Banff, Variety’s TV Summit, Bonnaroo 2015, NATPE Europe, are highlights in June's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

The BANFF agenda gives a breakdown of critical issues facing the television and digital medaia industries through keynotes from industry leaders, panel debates, expert forecasts, celebrity Master Classes, critical case studies, key strategy sessions and more. In the first major address of the conference sessions on June 7, Jean-Pierre Blais, Chairman, Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission will speak about where the Commission is headed, why the recently launched review of basic telecommunications services is important, and how the CRTC is encouraging the creation of compelling and diverse content made by Canadians.

Many opportunities are arranged at BANFF to meet with programming executives for those seeking feedback with projects in development or stages of implementation, giving them access to international decision makers attending BANFF. These meetings and sessions include Breakfast with a Development Executive, Face-to-Face with a Development Executive, Lunch With a Development Executive, and happen on a recurring basis on the festival program.

The nextMEDIA breakout sessions at BANFF offer insight into the fluid and evolving digital media ecosystem, exploring three themes this year related to how digital content is created, distributed, consumed and monetized, while looking forward to future trends. Media-Related Technologies — mostly hardware components — encompassing app development, biometrics, physical computing, gaming technologies and second-screen technologies will be covered. Storytelling 3.0 reveals all tools, apps and platforms through which to share a story. Expect a breakdown of the synergies around Branded Content in which content producers and advertisers look for meaningful partnerships and mediums through which to tell their stories.

CBC Radio Canada will host the first major opening reception over hors d’oeuvres, hand-selected wines and locally-brewed beers at the annual Festival June 7 kick-off. It follows the returning “View From The Top” discussion between the leaders of international broadcasters, studios, and digital powerhouses engaging in conversations about the current state of storytelling in the global content industry and how digital platforms are affecting traditional strategies moving forward.

BANFF networking opportunities that take place include breakfasts, lunches, special ceremonies, galas, and the anticipated after-parties. Various delegate lounges, designed to connect its guests with attending producers, content creators, Development Executives, Commissioning Editors, are set up at various locations of the BANFF event area. The annual Rockies Awards Gala celebrates the "Best of the Best" in Content, featuring the Grand Jury Prize winner of the Program Competition and the special recognition Awards.

Netflix will host a late night After Party at the Spoke Club on June 8, but preceding that is a Cocktail Reception in honor of the French Delegation. A+E Network will present The Awards Reception and Gala on June 9 in the Alhambra Room, but before this celebration begins a cocktail reception in honor of the Mexican Delegation will be held in addition to a Kids and Animation Reception. BANFF’s closing party on June 10 happens in conjunction with Festival Music House.

Media and entertainment industry news source Variety is launching TUNE IN: Variety’s TV Summit 2015 in Beverly Hills, marking the return of its popular annual event dedicated to the television industry. With audiences splintered across new and varied traditional and digital programming platforms, the TV Summit will explore in a one-day June 9 session how to recognize opportunity to advance overall business. Networks, advertisers, showrunners, production companies, over-the-top channels and services will explore what it means to develop, market, monetize and distribute successful programming for today’s audiences and beyond. Keynote speakers for this summit include Chris Albrecht, CEO, Starz and Tom Forman, CEO, Relativity Television among other industry stalwarts. A wide selection of premium options across broadcast, cable/satellite, and newer over-the-top sources is increasingly spreading audiences thin across all the various platforms. In part, the summit addresses how the TV industry is working to connect its programming to audiences while monetizing it at the same time, the mix of over-the-air and online options needed to grow viewership, TV network chiefs debating how they are continuing to make their industry flourish.

This year marks the 21st edition of the Los Angeles Film Festival. The Festival screens nearly 200 narrative and documentary feature films, short films and music videos. The Los Angeles Film Festival highlights cinema from across the globe. In addition, the Festival presents a variety of panels, educational seminars, live music performances and free outdoor screenings. The Los Angeles Film Festival’s Future Filmmaker Showcase will present films made by aspiring filmmakers from across the country and the globe. In a diverse slate of films, selected high school filmmakers will present comedies, dramas, animation, experimental films and everything else in between. Besides film screenings, LA Film Fest will explore aspects of music, film score composition and comedy.

On June 11, Brian Transeau, one of the pioneers of modern American electronic music who made his debut as a film composer with the score for “Go" and since then has composed the music for such projects as Monster, The Fast and the Furious, Under Suspicion, discusses his craft and performs some selections from his film score career. Also, “Talk Score to Me: Filmmakers on Collaborating with Composers,” will be screenings and talks with Project Involve fellows and ASCAP composers (Mary-Lyn Chambers and Nicolas Repetto; Mark Columbus and Jordan Gagné;  Maritte Go and Amanda Jones; Peter Jin and Leo Kaliski; Marvin Lemus and Chrysanthe Tan; Ryan Velasquez and Agatha Kaspar). “Talk Score to Me” will be moderated by Jennifer Harmon, Director of Creative Services, Visual Media, ASCAP.

Web video portal Funny Or Die is reteaming with the LA Film Fest this year to host a mash-up comedy extravaganza celebrating diverse, unique voices in the comedy world. They will present this through a showcase of stand-up performances and comedy videos. Select videos from this "Make ‘em LAFF" competition will screen as part of the showcase. The chosen winner will meet with a Funny Or Die producer where they will pitch ideas for their next comedy video and once Funny Or Die approves a concept, they will co-produce the video and have it distributed on Funny Or Die. On June 13, Film Independent Curator Elvis Mitchell joins a tba filmmaker onstage for an intimate, off-the-record conversation titled, “Diversity Speaks: In Conversation," about the state of the film industry. At the festival conclusion June 18, a Zeitgeist Award Winner will be presented.

Presently set on more than 700 acres of farmland, Bonnaroo festival originally started with a primary focus on jam bands and folk rock. It has since diversified greatly over the years and now holds multiple stages (and tents) featuring a diverse array of musical styles including indie rock, classic rock, world music, Hip Hop, Jazz, Americana, Bluegrass, Country Music, Folk, Gospel, Reggae, Pop, Electronica, and other alternative music. Festival goers at Bonnaroo are usually referred to as Bonnaroovians. Expect to hear from the likes of musicians that include: Phoebe Ryan, Mumford & Sons, Gabriel Garzon-Montano, Earth Wind & Fire, Jai Wolf, Throwback Superjam Dance Party, Courtney Barnett, Deadmaus, Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas, Caribou, Kendrick Lamar, Natasha Leggero, Billy Joel, to name just a few. Bonnaroo has also listed some of its more notable “Experiences” and they include: Outrageous Nightly Parades, Frolic In The Fountain, Comedy Theatre, Splash-A-Roo & The Big Ass Waterslide, Snake & Jake’s Christmas Club Barn, Ferris Wheel and more.

Activity Tents on the campgrounds — aka “Tent City —  are a much anticipated draw at Bonnaroo. The Silent Disco tent is a novel mainstay where each person upon entering the tent is given a set of headphones that syncs with a DJ on the turntables. Everyone is listening to the same song through the headphones while appearing from the outside to be dancing to no music at all. An air-conditioned Cinema tent is set up screening new indies before they are released, documentaries, comedies, cult classics, fun live interactive happenings and even the last few episodes of Game of Thrones. Cinema Tent will also feature live Q&A sessions with guest filmmakers and actors as well as special cinematic performances with musicians and comedians. The Broo’ers Festival tent is an understandably popular attraction featuring a variety of breweries from all across the United States. "The Graffiti Wall" is a place for street artists to paint whatever they feel like painting.

Bonnaroo will host many costume parties that will be held in Snake & Jake's Christmas Club Barn. A Tiki Disco Tropical Party is scheduled for June 12. A southern NOLA Bounce Party where Booty shorts encouraged is scheduled for June 13. Bonnaroo’s closing day, June 14 is full of costume parties to attend. A stylized, modern house dance, known as Vogue, that evolved out of the Harlem ballroom scene in the 1980s is scheduled and will crown a Dance King and Queen of the ball. The second annual Robe Rage encourages people to come dressed in their best house robe, and will feature a special surprise musical guest. A 90s Rave party brings back the days of neon, necklaces and netting and the music is provided by Full Service Party. A Classic Hip Hop Party going back to the 90s and 80s encourages gold fronts, big chains and track suits. A Dancehall Reggae Party to spread vibes and positivity amid the red, gold and green of the Trenchtown Yard faithful closes out Bonnaroo’s Costume Party lineup.

Bangalore Shorts Film Festival began in 2012 to mark the 100 years celebration of Indian cinema and salute the contribution of the Kannada film industry towards the development of cinema in India. The festival provides a platform to aspiring and professional filmmakers for showcasing their talent with networking and marketing opportunities in the film industry. Festival objectives are to invigorate short films culture in India, promotion of upcoming filmmakers, develop sources of revenue generation for short films and to make short filmmaking a commercial enterprise. BSFF 2015 will add more workshops and master classes to the program. The Miniboxoffice Film Market will be a highlight for filmmakers who want to explore possibilities with feature film production. Screenplay Incubation is a suited category for writers to submit their screenplay for selection and submission to producers and directors for pitching consideration and funding evaluation. There is also the short film contest. Entry categories for Bangalore Shorts Film Festival-2015 include: shorts films, animation, documentaries and music videos.

NATPE Europe this year is held in the city of Prague and will put focus on Central and Eastern Europe. It will highlight the content revolution with a show encompassing TV Channels, Broadcast Networks, Cable/Satellite Networks, Internet/Broadband/Digital/Mobile Platforms and Home Entertainment, providing the Central and Eastern European media industry with a viable market. Event scheduling for NATPE Europe has been structured so that: Monday and Tuesday feature studio screenings that are “invitation only.” Registration will open June 22 and the market floor will open the next day. Full market days will be held June 24-25. Special events will be held on most days as will networking cocktails receptions that close each business day.

A conference session on opening day (June 22) tackles “Global TV Formats - What's Hot and What's Not?” produced in association with The Format Recognition and Protection Association (FRAPA). On June 23, there is a Breakfast Keynote with Adrian Hodges, creator of the BBC television series THE MUSKETEERS. A cocktail reception at Cloud 9 Sky Bar and Lounge follows later in the evening. The evening  of June 24 AXN hosts the NATPE Europe Party at the Municipal House, Republic Square. Market floor and suites are open for the final day of the convention. NATPE Prague follows on from NATPE Budapest a well established event which was previously known as “Discop.” The move from Budapest to Prague was done to shift focus to the EEC countries and the expansion of TV stations, regional, local and thematic channels and multiple pay-TV platforms.

Showcasing innovation in local and emerging tech hubs across America, Techweek Chicago is focused upon established industry producers and leaders of the future in emerging U.S. tech hubs. Although Techweek, opening June 22, is a seven-day event, the nexus of Techweek is a two-day technology conference and expo of music, fashion, startup competitions and more. Overall there are 12 standard events in various disciplines. Attendees to Techweek can gain industry insights for success in tech from speakers in panel discussions, experiential workshops, keynote addresses and fireside chats. From Q&A with experts at the Knowledge Bar or a CEO speaking on the Summit Stage, Techweek’s conference covers the pressing issues in technology.

Future Sound at Techweek is a music festival focused on the intersection of music and technology. The Future Sound Music Festival is usually the final technology event to be scheduled heading into the weekend. Fashion and technology meet in style at Techweek’s FashionTECH Runway show. The Runway Show includes the latest in wearable technology, innovative manufacturing, and e-commerce brands.  Also featured on the FashionTECH Runway are local tech entrepreneurs as they model the hottest tech and fashion trends. From networking breakfasts to late-night parties, Techweek Gatherings are planned breaks to unwind, grab a drink or a bite to eat, and talk tech with fellow attendees in an environment planned for some low-pressure networking and fun. Techweek and Harley Davidson will show a June 24 screening of Avengers: Age of Ultron presented by Harley-Davidson.

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. If you like this report and other content found on The Actor's Checklist, please consider liking the Facebook page at this link. This month's photo placement displays activity of the touring Makeup Show which will be in Dallas from June 13-14. If the photos do not appear in this post please visit the blog page to view it. Looking ahead into the next month, heading into the slower summer period, be aware that: The Galway Film Fleadh is in Galway. Long Island Film/TV Foundation and the Nassau County Film Commission will launch the annual Long Island International Film Expo in Bellmore. The San Francisco Frozen Film Festival (SFFFF) will be run from the heart of the Mission District. Fantasia International Film Festival will open in Montreal. The Latin Alternative Music Conference 2015 comes to New York City. Locarno International Film Festival 2015 will again be set in the Swiss-Italian border town. Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), one of the oldest film festivals in the world is in Melbourne.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month's photo placement highlights the opening of Mezzrow, a new jazz piano lounge by the owners of the Smalls Jazz Club in New York City and the POP Montreal Festival in Montreal. If the photo does not appear in this post please visit the blog page to view it. Looking ahead into the next month that begins the fall season, be aware that: the 12th Annual Hispanic Television Summit opens in New York City, Durango Songwriters Expo opens in Broomfield, PLASA London comes to London, MIA Animation Conference is in Miami, GameSoundCon will be in Los Angeles, the New York Television Festival opens in New York City.

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

IndieCade in Culver City supports independent game development and organizes a series of international events showcasing the future of independent games. The flagship festival is held each October in Culver City, with this year's festival running through October 6, and is open to the industry and to the public. Events include festival workshops, master classes, a professional conference track, keynotes, and family-focused activities, meet-and-greets with game creators, hands-on gameplay with a GameWalk, live games, Night Games and numerous social events. IndieXchange sessions are designed to help intermediate to advanced developers push each other up to the next level. It's a full-day opportunity to network with peers, attend clinics and master classes, and discuss common challenges and  opportunities. IndieCade’s Night Games are a series of Big, Table and Digital games best played under cover of darkness. The party starts at 20:00 Saturday in the IndieCade Village. IndieCade was formed by Creative Media Collaborative, an alliance of industry producers and leaders founded in 2005.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Hawaii International Film Festival in Honolulu is an official partner with Academy of Motion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month's picture placement highlights festivals of horor and gore reflecting the upcoming Halloween period and the Hawaii International Film Fest. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it (http://actorschecklist.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/HorrorPics.jpeg and http://actorschecklist.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/HIFF2013Poster.jpg). In a preview of next month's events, be aware that: The annual American Film Market (AFM) arrives in Santa Monica. Running across town in Los Angeles and having a market partnership with AFM is American Film Institute (AFI) Film Fest in Los Angeles. Monaco International Clubbing Show will be in Monaco. Supanova Pop Culture Expo Brisbane will happen in Brisbane. Annual Content and Communications World is in New York City. Dubai International Character and Licensing Fair opens in Dubai.

Variety Venture Capital New Media Summit, Casual Connect, Melbourne International Film Fest, FADE IN... are some Highlights in July's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Jazz pianist Kyoko Oyobe, whose album of original compositions
'Cookin' at Smalls' was recorded live at  Smalls in Greenwich
Village, leads the late night jam session every Tuesday night
in July at The Moldy Fig jazz club in New York City.

Jazz pianist, Kyoko Oyobe, leads the late night jam session in New York City, Lower Eastside's newest bar, cafe and jazz venue, The Moldy Fig, Tuesday nights in July. The establishment presents it's jazz offering with an assortment of casual diversions like chess, shuffleboard, Scrabble, and backgammon, and a small plate menu from the kitchen. Poets will feel welcome in this Lower East Side element. Kyoko Oyobe who writes original compositions, is from Okayama, Japan, and has released her first album, 'Cookin' at Smalls', recorded live at Smalls Jazz Club in Greenwich Village, now available on the web at cdbaby.com/cd/kyokooyobetrio.

Taking place in New York City through July 9 to celebrate its 12th Anniversary, Latin Alternative Music Conference is geared towards the marketing of Spanish-language alternative music. A connected SummerStage event in Central Park on July 6 features performances by Spanish music standouts Jarabe De Palo, Mexican songstress Ely Guerra, Afro-Peruvian electronica folk artist Novalima and Miami’s DJ Mr. Pauer. A July 8 panel (one of several) addresses, "Patrons of the Arts: Who Are Today's Music Investors?"

An upcoming WebTVWorkshop.com series is geared towards producing web series and new media content, in a crash course format, and is coming to New York City. Taught by Emmy-winning professionals and union reps, participants will learn how to create, market, distribute, and monetize a successful web series. The classes cover everything from strategy and pitch to advertising and promotional strategies. WTVW is including the Showbiz Labor Guide, a comprehensive software program for budgets, labor laws, and union contracts, using easy to understand terms. The Showbiz Store is the retail division of Media Services that caters to the specific technology needs of the media and entertainment industry.

It is fairly well known that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge -- aka Prince William and Kate Middleton — have recently been traveling throughout North America, with stops throughout Canada and California. The couple is also slated to be on hand for the Variety Venture Capital New Media Summit on July 8 in Beverly Hills. Variety’s Summit will explore how the investment community is driving technology innovation that is critical for the growth of the evolving entertainment industry. At the Summit, top financiers, studio leaders and start-up founders will debate how best to keep this momentum going, creating new media services and products that cross growing numbers of platforms and devices.

The Artivist Film Festival and Artivist Awards are produced by The Artivist Collective, Inc., a charitable organization creating this platform for artists to share  inspirational and informative films with the world. As an avenue for filmmakers to screen their unique, socially-conscious films to the general public, Artivist works interchangeably with the artists and their causes. Filmmakers come together through the organization to share resources, collaborate, and network with other artists and entertainment industry professionals. According to the organization this process has also led to funding agreements for future film projects. Screenings from July 8-10 will take place in cities: Austin, Atlanta, Chicago, Sedona, Seattle, Washington D.C. August will have screenings in Hollywood, and September will will move to New York City.

Anyone can join the Florida Chapter and fellow music community members in Miami for a casual networker hosted by Florida Chapter Board Governor, Serona Elton. Slated for every second Tuesday of the month, attendees can enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and 2 for 1 drink specials on beverages until 8:30 pm, courtesy of Eden South Beach. There's always free admission for Recording Academy members and anyone who would like to learn about or join The Recording Academy.

BMI is a sponsor of the Kauai Music Festival, a four-day undertaking in the art of songwriting held on the island of Kauai, beginning July 13. Through the one-on-one meetings, small group sessions, workshops, panel discussions, open mic activities, and other planned events, festival participants will be able to consult and get feedback directly from the songwriting pros staffing the festival. In addition to the annual Songwriter Conference, the KMF organizes and hosts other educational, networking, and showcase events throughout the year such as the KMF Songwriter Search, an annual songwriting contest with the winner getting free attendance to the annual KMF Songwriter Conference.

A July 18 Grammy Awards 101 Musical Achievement Workshop is a presentation of the Recording Academy Pacific Northwest and Los Angeles Chapters set to be held in Honolulu. GRAMMY Awards 101 + MusiCares Outreach will be an information session on: Recently Announced Awards Restructuring, important information about the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards, important upcoming dates and deadlines, explanation of eligibility for submitted product, how to submit product for GRAMMY consideration, step-by-step narrative of what each submission goes through once it has been submitted into the awards process.

Casual Connect is the place to learn more about an industry that entertains 300 million people each month. So from July 19-21, learn all about iPhone, Social, Android, Flash, Browser MMO and Download Games, at Casual Connect Seattle 2011. Casual Games Association produces the Casual Connect event annually. And it's not just learning workshops. Some slated networking events include: Pre-funk party hosted by Mochi Media, a relaxed, loungy party beer/wine/cocktails/light snacks; Minna Mingle hosted by EA Partners, a drink in the Grand Lobby after the final session in the Taper Auditorium; Official Casual Connect Party hosted by OpenFeint, with bowling, billiards, drinks and appetizers; another Minna Mingle hosted by TransGaming, presented Happy Hour style with beer, wine, cocktails; Official Casual Connect Party hosted by WildTangent, a lounge party with beer, wine, cocktails and appetizers taking place at the Seattle Aquarium.

Summer NAMM 2011 is the music products industry’s mid-year event showcasing the latest gear, sound and lighting technology, influential companies and the newest brands. Join music educators, students, parents, music advocates, recording professionals and houses of worship music leaders at the international music products industries’ mid-year gathering. Happening in Nashville, July 21-23, attend and get connected with other industry members at the NAMM Young Professionals event during Summer NAMM. Join the group at the Wildhorse Saloon on July 21 starting from 6:30 pm. NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global music products industry.

Since its commencement in 1951, Melbourne International Film Festival has developed into Australia's largest film event. MIFF hosts an assemblage of cinematic productions from over 50 countries for seventeen days (July 21 to August 7) each Winter (Australian winter), embellished with a slate of parties and special events that has been known to create a celebratory mood throughout the city. Separately and to its own merit, the Regent Theatre has been and continues to be home to many world renowned theatre productions including Disney’s The Lion King, We Will Rock You, and Singin’ in the Rain.

A compressed summary of the activity laden Action On Film International Film Festival in Pasadena, July 22-30, helps to highlight the many interesting events that will happen in its given span of time. There will be four days of workshops and seminars, two special non-profit benefit events and a few additional "surprises". Opening Night Mixer and AOF VII Celebration. Nick Mancuso Acting Seminar Part 1 and 2 happens July 24 and 25. A free Sunday Brunch and Filmmaker Symposium is on July 24, and a Private Celebrity 'Dinner With' Special AOF Filmmakers and Writers happens in the evening. Closing night includes a Black Tie Dinner Pre-event Party, Black Tie Dinner and Award Show, There are screenings at Regency Academy Theater Pasadena with-filmmaker interviews on the Red Carpet and special gifts for everyone in attendance. Private 'after' and 'pre-parties' to be announced.

The 2011 New York International Latino Film Festival mission is to showcase the works of emerging Latino filmmaking talent in the U.S. and Latin America, and provide expansive images of the Latino experience, and celebrate the diversity and spirit of the Latino community. Programming from July 25-31 includes the flagship film festival in New York City, new music and art showcases, family and community events, scholarships for aspiring filmmakers, and a nationally recognized short film competition in partnership with HBO. The festival notably has had the endorsement of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's NYC Latin Media and Entertainment Commission since its formation in 2003.

FADE IN… the 15th Annual Hollywood Pitch Festival offers a chance to present your film or TV script, book, short or idea directly to 200 Hollywood agents, managers, producers, studio and productions executives, over three days starting June 29. HPF only has one class — a pitch class taught by a professional working filmmaker, and it is optional to take. But this year they are also providing one-on-one virtual pitch coaching via Skype starting two weeks prior to the festival. After session activities features a cocktail party Friday evening and VIP Contact Book that will be handed out.

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 August event dates will help you prepare for:  Flying Popcorn! Online Children's Film FestivalNewport, in New Port, UNF Writers Conference, in Jacksonville, Siggraph 2011, in Vancouver, KRATKOFIL International Short Film FestivalBanja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Banja Luka, to provide just 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.