NAB 2015, Tribeca Film Festival, Apps World Germany, Dada Saheb Phalke Film Fest, are highlights in April's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

New Orleans’ French Quarter Festival supports the local music community and only schedules local musicians regardless of the style of music they play. The Festival has over 20 stages featuring every genre from gospel to jazz, from funk to classical, from Cajun and Zydeco to brass bands. All music programming is free to the public. The community festival also features the ‘World’s Largest Jazz Brunch’ and festival food booths operated by some of New Orleans finer restaurants.

French Quarter Festival takes place throughout the historic French Quarter (Vieux Carre) neighborhood in New Orleans. Music stages are located at Jackson Square, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, Bourbon Street, Royal Street, Bienville Triangle, Preservation Hall, the French Market and other significant points throughout the French Quarter district. Music performances are made possible by the French Quarter Festival Musician Sponsors, American Federation of Musicians, New Orleans Local No. 174-496, the Music Performance Trust Fund, and over 100 entertainment sponsors.

From its April 9 start, French Quarter Festival features a number of special events highlighting the unique culture of the region. The French Market Traditional Jazz Stage and the Chevron Cajun-Zydeco Showcase will feature dancing and classes on April 10. Also on the same day, the story of New Orleans’ black carnival traditions: the Zulus, Indians, Baby Dolls, Skeletons and the men and women who carried on these traditions for over a century is part of a film festival. Operatic performances with musical accompaniment sponsored by the French Market happen at dusk.

The Festival has programmed the Pirates Alley Juried Art Show presented by the New Orleans Art Association on April 11. On the same day, French Quarter Festival and the NOLA Jitterbugs present free sessions in: 1920s Charleston, Swing, Cajun Jitterbug and Zydeco dance lessons. The final festival day, April 12, opens with the Pirates Alley Juried Art Show, followed later with panels on Louisiana Music. A Film Festival about French Quarter Festival is presented by Timecode:NOLA. French Quarter Festival closes with Dancing At Dusk.

Now in its 24th year, the Florida Film Festival in Maitland is an Oscar®-qualifying festival premiering independent, and international cinema. For ten days after the April 10 opening, 170 film screenings and special events give film lovers the opportunity to mingle with filmmakers and actors over hand-crafted cocktails and a food menu from Eden Bar inside the theater and other settings. The Opening Night Film screening and reception features "Welcome to Me" and “Submarine Sandwich.” The genre categories for the festival include: shorts, documentaries, features, international entries, spotlight selections, midnight screenings, family oriented programming, Florida themed films, music and retro channels, Tastemaker Picks.

There are scheduled discussions, and on April 15 a “Film In Florida” talk, sponsored by Orlando Film Commission will be an Everything You Need to Know Guide for filming in Florida, from locations, to incentives, and everything in between. This discussion event, which is free to the public, is followed by a mix-and-mingle with industry professionals and fellow filmmakers. An April 17 Filmmaker Forum is the festival’s annual exchange of ideas and know-how, and first hand accounts of trials and triumphs from the filmmaker’s themselves, moderated by Rollins College Professor Denise Cummings, Chair of the Department of Critical Media and Cultural Studies.

And Florida Film Festival is never short on parties and other networking events for their guests and even the public to be part of. Aside from the Opening Night Party there is a Whole Foods Market tasting on April 11 for guests to sample the spread of natural and organic tastes of Whole Foods Market. A Sunday Brunch Buffet prepared by Enzian’s chef is scheduled for April 12. A Block Party with live music for Festival ticket and pass holders provides free drinks and appetizers from select Winter Park Village restaurants. On April 13, the Monday Night Pitcher Show is a free screening for the public on the lawn. Other Pitcher Shows follow on April 15 and 16. The Florida Film Mixer is a post screening discussion as well as mix and mingle with industry professionals on April 15. An invitation only Industry Party at Taps Restaurant Bar and Lounge on April 17 serves craft and imported beers and wine and food.

The annual NAB Show serves the digital media and entertainment industries and is a showcase for next-generation tools to develop, manage and deliver content across all electronic/digital platforms. There will be a sizable array of program offerings from conference and exhibitor presenters. The activity areas served include, but are not limited to: broadcast, digital media, film, entertainment, telecom, post-production, education, houses of worship. New attractions set for 2015 will include Connected Media|IP, focusing on the consumer experience; the Drone Pavilion, featuring a fully enclosed “flying cage” for demonstrations; New Media Expo (NMX) hosting celebrity bloggers, podcasters and digital content creators; SPROCKIT, where market-ready startups present their new ideas; StudioXperience, a live studio using all the latest tools and so much more.

Within NAB’s Conference segment, the Media Finance and Investor Conference is produced in partnership with Noble Financial Capital Markets featuring discussions at the corporate CEO, CFO, and investor relations level around technology investments, economic outlook panel discussions around ad growth. NAB's exhibition/pavilion area - Futures Park - holds a showcase of advanced projects presented by NAB Labs. Expect demonstrations of high-tech media developments in progress, prototypes, and products not yet available for sale from academic, government, and commercial research laboratories in the United States and around the world. New Media Expo (NMX) features bloggers, podcasters, Web TV content creators and social media visionaries. The conference includes more than 100 educational sessions within new media exhibits and the popular Speed Networking sessions. The three-day Creative Masters Series program offers perspective from directors, show runners, creative crew, studio and network production executives as they share insights on: cinematography in post production, advancing story through sound, editor’s role in production, advances in animation, augmented reality and other areas.

SPROCKIT Pavilion at NAB showcases a collection of market-ready startups influencing transformation in the media and entertainment industry. Principals that run these innovative operations have been vetted by some of the industry’s leading media, entertainment and investment organizations to present at the NAB Show. A partial roll call of the companies taking part include, aioTV, a video platform that enables service providers and content owners to aggregate multiple sources of live, on-demand and freely available video content into a single, unified TV experience; Videogram, a tool that allows consumers to get a quick overview of an entire video's contents without watching the entire video from beginning to end; Bcast, a next generation social broadcasting network, platform and application that enables users to instantly broadcast live streaming videos at any time; Yottio, a real-time video screening and trafficking platform for media makers. NAB’s website is the best source to check for a full program guide to the NAB Convention.

The Seventh Annual TV and Film Finance Forum is a one-day conference set for April 14 focused on financial strategies and opportunities within the television and film business. This New York City forum is designed for chief investment officers, private equity and hedge fund managers, angel investors, high net worth individuals, private family office managers, and financial advisers who are interested in learning more about the TV and film business and networking with seasoned deal-makers in the industry. Additionally film and TV executives working on operational, financing, production and distribution strategies are also expected to attend.

Confirmed speakers for Seventh Annual TV and Film Finance Forum include financiers and producers of “Boyhood" and “Imitation Game" along with investors in companies such as Legendary Pictures, Lakeshore and ALCON. Topics to be addressed include: How Television Can Mine Bigger Data and Better Revenue, Generating Revenues on a Global Scale, Keynote on the Value of Original Content, Identifying and Monetizing the New Face of Television, Bridging the Gap Between Financiers and Producers, The Capital Stack Re-Defined, Keynote Conversation on Financing Award-Winning Films, Alternative Investment Views on Emerging Opportunities.

New York Festival's World's Best TV and Films competition honors programming in all lengths and forms from over 50 countries. This event happens in Las Vegas during the same time frame for NAB 2015. The program opens April 14 with Cocktail Reception and Red Carpet Interviews, then Awards presentation, closes with Champagne Reception. Hosted by Rose Anderson, Executive Director, New York Festivals International Television and Film Awards. Dress is business attire. April 15 is dedicated to the New York Festivals Creative Masters Session, South Hall LVCC. New York Festival's World's Best TV and Films competition honors programming in all lengths and forms from over 50 countries.

Dedicated to both the Television and Film industries, categories mirror today's global trends and encourage the next generation of story-tellers and talent: Animation, Comedy, Corporate, Drama, Documentary, Feature Films, Movie Trailers, Music Videos, News, Promos, Reality TV Drama, Sports, Telenovelas, Webisodes, Best Performance by an Actor/Actress, Special Event, Innovation, Technical Production Team, CSR, Best Screenplay, Video Art, and Best Host. There are also presentations for the Lifetime Achievement Award, Grand Awards, Broadcaster of the Year, Production Company of the Year, and United Nations winners.

The Tribeca Film Festival was founded to celebrate New York City as a major filmmaking center and to contribute to the long-term recovery of lower Manhattan. The Festival's program line-up includes a variety of independent films including documentaries, narrative features and shorts, as well as a program of family-friendly films. The Festival also features panel discussions with personalities in the entertainment world and a music lounge produced with ASCAP to showcase artists. This year’s festival running April 15-26 reveals an added emphasis for retrospective (and memorable) tributes. In just one such retrospective, TFF 2015 presents, The 80’s Strike Back at the Tribeca Film Festival: Broderick, Schwarzenegger and Rourke. The evenings program will revisit their iconic 80’s film accomplishments and have a look at their current projects -- all celebrating their world premieres at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. Another very hot ticket item at this year’s festival is expected to be “Sinatra at 100: Film and Music...”

TFF 2015 has called on Tony Bennet, Lea DeLaria, Savion Glover and others to take part in “Sinatra at 100: Film and Music...” a centennial celebration honoring Frank Sinatra’s legendary music and film career. The program is set to screen two Sinatra classics — Some Came Running, and High Society — on April 24. But the centerpiece of the celebration happens on April 21, with an evening of film and music. After a new digital restoration of On The Town, from Warner Bros., the Sinatra family shares the spotlight and there are performances by legendary vocalist Tony Bennett, musician Brandon Flowers (The Killers), Rap artist, NE-Yo, comedian, actress and jazz musician Lea DeLaria (Orange is the New Black), dancer and choreographer Savion Glover, singer/songwriter Alice Smith, and bandleader/songwriter JC Hopkins and the 12-piece JC Hopkins Biggish Band.

In honor of GoodFellas' 25th Anniversary Celebration, the creators and cast members will reunite for a converstion after the Closing Night screening. Based on a true-life bestseller, GoodFellas follows Henry Hill and his friends as they climb up the mob ranks. A standout exploration of criminal life backed by a dynamic pop/rock oldies soundtrack, the film won accolades on its release and has been hailed by film critic circles as the best film of the decade. Now it has been remastered from the original camera negative, supervised by Martin Scorsese. Spend the closing weekend of the Festival (April 24) in amusement celebrating the 40th anniversary of the classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail with the legends themselves, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. To complete the celebration, select Pythons will introduce the premiere of a new documentary and retrospective screenings of their movie masterworks, all weekend long.

The COLCOA is committed to raising awareness of new French cinema in the U.S. and to showcasing them in the filmmaking capital -- Hollywood. Submissions in the mix include: comedies and dramas, box office hits in France and novelties, first features and films from established writer-directors, documentaries, animation features, short films, art house movies as well as mainstream films. Scheduled after the Academy Awards® and before the Cannes Film Festival, the eight day festival runs through April 28. Several features are presented at COLCOA for the first time in North America or in the U.S. COLCOA has reportedly made good selections a year before their commercial release in the U.S., placing the annual Hollywood event on the radar of U.S. film distributors. In 2008, an educational program was also launched to promote foreign films among young American audiences in association with E.L.M.A (European Languages and Movies in America). Thousands of high school students and 95 high schools in Los Angeles County have participated in the program since 2008. In 2010, a master class program was introduced for colleges, film schools and universities.

From Berlin, TV and Multi-screen Screen Apps conference at Apps World Germany will examine the ways in which the TV viewing experience is evolving and growing from the multitude of devices that have surfaced in the connected ecosystem. It will explore the different opportunities and challenges for content producers, operators, aggregators, developers and device manufacturers. The agenda for two days opening April 22 holds ten workshop tracks aside from exhibitions and networking and special events.

Workshop track, "TV and Multi-Screen, Defining the multi screen opportunities for the TV revolution," will have keynote speakers, Prof. Wolfram Winter, Executive Vice President Communications and Public Affairs, Sky Deutschland. The other keynote speaker is Matthias Buechs, Member of the Board of Management, RTL Interactive, Director Online, RTL Interactive GmBH. Following the keynotes, sessions in TV and Multi-Screen breakdown as follows: Industry Overview, Monetisation and T-Commerce, TV Everywhere, Multi-Platform Engagement. The Gaming workshop at Apps World will examine how developers can take advantage of the continued rise in mobile gaming. Sessions will examine the developer and design of gaming apps and the business side of launching these in the market.

Other Apps World highlights include: free to attend technical Developer Zone workshops focusing on a variety of platforms and insight for developers, free to attend Droidworld workshops – dealing with the key issues for Android developers, Free to attend exhibition, Multiple tracks covering the entire app ecosystem from marketers to operators and everything in-between, niche workshops exploring developing areas of the app industry such as TV apps and automotive apps.

Apps World Germany has formed partnerships with local meet-up groups in Berlin for this year’s event. The groups become a big meetup on the show floor and will include: Google Developer Group Berlin Android (GDG), betahaus, Geek Girls Carrotts Berlin, Silicon Valley Mindset, hub:raum, Bitcoin Startups Berlin, BeMyApp, Mobile Monday (MoMo), Web Devs HQ Berlin, UX Designers HQ Berlin, Freelancers HQ Berlin, The Functional Club.

The Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival was established to celebrate Indian cinema and honor the legacy of the late Shri Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, regarded as the father of Indian Cinema and fondly remembered as Dada Saheb Phalke by the film fraternity in international filmmaking circles. It is a not-to-profit, non-commercial, independent film festival, originally begun in 2011 in Noida (Delhi NCR) with a mission to celebrate the cinema and work of aspiring, young, independent and professional filmmakers. A primary objective of the festival is to mark the April 30 birth anniversary of the late Shri Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, regarded as the father of Indian Cinema and fondly remembered as Dada Saheb Phalke by the film fraternity in international filmmaking circles.

Film entries, which are international in scope, fill sections for feature films, short films, documentaries, animations, music videos and commercials. The festival awards the filmmakers in production, creative and performance categories. The festival will offer a Co-Production Meet: Film Market-15; Screenplay Incubation: Script Contest; Master Class on Short Films Marketing, Promotion, Distribution and Revenue Generation; Film Business Meet: Film Market-15; Master Class on Film Funding; 21 Days Animation Project: Short Animation Contest; 5 Shifts Film Project: Short Fimmaking Contest. Founded by the Educationexpo TV, an entertainment research and branding company and managed by Miniboxoffice, Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival-15 is open to filmmakers of all ages. Its intent is to find and cultivate talented future members of the entertainment industry.

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/index.php/news-updates/monthly-event-calendar. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month's photo placement displays the Universal film franchise "Furious7" as it set box office records across the globe in its opening week. Also, Tribeca Film Festival will have a 100th anniversary celebration honoring the film and musical legacy of Frank Sinatra. If the photos do not appear in this post please visit the blog page to view it. Looking ahead into the next month be aware that: Streaming Media switches from West Coast to East Coast East and arrives in New York City as Streaming Media East, footageMarketplace London opens in London, New York Festivals International Advertising Awards has ceremonies in New York City, Casual Connect Asia 2015  produced by the Casual Games Association is set for Singapore, New York International Short Film Festival will be in New York City, Cine Gear Expo opens in Los Angeles, Seattle International Film Festival opens for a three week run in Seattle.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month's picture placement reflects The Oscars will honor the 75th anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz”. Oscar Week events begin February 14 and the Academy Award presentations will be March 2. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it. In a look ahead into next month's calendar events, we have: American Model Awards, in Las Vegas; Guangzhou International Interactive Multimedia Fair 2014, in Guangzhou; the 6th Annual Film Finance Forum West comes to Los Angeles; SXSW Convention, returns to Austin; 6th Annual Film Finance Forum West, comes to Los Angeles; Hong Kong International Film & TV Market 2014, in Wanchai; The Oscars, will be held in Hollywood.

TransVergence Summit, HollyShorts festival, Beijing International Radio, TV and Film, Social Media Brazil, are highlights in August's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Chicago's Black Harvest International Festival of Film and Video specializes in presenting new work by independent filmmakers from Chicago and around the world. This year’s festival includes sixteen feature films and thirty shorts. Approximately 40 percent of the films were produced in the Chicago area or involve artists or subjects particular to the region. As always, the festival features, where possible, personal appearances by filmmakers to engage in audience discussion. There are special events and parties too. At the festival’s opening night on August 5, when Golden Globe-winning, In one planned special event, Emmy-nominated actress and playwright Regina Taylor will be handed this year’s Deloris Jordan Award for Excellence in Community Leadership.

In another Black Harvest International engagement, NBC 5’s LeeAnn Trotter MCs the program, "A Black Harvest Feast", which includes Chicago filmmaker Evan Allen-Gessesse introducing his short film 'Eric's Haircut'. Other festival special events are special advance screenings of 'Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey, a profile of Kevin Clash, the African American Muppeteer who brings the beloved character Elmo to life; and VIVA RIVA!, an action, neo-noir thriller from the Congo. And for those working to get a film into production, on August 14, there will be a panel discussion "How to Get a Movie Made" -- a free DIY workshop covering every aspect of production for the aspiring independent filmmaker. The festival closes September 1.

The universal adaptation of multiple platforms and devices has fragmented audiences and forced content creators and marketers to find new ways of storytelling, branding and fan engagement. The TransVergence Summit in Hollywood, August 7-8, is a conference for content creators, branders and technologists to expand their transmedia knowledge in order to engage audiences across multiple platforms. At the featured Story Hackathon event of the Summit, the session will be a real-time, 24-hour competition during which five teams of four partners work to develop a cohesive narrative across multiple platforms. Open to writers, designers, filmmakers, developers and more, teams will design a cohesive narrative spanning three or more technological platforms and execute a single one. Informative sessions will cover vital areas such as: transmedia, immersive media, publishing, branded content, second screen, storyworlds, over-the-top television. Co-located with the Summit is the very first West Coast Story Hackathon as well as the Start-Up Salon.

8 Sided Films is an active film and webisode production company, based in North Hollywood, focused primarily on the sci-fi genre. The company is presently in production of a full length feature film under writer/director Tennyson E. Stead titled, 'Quantum Theory', the story of Chelsea and Roe, two brilliant, snarky women of science, who develop a prototype with the power to alter reality... until it's snatched from under them by L.D.I., a ruthless and powerful defense contractor.

The cast of the 'Quantum Theory' film project has been screening a promotional webseries showcasing the relationships and humor between the production's cast members entitled "SASSxACCELERATION". SASSxACCELERATION is a mocumentary college podcast in which future mad scientists Chelsea Barrington and Gertude Monroe debate and debunk the science of pop culture and modern mythology. The final episode will premiere live on geek web broadcast 1337

Lounge Live, on August 15 at url: http://www.1337loungelive.com starting time 18:00. 'Quantum Theory' stars Tybee Diskin and Danielle K. Jones join writer/director Tennyson E. Stead on the live internet broadcast 1337LoungeLive, to answer questions from hosts Jennifer Zhang, Xander Denke and the web audience after the performance.

The pubic is invited to take a role in adding critical commentary to the development of 'Quantum Theory' on the 8 Sided Forum at this link. Get Quantum Theory updates and other 8 Sided Projects and find out more about the film on the Forum page at this link. Another ongoing project for 8 Sided Films is 'Man and 'Machine', concerning a professor at an overlooked Southern California university who sacrifices his future and his freedom to create a true artificial intelligence.

With a focus on short film produced 30 minutes of less, the ninth annual HollyShorts festival will feature more than 300 short films in competition. International and local next-generation filmmakers will file into Hollywood, August 15-22, for screenings, galas, world premieres, panels and networking events. This year, the HollyShorts Film Festival will open with a feature film. Festival alumni David Rodriguez’s dramedy, 'Last I Heard', will have its Los Angeles premiere on opening day. HollyShorts is awarding two all-expense paid international trips for this year’s winning filmmakers. The overall Best Short Film top prize winner of HollyShorts will win two complimentary tickets to visit Wellington, New Zealand courtesy of festival sponsor StarNow. While in New Zealand, the winner will get to present their film at a local film festival and meet local industry professionals, along with $1K NZD spending cash.

For the second year, HollyShorts is indulging in a competition with NociCinema's NociCortinFestival 2013, another short film festival of the Southern-Italian region of Puglia, at the heel of the Italian peninsula. Hollyshorts will choose a selection of works from among the films submitted to NociCortin festival to be screened in August at the Ninth Annual HollyShorts Film Festival, and among these films, one will receive the Special HollyShorts Grand Jury Choice Award. The director of the winning film from NociCortin festival will be flown out to Los Angeles to present their film to the American public. HollyShorts Film Festival will include: an opening night ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly known as Grauman’s), fest screenings, filmmaker Q&A’s, industry panels, and private receptions happening in venues throughout Hollywood during the entire week of the celebration.

Pensacola Para Con convention will interest fans of science fiction, fantasy, horror, costuming, comics, renaissance, gaming, anime, indie films, paranormal. It is a multi-genre convention for toys, comics, horror movies, original arts, collectibles MMA, wrestling, but will offer something for everyone, including: anime, manga, film, art, comics, sci fi, gaming, celebrities, and more. There will be celebrity meet and greet, discussion panels, screenings, demonstrations, workshops, and contests. This year's convention, running August 17-19, will help raise funds for American Cancer Society - Making Strides against Breast Cancer. Among special attractions people are encouraged to attend are: investigations at the Pensacola Victorian Inn and Gray House, Seville Quarter Zombies, Geeks and Freaks Masquerade Ball.

Some of the film veteran guests scheduled to appear at Pensacola Para Con include: Gil Gerard (Buck Rogers), Richard Epcar (Animation Voice Actor), Cindy Morgan (CADDYSHACK and TRON), Jason Faunt (Power Rangers and Resident Evil 6), Ari Lehman Jason: (Friday the 13th), Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes, The Devil's Rejects, Star Trek), Theodus Crane (AMC’s The Walking Dead), and many more.

Broadcast & Cable is a trade fair covering television, radio and telecommunications engineering of Latin America. The Sao Paulo event is directed at professionals, entrepreneurs and executives in the production and distribution of multimedia electronic content market, including open and subscription TV, radio, internet, industry, production and telecommunications.

Running August 20-22, Broadcast and Cable will have a focus on advance technologies and applications used in production, distribution, testing and operation of TV, internet, radio and other multimedia/transmedia electronics. SET 2013 Congress will run concurrent to Broadcast and Cable in the Exhibition Center. It is organized and promoted by the Brazilian Society of Television Engineering – SET. SET Congress organizes lectures, talk shows, tutorials and debates with leading professionals in the market, who will be discussing scenarios and highlighting trends, new launchings and the latest developments.

Beijing International Radio, TV and Film Equipment Exhibition is an international trade show -- summit, awards show, exhibition expo -- that will run for five days starting August 20 in Beijing, showcasing products and services related to radio, film and television industry. In October 2007, BIRTV was endorsed by International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers (IABM). BIRTV's focus is on content while highlighting the latest developments and technical innovation inspired by the international media community. Highlighted technology trends that will be specially showcased or demoed during the conference/exhibition include: Ultra HD (4K/8K), OTT, Mobile Media and Pro Audio, trends reflecting how traditional broadcasting reinvents itself. Related activities such as BIRTV Summit, BIRTV Awards, BIRTV Science and Technology Development Forum (STDF), China Digital Film and Video Editing Awards etc. will also offer new insights.

The BIRTV Summit opens with a Summit Report by President of CCTV Hu Zhanfan. Chief Engineer of CRI, Wang Lian, will address the topic of "Smart Media Network" afterward. After an afternoon break, Sun Jian, Vice President of CTVIT, tackles the topic "The Road of Global Production and Broadcast". In other talks for the remainder of the afternoon the topic of "The New Developments of Full-media Integration Production and Operation" will be presented by Zhang Dayong, of China Digital Video (Beijing) Limited. And Bannai Tatsushi, Development Department Minister of Panasonic Corp. touts the "Panasonic Technology Development Direction and New Product Application". John Ive, Director of Business Development and Technology - IABM, closes the Summit addressing "The Broadcast and Media Industry Business Outlook". To promote a better understanding of BIRTV as well as the China broadcasting industry, BIRTV conducts Group Tour projects for visitors from outside China. This will include, but is not limited to: a visit to CCTV or BTV, the BIRTV2013 Welcome Dinner, a visit to a movie and TV production base, a City Tour excursion, attending the Beijing Opera.

The International Film Awards Berlin -- the ifab -- was founded as a non-profit organization dedicated to the creation, distribution, preservation and support of independent cinema created by mostly unknown filmmakers. The awards presentation gives out several awards, including Best Lead Actress and Actor ifab Awards, Best Director ifab Award and the Grand Prize: the Brandenburg Gate Award. Festival venue, The Sputnik, is an arthouse movie theatre located in Kreuzberg, one of Berlins artistic districts. Kreuzberg has emerged from its history as one of the poorest quarters in Berlin in the late 1970s, to one of Berlin's cultural centers in the middle of the now unified city. Presently, Kreuzberg is one of the trendy districts of Berlin, known for its lively art scene, cafés, bars and restaurants and a bustling nightlife.

Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) will recognize siblings Bryan “Birdman” Williams and Ronald “Slim” Williams of Cash Money Records as Icons at the 2013 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, at a New York City ceremony on August 22. The  event, formerly known as the BMI Urban Awards, celebrates the songwriters, producers and publishers of the most-performed r&b/hip-hop songs of the previous year. The BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards will include an all-star musical tribute to this year's Icons, as well as the presentation of the Social Star Award and R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter, Producer and Publisher of the Year crystals. BMI’s President and CEO Del Bryant and Catherine Brewton will share the evening’s hosting duties with recording artist Ray J. Together, the Williams brothers have overseen the extension of the Cash Money brand beyond music: Cash Money Content, a book publishing division distributed by Atria/Simon and Schuster that has released three New York Times best sellers and will be releasing a new book authored by the Reverend Al Sharpton this fall.

The Cash Money enterprise they founded continues to nurture young talent into internationally recognizable standouts: Young Money Entertainment – the joint venture with Lil Wayne – has steered the rise of recording artists Drake, Nicki Minaj and Tyga. In 2012, Cash Money celebrated the sale of 500 million songs worldwide, a feat made possible by its top-tier artists and focused leadership. This invitation-only event will also honor the world’s premier songwriters, producers and publishers of the most-performed r&b/hip-hop songs of the previous year, as well as the presentation of the Social Star Award, and R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter, Producer and Publisher of the Year.

With a focus on social networking, Social Media Brazil aims to bring together key people to its Sao Paulo location to discuss and debate various aspects of social media and its cutting edge implementation. For 2013, the August 24 expo will be divided into two rooms -- one will be dedicated on lectures related to national and international issues and the other room will be based on interviews and discussions. The one-day conference agenda provides opportunities for learning, networking and some fun through numerous discussions and interactive sessions. The many aspects and utilization of social media will be discussed and debated by professionals and enthusiasts from different parts of the world.

Expo organizer, Media Education of Sao Paulo, has an industry focus in digital marketing. The events this company organizes are accompanied by an international roster of well regarded experts and leaders. Social Media Brazil, Social Media Week Sao Paulo and Search Labs are some of the numerous events that Media Education has organized. Dealing with Facebook Marketing Garage SP, Yahoo Hack Day, Social Media Week SP, Search Labs, Social Media Brazil and New Insights, Media Education seeks to apply as much innovation to develop new approaches to its marketing and media strategies.

The Internationale Tanzmesse is a biennial discussion forum, festival and marketplace for communicating and networking in the field of contemporary dance. At the Tanzmesse, international dance companies and artists present their work live on stage and choreographers, dancers, agencies, presenters and cultural institutions network and present their work in a marketplace. The internationale tanzmesse NRW also hosts numerous international gatherings and meetings. The Tanzmesse is a project of the Gesellschaft für Zeitgenössischen Tanz, based in Cologne. The original aim of the Tanzmesse was to create a platform for dance companies from North-Rhine Westphalia where they could introduce and present choreographic work from the region to a larger regional audience as well as to the professional dance world.

The Tanzmesse's goal has always been to form a presentation around performance and discussion. The companies could perform their works as well as talk about their projects in a marketplace environment. In 1997, the second Tanzmesse in Essen expanded the marketplace to include international companies and organizations to become a “World Market of Dance Regions”. As an opportunity for all the professionals and individuals who are totally consumed with all aspects of dance, the event which will run August 27-30 has been structured by the organizers to provide owners of dance companies and cultural organizations with a platform through which they can gain visibility for their projects.

This year Telluride Film Festival will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary as it opens its annual festival August 29 running through September 2. To commemorate this occasion an additional day has been added to the usual four-day Festival, making room for a five-day stretch of special programming and festivities. Telluride Film Festival, along with the Town of Telluride, has revealed it is preparing a new venue in time for the 40th Anniversary celebration. The Werner Herzog Theatre will be situated in Telluride's Town Park Pavilion and become the Festival's most technologically advanced theatre accommodating 650 pass holders.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month's picture placement highlights The Internationale Tanzmesse dance festival in Dusseldorf and upcoming webcasts and other events of 8 Sided Film Productions related to its feature film production of 'Quantum Theory'. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it. In a preview of next month's events, be aware that: AniMazing Spotlight Animation Shorts Festival comes to Burbank, which will also be the setting for the separately run Burbank International Film Festival. The Toronto Film Festival opens in Toronto. International Broadcasting Convention 2013 Conference comes to Amsterdam. Digital Media Wire will host both the NY Games Conference and the Future of Television conferences in New York City. The Oaxaca FilmFest 2013 opens in Oaxaca. Digital Video Expo opens in Los Angeles. The Film Society of Lincoln Center will present the New York Film Festival in New York City.

Los Angeles Showbiz Expo, Cannes Film Festival, Billboard Music Awards, Drama Desk Awards, are some Highlights in May's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

In Brooklyn, the 2011 Summer Series will feature more than 200 new films, all screened outdoors, in front of big audiences in the parks, on boats, and on rooftops. The festival screens comedies, dramas, experimental shorts, animation, videos, short and feature documentaries, political films, and home movies and found footage, as well as many of the  new independent narrative feature films. Live bands at free music events are scheduled during the series which runs until September 30.

The Festival of Animated Film in Stuttgart hosts directors, production companies, distributors and international sales companies to present their animated films in this competitive festival, now in its 18th year. Artistic animation films and the support of budding talents represent the core of the festival. Prize money of more than 50,000 Euros in total will be awarded in the various competitive programs. The combination of the Festival of Animated Film, the Animation Production Day and FMX, the conference on Animation. Effects, Games and Interactive Media, has established the event as an opportunity for financing and developing animation projects. For Festival goers, entry to any events in the Festival Garden is free through May 8.

Black International Cinema Berlin, May 4-8, originated from the Black Cultural Festival, which was produced and directed by Fountainhead(R) Tanz Theatre in 1986 for the first time in Europe. The present-day event in Berlin, presents the contributions of Black people to world culture through film, theater, dance, music, workshops and seminars, and pays homage to legendary tap dancer, Carnell Lyons. The festival focuses on presenting works of an artistic, cultural or political nature coinciding with the general educational, social, artistic and economic interest of people from Africa, and/or the African Diaspora.

This year's Los Angeles Showbiz Expo -- an annual industry event happening on both coasts -- that brings together everyone who works in Film, Video, TV, Theatre, Fashion and Live Events, will be happening this year from May 6-7. To attend the auditions at ShowBiz Expo, please register to attend ShowBiz Expo. If you do not pre-register by the cut-off date and would still like to attend the auditions, you may do so by proceeding to the audition area without a ShowBiz Expo badge although pre-registrations will receive priority.

NARM advances the promotion, marketing, distribution, and sale of music and entertainment by providing its members with a forum for meeting and networking opportunities, information, advocacy and education to support their businesses. At this year's NARM Convention in Los Angeles, May 9-12, a NARM/A2IM Music Business Crash Course will be given on May 9 and May 10. The course features educational presentations and panel discussions focused on the independent sector, and directed to independent music labels, artists, technology companies and students, to remain current in the transforming music economy. The National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) is a not-for-profit trade association, and since 1958 has served the music and entertainment content delivery community.

Streaming Media, New York, is the annual gathering of online video professionals that offers the opportunity to get hands-on time with new products, check out new streaming devices, and network with industry experts, colleagues, and associates. New for 2011 is a fourth track devoted to HTML5. The HTML5 video "conference-within-a-conference" track will run the full two days from May 10-11 of the conference. Topics will include encoding to HTML5, encoding for Apple iOS devices, advertising and HTML5, how-to build an HTML5 player, and HTML5 standards. There will also be the unveiling of a new broadband device called Pavilion.

At Cannes Film Festival, short films are prominently represented at the Competition, such as when the short films Jury awards a Palme d'or, and at the Short Film Corner, a professional area for meeting people, exchanging ideas and promoting films. A number of initiatives aimed at supporting the talent of the future have already been introduced: the Camera d'Or is awarded to the best film presented either in the Official Selection, during Directors' Fortnight or during the Semaine de la Critique. The Cinefondation, which serves to showcase new trends in the film industry, screens films from film schools as part of the Official Selection, as well as organising the Residence and the Atelier. This year, the opening film will be released in cinemas in France on the same day as its screening at Cannes and the opening ceremony will be broadcast in cinemas enabling audiences to experience the Festival launch night live. The Cinema de la Plage, an outdoor cinema, screens a different film each night, and since 2010 even the occasional world preview from its theme-based programme.

The International Film festival and Environment Ciudad de Zaragoza has a focused directive to show, support and promote films made in the world on the environment. EcoZine aims to promote, show and award prizes to audiovisual fiction, animation and/or documentaries with environmental themes produced anywhere in the world, and also to promote actions and audiovisual events related to the Environment. The Festival based in Zaragoza runs from May 13-21.

BMI will honor David Foster as a BMI Icon on May 17 at its 59th Annual Pop Awards in Beverly Hills. The invitation-only event will also honor the songwriters and publishers of the past year's most-performed pop songs in the United States. Foster was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010. The evening will include an all-star musical tribute to Foster, as well as the presentation of the Pop Songwriter, Song, and Publisher of the Year crystals.

The Jazz Foundation presents its annual "A Great Night in Harlem" gala concert, May 19 in New York, benefiting the Jazz Musicians Emergency Fund. This evening will raise money to assist the elder jazz and blues musicians in crisis across the country, artists who have spent their lives being passionately devoted to their music while creating enjoyment for listening audiences. Presently on the agenda, performances by Macy Gray, Roberta Flack, Dr. John, Lou Reed, Christian McBride, Hot 8 Brass Band are slated, with more to be announced. Post-concert supper, club gala, and the VIP After-Party jam session with musicians are featured activities. The 2011 Gala Honoree is Michael Novogratz.

Artists collective, The Urban Individualists, and their artist affiliates, open a New York show with music themed, and music inspired artworks paying tribute and homage to musician and composer Gerry Eastman and The Williamsburg Music Center he founded in 1981. WMC exists to foster the creation, performance and appreciation of American Classic Music. It is a black-owned and operated non-profit jazz institution offering classes and workshops in jazz performance and history. This exhibit will formally open on May 20 with a reception and will be accompanied with live music provided by Gerry Eastman's band. This is an Urban Individualists Event curated by Helene Ruiz, co-curated by Jakulo Cooper, in collaboration with WMC.

"Gaming: A Dominant Force In Entertainment, What's Next?" is the theme to be addressed at a panel on May 20 that will ponder the entertainment software industry's growth of roughly 1300% since the year 2000, and how Gaming is now beginning to push boundaries in other fields outside of entertainment such as social networking, health, education, and even science. The group of experienced gaming professionals assembling in Boulder will tackle the future role of video games in the entertainment industry. Panelists will discuss their personal history in the industry as well as rising trends and new applications for gaming.

The 2011 Billboard Music Awards will air on ABC live from Las Vegas on May 22, in partnership with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The awards will reflect Billboard's chart rankings based on key fan interactions with music, including album, single and digital sales, touring, streaming and social interactions on MySpace, Facebook and other popular online destinations for music. The awards will be based on the reporting period of February 28, 2010 through March 1, 2011. Top artists will be recognized in a variety of genres, including R&B, Rap, Pop, Country, Rock, Latin and Alternative.

The 56th Annual Drama Desk Awards will be held at a gala sit-down dinner in New York, on May 23. The Drama Desk Awards which were established in 1955 and are given annually in a number of categories, recognize excellence in the commercial and not-for-profit sectors of New York theatre. It is the only theatre award for which production on Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off Broadway compete within the same categories. This year's Awards show adds new features including a live orchestra, performances from nominated musicals, and a one hour primetime special which will air one week later on the Ovation Network. Festivities opens with a Black-Tie VIP Cocktail Reception, VIP After Party Ticket with Premium open bar and dessert stations. Harvey Fierstein is host of this year's awards.

The Amsterdam Film Festival contains a mix of art and expression seeking to reflect the character of the host city. Honoring films from over 90 countries around the world, the 2011 Amsterdam Film Festival will award and recognize feature films, short films, documentaries, student films, animation, music videos and screenplays. The festival accepts submissions of all types and encourages individuality and experimentation. The Festival, running May 31 to June 1, recognizes excellence in filmmaking in the categories with the organization's Van Gogh Awards.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used languages. A look ahead into June event dates will help you prepare for:  Cine Gear Expo 2011, in Hollywood, Produced By Conference, in Orlando; The Aruba International Film FestivalSanta Cruz, Aruba, in Santa Cruz, Banff World Television FestivalBanff, Alberta, in Alberta, AFI/Discovery Channel SILVERDOCS Documentary Festiva, in Silver Spring, to provide only a small sample of upcoming events in advance. Also to alert viewers, a site revamp and redesign of The Actor's Checklist is close at hand, with new interactive features, tools and resources to aid members, so please stay tuned.

Miami Int'l Film Fest, SXSW Festival, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction, Hong Kong Film Fest, Edgemar Film Fest, are some Highlights in March's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

In Melbourne, the MuVifest International Music Video Festival, open now through March 30, is a competitive festival originally inspired by independent artists and filmmakers. There are two competition categories, the Global Poverty Project MuVments, and the main festival itself. The festival is an outdoor event that is free to attend and will feature live music, DJ's and entertainment on the Kiss FM Stage, and will have an after party.

The Miami International Film Festival, presented by Miami Dade College, is programmed to introduce a representative selection of Ibero-centric films and filmmakers to South Florida’s residents and visitors. The Festival encompasses international film screenings, gala premieres, REEL seminars and the Miami Film Society, which offers Members an inclusive range of year-round activities that investigate and celebrate the artistry and innovation of the showcased cinematic visionaries. Festival seminars to be presented, include, but are not limited to: Cinematography Master Class, Futurescape of Multi-Platform Distribution in Latin America, Ready-Steady-Pitch! The Craft of Creating and Delivering a Pitch, WMC & MIFF Present Soundtracking for TV & Film, more, all running through March 13.

Berlin's Delphic Art Movie Award comes from a prior contest for documentary short films about artistic achievements, the maximum duration allowed of which is 10 minutes. The contest and showcase for the Delphic Art Movie Award, from March 9-13, shows short documentaries about the fascination of arts and culture. The award framework is set by six categories and their disciplines, which represent contemporary or traditional aspects: Acoustic Arts, Performing Arts, Lingual Arts, Visual Arts, Social Arts and Ecological Arts. Selected films are intended to document, to inform, to inspire and to encourage the enthusiasm and understanding of art.

Filmapalooza 2011, the finale festival for the 48 Hour Film Project, conducts its showcase of screenings at the Miami International Film Festival, March 10-13. Through its festival/competition, the Project encourages filmmakers and would-be filmmakers to go out and make movies. The tight deadline of 48 hours puts the focus squarely on the filmmakers—emphasizing creativity and teamwork skills.

Opening for a run from March 10-16, the Athens International Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film Festival is organized and run by the Science Fiction Club of Athens, Greece (or “ALEF” for short). It started out as a retrospective of Greek genre short films, but then quickly evolved into an international event, always in the SFF-rated domain of moving images. A featured premier screening for the Festival will be H.P. Lovercraft's "The Whisperer in Darkness".

Innovative slap bass guitarist of Cochin-Kerala, Jayen Varrma, joins drummer Jean Davoisne, a native of Toulouse and owner of two drumschools sponsored by Tama drums and Zildjian cymbals, and an Art Center in southern France, to tour Toulouse and other parts of France presenting Master Classes and holding recitals and jam session performances. After their March 4 engagement at Salle des Fêtes, the session then moves to Guitars N' Stuff for the March 11 engagement. Then there is a March 13 appearances at Studio Expériences in Toulouse, and on March 14 at Cri' Art, a cinema and concert event where the musical performance will accompany the screening of film, "The Sound of Noise." More dates in March could be planned so check the accompanying websites or Facebook pages for the artists.

An Acting for TV and Film Intensive taking place March 11-13 in Dallas, is structured to give each actor opportunity to practice and develop tools of character and script exploration. The workshop's acting exercises and scene work makes it a goal to take the craft to a new level of awareness and expression. The workshop also features original scene material written with the participants in mind. Steven Anderson has been coaching actors privately and conducting workshops for the last 20 years. His directorial projects include the short film, "Only In Miami" which screened at the CineFestival in San Antonio, in October 2006, and "Good Things" which screened at the 5 Second Film Festival, in Claremount, in May 2010.

This year the SXSW Film Conference and Festival gets underway March 11-19 in Austin. The event offers networking opportunities and immersion into the art and business of the world of independent film. Speakers, creative minds, and notable mentors tackle the latest filmmaking trends. The nine-day Festival spotlights innovation and emerging talent by with a program that includes documentaries, comedies, DIY narratives, genre standouts and more. Party and lounge spaces at the festival will include: Film Hideout Lounge presented by YouSendIt; Filmmakers Lounge presented by the North Carolina Film Office; The Interactive / Film Fusion Party presented by Meebo; SXSW Film Closing/Music Opening Party Hosted by YouTube, just to name a few. BMI will conduct a panel, "Sound Decisions: A Reality Check on Using Music in Film" on March 13 of the festival. The opening film party will be at Buffalo Billiards.

The 26th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be conducted in New York, March 14, and taped for later broadcast exclusively on Fuse TV (www.fuse.tv/), Madison Square Garden’s national music television network, airing March 20, at 9 pm EST. The 2011 Inductees include: Dr. John, Jac Holzman, Alice Cooper, Neil Diamond, Darlene Love, Tom Waits, Art Rupe and Leon Russell. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (in Cleveland) will screen the over 3-hour ceremony starting at 8:30 pm, including the performances and presentations, which will be broadcast on a giant 12 foot screen on the Museum’s Main Stage and several large screens throughout the Museum.

This year the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) starts up March 20 running through April 5 in Wan Chai North. The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) is a charitable, non-profit and non-governmental organization dedicated to the discovery and promotion of creativity in the art and culture of film, with a mission to strengthen global appreciation of Chinese film. The Society organizes three annual flagship events in March and April: The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) and the Asian Film Awards (AFA). Running concurrently and practically from the same convention center, from March 21-24, the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART), is an annual film market organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) promoting co-operation in areas of film financing, distribution, production, post-production, TV, digital entertainment, film and broadcasting equipment and shooting locations.

CTIA —The Wireless Association®, hosts two shows a year: one in the spring, this year taking place March 21-24 in Orlando and representative of all things wireless, and another show in the fall that focuses more on the usage and implementation of wireless in the enterprise. CTIA — The Wireless Association® is an international nonprofit membership organization that has represented the wireless communications industry since 1984. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products.

The 2011 Edgemar Short Film Festival in Santa Monica, from March 23-27, will screen short works of 30 minutes or under, in the narrative, animated and documentary genre categories. Edgemar Center for the Arts (ECA), Michelle Danner, Artistic Director, serves as collaborative rehearsal and performance space open to artists of all disciplines and experience levels, encouraging collaboration between writers, directors, actors, musicians, dancers and visual artists. It is a space in which original and classical theater productions, dance performances, visual arts and films works are performed. Additionally, ECA serves all facets of the Westside community and beyond by offering public arts programs, ticketed performances and educational outreach courses for children and senior citizens.

Canada's own Grammy's — The JUNO Awards — has evolved from an singular industry awards presentation event to a week long festival that travels city to city across the country. The Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music. This year's ceremony will be conducted in Toronto on March 27. New members of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame are also inducted as part of the awards ceremonies. Winners are currently chosen by either members of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences or a panel of experts depending on the award.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used languages. A look ahead into April event dates will help you prepare for: the Florida Music Festival and Conference, in Orlando, Tribeca Film Festival, in New York; National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) 2011, in Las Vegas, London Independent Film Festival, in London, the San Francisco International Film Festival, in San Francisco, to list only a few upcoming events in advance. Past videos from the monthly video news summary are archived on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video.