film Life Tenth Anniversary Party occurs June 24  at the Fontainbleau Hotel, and there is a closing ABFF Honors Award After Party. As in years past, BET and HBO will have a strong presence at this year’s ABFF program. The JazzAscona New Orleans & Classics festival, devoted to classical and mainstream jazz, transforms the area of the Ascona lakefront with its Mediterranean climate into a European New Orleans, providing ten days of great jazz, running June 24 to July 4, with sprinkles of blues, R&B, soul, Latin rhythms, funk, played by 40 bands of 250 musicians from all over the world and especially from New Orleans. Noted bass player Gordon Edwards will debut at JazzAscona, joining with his New York-based band, "Stuff", singer Roy Bennett, and introducing tenor saxophonist EZra Brown (ezrabrown.magntize.com), performing R&B and soul music of the 1960s and 1970s.

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. Video and podcast versions of this news summary are also available at popular video sites around the Web like MySpace, YouTube, Daily Motion, as well as on The Actor's Checklist podcast blog at http://actorschecklist.com/loudblog. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/actorschecklist. Streaming video can now be played directly into your Real Media Player at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/realaudio_realvideo.html, and your Windows Media Player at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/windowsmediastream.html. Past video from the monthly video news summary is archived on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.

Buddhist Film Festival, GameSoundCon ...

Buddhist Film Festival, GameSoundCon 2010, Festival de Cannes, Jazz Foundation Benefit, DocMiami Film Festival, Highlight May Media and Entertainment Industry Networking Events

Following the Opening Night screening of 'Soundtrack for a Revolution', the Ninth Santa Cruz Film Festival continues the celebration with a “Southern-style” culinary offering prepared by a soul food guru, along with a no-host bar, music by a live DJ and gallery viewing in the Museum of Art & History @ the McPherson Center where festivities take place and continue through May 15. After-Film Parties are held practically every night of the Santa Cruz Film Festival. The Future of Cinema Festival is for high school filmmakers looking to become part of a global community of other passionate, driven high school students in cinema, while screening national and international works of high school students, from May 7-9 in Interlochen. The Second Annual Buddhist Film Festival, Colombo, May 9-16, is in celebration of the birth, enlightenment and the Parinibbana of Siddhartha Gautama, The Buddha. The Film Festival provides an opportunity to all filmmakers from around the globe to showcase their creations on Buddhist themes. The Festival will be brought to a climax in 2011, in celebrating 2600 years of Buddhism, where “VESAK 2011” will be the home to all filmmakers on Buddhist themes. On May 10 in Seattle, popular music innovation group, Experience Music Project, will organize and host the GameSoundCon 2010 Conferences and Seminars for composers, sound designers, audio engineers and others who want to learn what it takes to work in the video game music and sound industry with a focus on craft, technology and tools for composing game music and creating game sound effects. "My Production Workshop in Commercial Advertising" will be held May 12-16 in North Hollywood, as an accelerated creative production workshop on how to create, develop, pre-produce, produce, post produce and deliver a 30 second commercial, with participants emerging from the five-day workshop with a completed reel to be able to submit in future job searches.

Evolving as a business hub  for the low-budget indie film industry, now in its third year — and for this year taking place May 12-23 — Cannes Independent Film Festival (separate from, but organized in conjunction to Cannes Film Festival) is the first major addition to the Festival de Cannes since the Director’s Fortnight in 1968 started with a mission to provide independent films an opportunity to be screened at the world's most prestigious film festival and the biggest International Film Market — the Festival de Cannes. Villa Off the Croisette, the designated CIFF venue during the Festival de Cannes, combines a chilled social space with pool, garden, and is also the location of networking poolside cocktail soirees, meet-and-greet breakfasts, and other launch events. The Festival de Cannes has celebrated cinema for more than 60 years, and this year holds its festivities May 12-24, in Cannes. Festival de Cannes offers programmes and events which enable festival goers to discover its offerings differently, including: Cannes Classics, Cinema Masterclass, tributes, Cinéma de la Plage held outdoors. Services such as the Film Market, allow professionals to meet and exchange ideas: the International Village, Producers' Network and cinando.com, and the Village international, a place where all motion picture-producing countries have the chance to showcase their cinematography within a pavilion. The Ravel Orchestral Study Group Los Angeles holds an open study session at a Studio City restaurant, May 14, followed by lunch. The session — led and organized by ASCAP Film/TV composer Ron Jones — will be an in-depth examination of Ravel's art and the technique of his orchestrations and music, includes a special performance by an instrumental guitarist, and is open to anyone wishing to attend.

Peter Pappas who has been with Valko/Miller Casting doing such series as Malcolm in the Middle, Two & a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, Center of the Universe, Side Order of Life, and upcoming Fox midseason comedy, Sons of Tucson, conducts a May 15 workshop in Costa Mesa. The Media-Tech 2010 Global Expo and Summit in Frankfurt, May 19-21, is an equipment show combined with a conference highlighting emerging trends in the media manufacturing industry and focusing on current optical disc formats and future growth markets such as electronic games, flash memory, and Blu-ray Disc. On May 20 in New York, The Jazz Foundation presents its annual gala concert to benefit the Jazz Musicians Emergency Fund — “A Great Night in Harlem". With hosts Michael Imperioli, Chevy Chase, Danny Glover, and David Johansen, the evening will raise money to assist  jazz and blues musicians in time of need, feature an intimate private dinner for the major sponsors, patrons and celebrity guests before the concert, and the VIP after-party  where performers, celebrities and participating audience gather, drink, dance, and get treated to rare after-hour performances with stellar musicians. The 36th Seattle International Film Festival, a large film festival generally screening more than 400 features, documentaries and short films to an audience of over 140,000, gets started this year with an opening night reception screening the comedy, The Extra Man, starring Paul Dano, Kevin Kline, John C. Reilly and Katie Holmes, with both the film and gala party taking place at  Benaroya Hall with complimentary cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Urban Individualists (info@theurbanindividualists.org), Helene Ruiz, curator, opens a gallery reception for "MASQUERADE": A Multi-Media Arts Event and Masquerade Ball! on May 22 in Fort Lauderdale, an exhibition that will include masks and other art works by artists responding to symbolic and concrete uses of masks related to carnival, ceremonial, spiritual, and other societal appearances of "masking". The evening's presentation also includes performance-poetry reading by Mia Roman-Hernandez and "Masked" performance by Jean Minuchin, wine and refreshments.

London’s Audio Engineering Society Convention is a known gathering point — of learning, networking and business opportunities — for audio professionals and enthusiasts for over 60 years. A slated workshop “Life in the Old Dogs Yet—Part One: Keeping Studios Alive”, gives an analysis of the trends in the professional recording business in recent years and invites a new generation of recording entrepreneurs to share ideas. In addition, Professor Andrew Leyshon from Nottingham University presents his analysis of the changing worldwide recording climate followed by a distinguished panel of recording stakeholders discussing current and possible future recording business models. Competitive film festival, DocMiami International Film Festival, opens May 27-30 in Miami, and in addition to the special youth screenings, expert panels, and awards gala, are three evening benefit concerts hosted by Tito Puente, Jr. who will be joined by Music Concert Director, Ivan Van Hernandez of Radio Caracol, and others. The Mexico International Film Festival is held in the town of Rosarito, situated on the Baja coast, with the crystal azure of the Pacific as a backdrop. There are awards given in several categories, round-table discussions, and seminars that explore the craft, creative and business process of cinema, and there are also nightly live events and parties including a widely anticipated beach party and closing night awards 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 www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. Video and podcast versions of this news summary are also available at popular video sites around the Web like MySpace, YouTube, Daily Motion, as well as on The Actor's Checklist podcast blog at actorschecklist.com/loudblog. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/actorschecklist. Last month on the video news summary you saw new video from newly released single on iTunes - Make Your Move - from UK's soulful, R&B songstress, Bukola. Music producing Padded Cell Productions of Toronto with a newly released art film, Jane Doe. And there was the "spiritual fusion of acoustic sitar experimental chanting spoken word improvisation"  of Scot Aaron and Govinda Schlegel who form Shaman Strings. These videos are now available on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.

2010 French Quarter Festival, NAB Sho...

2010 French Quarter Festival, NAB Show, Country Music Awards, Tribeca Film Festival, FOCAL Awards, Highlight April Media and Entertainment Industry Networking Events

The 2010 International Experimental Media Congress, the first Congress of its kind since the 1989 Toronto Experimental Film Congress, will assemble film, video, new media artists, theorists, archivists, and curators from around the world, who will be in Toronto through April 11 for panels and discussions related to experimental media production, exhibition, dissemination, criticism, pedagogy and reception. The International Film Festival Summit (IFFS) is an annual conference and trade show for professionals from the film festival industry who will be in Amsterdam through April 9 to participate in presentations, interactive panel discussions and networking events, and to look forward to the Dinner With Strangers event that allows attendees a unique and fun opportunity to meet and dine with festival colleagues from all over the world. The 2010 French Quarter Festival, opening April 9-11, highlights New Orleans’ signature music, food, and culture in the historic neighborhood, mostly by a musical smorgasbord of jazz, r&b, funk, folk, opera, gospel, blues, and brass bands, but also with over 105 food and beverage booths located in Jackson Square, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, and the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint, forming the “World’s Largest Jazz Brunch” with local cuisines from the area’s finest restaurants including such festival favorites as Jambalaya, Crawfish Bread, Gumbo, Red Beans and Rice, Muffaletta, Crawfish, and more.

The annual National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference and expo for professionals who create filmed entertainment, and the development, management and delivery of content across all mediums and platforms, happens this year from April 10-15 in Las Vegas. Comic strip icon, Stan Lee (co-creator of Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men, The Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Daredevil, Silver Surfer), will be at this year's event, and the NAB Education Foundation (NABEF) in partnership with the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) and Radio-Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) will host its annual spring Career Fair at the NAB Show. Nailing Jello Productions conducts a short film screening, fundraiser and panel discussion on how independent filmmakers are using social and emerging media to fundraise, market and distribute their films at an event conducted in New York City on April 14. Tours and activities in Wine Country sets the theme for the Sonoma International Film Festival as activities interwoven into the festival's daily screenings, happening April 14-18. Leading off the Sonoma Festival will be the world premiere of the documentary, "Coals to Newcastle", about one of Britain's cutting-edge funk bands, the New Mastersounds, who will be in town for the festival and perform live after the screening.

The Beverly Hills Film Festival, a competition festival dedicated to showcasing non-studio films and screenplays of emerging filmmakers in the city generally recognized as the headquarters for VIPs to the motion picture industry, is now in its tenth year, opening for a run from April 14-18, while treating festival goers to nightly theme parties, seminars, and a charity benefit. Nashville Film Festival, an Academy qualifier for short films, opens April 15 this year, through April 22, and because it takes place in "Music City" it is only natural that part of the focus be on music in films. So in addition to the many films about music and the Music Films in Music City awards, NaFF presents showcases, workshops, and other events where songwriters and artists come together with film professionals from Hollywood and around the world to promote collaboration. The 45th Academy of Country Music Awards will broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas on CBS television network Sunday, April 18 at 8 pm (EST), hosted by Reba McEntire. For those fortunate to attend the Awards live in Las Vegas, the ACM All-Star Jam follows the award ceremony featuring impromptu performances from artists who participated in the Awards show. Mediabistro hosts an April 20 L.A. Cocktail Party for professionals in the media industry.  Conversation will be geared toward the latest media industry developments as party hosts, Write On! Online freelance writer, Debra Eckerling, and Kaiser Permanente senior web editor, Michelle Thatcher, help you enjoy yourself and make some great connections.

The mission of the Rincón International Film Festival is to support and promote culture and the arts in Puerto Rico through the medium of film. Rincón, Puerto Rico is also a Surfer's paradise, so the festival is also looking to screen great surfing films, particularly at the beachfront resorts that will be used as screening venues during the festival run, April 20-25. The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) is a nonprofit organization devoted to a greater appreciation of Indian cinema and culture by showcasing films, honoring entertainment industry performers and business executives, and promoting the diverse perspectives of the Indian diaspora. Awards will be presented on April 22 (the festival itself runs April 20-25) at the IFFLA Industry Leadership Award Luncheon held at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. The show will include performances by TAAL Dance Collective. Championing the short film format, Filmfest Dresden promotes a film category which is mostly disregarded by cinemas and television. This year, Filmfest Dresden is supplementing its film programmes with an extensive range of special events discussions, receptions and get-togethers such as on April 22 when the Saxony Film Association, the German Short Film Association, Filmfest Dresden, the School-goers Cinema Dresden, the Dresden Narrow Gauge Festival and other institutes are holding a reception where people will have an opportunity to get together for mutual exchanges.

As it usually does, the Tribeca Film Festival in New York will host many free events during its run from April 21 to May 5, for film fans and families, including: Tribeca Drive-In, an outdoor screening series that takes place at the World Financial Center Plaza, where you can watch professional salsa dancers, listen to live salsa music, enter dancing contests, and even take salsa lessons, following the screening of the HBO documentary The Spirit of Salsa. Then there will be the Tribeca Talks: Industry panels touching on all aspects of the filmmaking trade, and The Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day. Opening on April 22 until April 26, Palm Beach International Film Festival, started in 1996 to give the area a foothold in the film industry as well as to benefit the area's community schools through grant and scholarship awards, will emphasize its newly formed Friends of the PBIFF, which offers an array of fun-filled events to raise funds and awareness on a year-round basis for the PBIFF. Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival, running April 22 to May 6, is thought to be one of the longest-running film festival in the Americas. This year, SFIFF has an line-up of narrative feature films, live action and animated shorts, television and theatrical documentaries, experimental work, digital media, and industry panels, seminars, awards events, onstage tributes, retrospectives, and the well regarded Schools at the Festival program, which brings an estimated 4,200 grade school students into the festival.

ShowBiz Expo Los Angeles is the west coast counterpart to the show held in New York City in March — but runs for two days, April 24-25. Like New York the Los Angeles Expo includes a wide range of networking opportunities including the Exhibit Hall, Workshops/Seminars, Round Table Discussions, Headshot Displays, etc., and most importantly, live audition opportunities for which there is limited enrollment on a first come basis. MUSEEXPO 2010 will be in Los Angeles from April 25-28, and will incorporate the intimate format that marked its beginnings as organic networking dinners organized by A&R Network and A&R Worldwide architect Sat Bisla, aimed at bringing together friends and like-minded relationships from the global radio, A&R, film/TV music supervision, publishing, new media and artist management communities. In London on April 27, noted film director and FOCAL International’s Chair of Patrons, Lord David Putnam, opens the FOCAL International Awards festivities with a champagne reception sponsored by AP Archive, followed by a three-course dinner. FOCAL was formed in 1985 as an international, non-profit professional trade association representing commercial film/audiovisual, stills and sound libraries. The black tie and evening cocktail attire affair ends late with an after party also sponsored by AP Archive.

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 www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. Video and podcast versions of this news summary are also available at popular video sites around the Web like MySpace, YouTube, Daily Motion, as well as on The Actor's Checklist podcast blog at actorschecklist.com/loudblog. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/actorschecklist. Last month on the video news summary you saw new video from newly released single on iTunes - Make Your Move - from UK's soulful, R&B songstress, Bukola. Music producing Padded Cell Productions of Toronto with a newly released art film, Jane Doe. And there was the "spiritual fusion of acoustic sitar experimental chanting spoken word improvisation"  of Scot Aaron and Govinda Schlegel who form Shaman Strings. These videos are now available on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.