Toronto International Film Fest, Game Music Connect, Dubai Music Week, The Film Society, are highlights in September's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Ezra Brown - saxophonist, keyboardist, music director, arranger - has released his debut album, 'The Journey', available on iTunes (as of September 3 on the iTunes “Jazz Album Under $8” Bestseller list), Google Play, CD Baby and Amazon. An album tour is underway, and a September 6 date in Yokohama features a birthday party celebration in live music lounge and restaurant, KAMOME Live Matters. There are many tour dates in Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo and other cities, but on September 14, the tour ventures to Kuala Lumpur for the one day KL International Jazz Festival. After Kuala Lumpur, other dates include September 25 in Tokyo, September 28 in Mito, September 29 in Kyoto, September 30 in Osaka, and the first date of the new month, October 3 in Kamkura city. There are more dates in October and into November

Ezra Brown, who has worked with Grammy Award winning artists: Cassandra Wilson, John Forte, Dorothy Moore, Charlie Daniels, Miki Howard, is currently involved in several projects. He serves as music director for Blue Nefertiti (one half of the group Les Nubians); as a member ofT he Mighty Embassy Ensemble for up and coming hip-hop artist Blitz the Ambassador.; and as a band member for Cheryl Pepsii Riley at The Village Underground in New York City, the top R & B open mic night in the country. You can hear Ezra on MTVu’s Live Sessions, where he is featured with Blitz the Ambassador and John Forte “Breathe” video on MTVu.

The Toronto International Film Festival traditionally opens the Thursday night after Labour Day (the first Monday in September in Canada). Films are categorized into Programs to better organize the selection. In one of the festival's program categories, "Wavelengths", filmmaker Jean-Marie Straub continues his exploration of classic texts with this "collaboration" involving the great 16th-century writer of the 'Essais'. In Hollywood studios premiere their films at TIFF due to the Festival's non-competitive nature, relatively inexpensive costs, enthusiastic and cinema knowledgeable audiences and other factors. This year the Festival hosts a September 7 Gala event, "Celebrating 100 Years of Indian Cinema", reflecting 100 years of inspired work by Indian filmmakers. Dinner and a reception are included for this event.

The Toronto International Film Festival's major prize, the People's Choice Award, is given to a feature-length film with the highest ratings as voted by the Festival-going populace. TIFF Bell Lightbox has come to be regarded for film related exhibitions and moving image artworks that reach a junction between cinema and the visual arts. Specal exhibition: "David Cronenberg: Transformation" will feature six new TIFF-commissioned artworks by leading Canadian and international contemporary artists who share David Cronenberg's inspirations from literature and philosophy—writers such as McLuhan, Burroughs and Ballard—and his fascination with biological horror, the human psyche and the merging of humans and media. The festival closes on September 15.

Game Music Connect will happen in London for one day only on September 9 and is suited to fans of music in games, aspiring and professional composers of all backgrounds and those interested in learning about the art and science of creating today’s cutting edge video game soundtracks. The format will have interviews and roundtable discussions with composers and audio directors in the video games industry. Included in a line-up of British and international composer talent will be ASCAP member Martin O’Donnell (Destiny, Halo series) and PRS affiliates James Hannigan (Dead Space 3, Command & Conquer series, Harry Potter series) and Joris de Man (Killzone series) – and will be hosted by composer, audio director and commentator John Broomhall (X-COM series, Transport Tycoon, A Christmas Carol). Audio directors from both independent and major developers and publishers will also participate.

In one of the Game Music panels, "Soundcard to Symphony", game composers - Martin O’Donnell, Jesper Kyd, Jason Graves, James Hannigan, Joris de Man, Richard Jacques, John Broomhall (Chair) - outline their personal journeys into scoring videogames, together with their inspiration and influences, reflecting on the past, present & future of game music design and application The day’s programming will comprise in-depth discussions with celebrated composers and audio directors, including insights into their diverse career paths and scoring experiences as well as practical demonstrations of interactive music and previews of next-gen original scores. The day will feature a composer panel exploring the evolution of video game music and a philosophical discussion of the art form and its future.

International Broadcasting Convention, or just IBC, is an annual event staged in Amsterdam for professionals engaged in the creation, management and delivery of entertainment and news content worldwide. This year's convention which runs September 12-17 has conference themes that reflect: technological innovations to engage viewers and create a more engaging entertainment experience; advances in industry collaboration and standards that affect business and content production; global impact of the internet on all aspects of traditional television and its affect on the future of traditional broadcasting; emergence of event television and the production, broadcast, distribution and monetisation of content in these digital spaces and other areas.

Keynote speaking presentations at the IBC conference open with Bob Harris, Chief Technology Officer, Channel 4 Television, but will also include: Robert M. Bakish, President & CEO, Viacom International Media Networks, Morten Hesseldahl, Executive Director of Cultural Affairs, DR, Danish Broadcasting Company, Keith Hindle, CEO, Digital and Branded Entertainment, Fremantle Media, Tony Wang, General Manager, Twitter, UK and others. IBC is owned by six industry partners that represent both exhibitors and visitors. They include: The International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, IEEE Broadcast Technology Society, The Royal Television Society, The Society of Cable Telecommunication Engineers, The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.

San Diego Music Thing Conference and Festival opens September 13 for a two day run. Attendees can sharpen their skills and knowledge of the music business through interactive and roundtable sessions with notable panelists and featured speakers operating in the music business. Conference opening panel: "Music Industry 101: The Basics 2013", features speakers in discussion on what anyone needs to know about getting started in the business of music. Later that same day, another workshop session, "Dos and Don'ts of Music Distribution", covers setting up your music for sale in all formats and why YouTube is important to all performing music.

Planned day time activities include a trade show, happy hour parties, listening stations and pop up live performances, as well as a chance to meet and mingle with industry professionals and artists. Kim Gordon, a founding member of noise-rock band Sonic Youth -- and who has been involved in numerous collaborations with other artists and musicians makes a featured speaker presentation at the end of day one. Bands and music artists scheduled for performances include: Ra Ra Riot, New Politics, Titus Andonicus, Milo Greene, Fidlar, The Album Leaf, Unwritten Law, Mike Herrera, Wild Nothing, The Silent Comedy, LIttle Hurricane, Body/Head featuring Kim Gordon and over 150 more.

Chartered in 1991, conference organizer, the San Diego Music Foundation, was created to make music performance accessible to children of need in San Diego County by providing them with a hands-on vehicle, - the guitar - to express themselves creatively. Over its 20 year history, the organization has served K-8 students county-wide from Chula Vista to Fallbrook. In subsequent years the organization has broadened its focus and service areas, providing forums to increase local musicians' understanding of the music business, get performance exposure within the local and national music communities, and to publicly recognize the breadth and diversity of the San Diego music scene.

Oaxaca FilmFest, founded in the City of Oaxaca de Juarez in 2010, is intent on presenting works representative of achievement in cinema, creating opportunities for filmmakers, and providing audiences with outstanding entertainment. Planned for this year's festival running September 21-28, Oaxaca FilmFest 2013 has scheduled eight days of international film on par with those being exhibited anywhere in the world today, an international script writer symposium, special events, tours of the region, academic opportunities and those anticipated Oaxaca FilmFest after-parties. Other aspects of the festival include the program Academia -- a five day training program designed to enhance festival attendees' self-distribution skills for those that have producer ambitions. The festival also features "Pitch It", a platform that allows screenwriters to sell their scripts to industry executives around the globe in a designated meeting place.

Dubai Music Week is an annual B2B/B2C event dedicated to establishing the music industry in the region with: seminars, conferences and workshops, trade show and exhibition, live concerts, networking events and competitions connecting Middle East and Asia with Europe and North America. The six day event which opens September 24 is the brainchild of music impressario Quincy Jones and is also structured as a platform for rising artists and launching new talent. The convention will host the ‘Emirates World Exclusive Quincy Jones Seminars, and on September 25 Quincy Jones will invite music industry icons Timbaland and will.i.am on stage to discuss music production with fans, and to launch the first cross-over talent from across the region.

On September 24 at DMW, fans of Michael Jackson’s music will be able to hear directly from the multi-Grammy winning production team fueling the success of the King of Pop’s record-breaking albums -- 'Thriller', 'Off The Wall' and 'Bad'. Members of the team at this convention -- Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, Bruce Swedien and Siedah Garrett -- offer reflections on the experience of producing the greatest selling albums of all time. On September 27 a Keynote Conference is scheduled and will be presented by Frank Cooper, Chief Marketing Officer at PepsiCo Global Consumer Engagement, PepsiCo, also Shridhar Subramaniam, President of Middle East and India at Sony Music Entertainment.

MIDEM, the renowned global music convention held in Cannes every year since 1967, is an official DMW Conference Partner. Dubai Music Week in association with MIDEM will present a series of Music Conferences and Workshops with senior executives and Founders of companies such as Anghami, Saavn, Times Music, Orange, Sacem and BMI. Conference organizer, G3 is a cross-cultural music and entertainment company with offices in Dubai and Los Angeles. Founded by legendary music producer Quincy Jones and Emirati social entrepreneur Badr Jafar, the company is launching a series of initiatives and productions that is attempting to change the future of the music industry and live entertainment in the Middle East and North African region.

Known as a one stop training, exposition and networking event, Digital Video Expo brings together a gathering of technology innovators and content creation professionals to downtown Los Angeles from September 25-26. The conference agenda has over 50 conference sessions in two conference programs covering content creation and storage. The Los Angeles Post Production Group will hold their monthly September meeting at DV Expo immediately following the close of the exhibit hall floor on September 25. Cocktails will be served. The meeting is free and open to all attendees of Digital Video Expo. A new free special event, Video Edge Live! is a conference program designed for professionals who produce and deliver online video for media and entertainment, enterprise, educational, and government applications. Pro Media Conference is back this year at Digital Video Expo. PMC motivates and engages participants through a series of papers, case studies, and networking opportunities. Introduced last year at Digital Video Expo, the Pro Media Conference is designed to educate, motivate and engage professionals working in media and entertainment, video and audio production, internet and mobile video, AV, government, corporate video environments, and IT.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York City was founded in 1969 to celebrate American and international cinema, to recognize and support new filmmakers, and to enhance awareness, accessibility and understanding of the art among a broad and diverse film going audience. Annually, The Film Society at Lincoln Center presents two world-class international festivals – the New York Film Festival and New Directors/New Films (celebrating new cinematic artists). The Society will operate the New York Film Festival from September 27 through October 13 this year. And the Festival's Opening Night World Premiere is the Paul Greengrass directed, Sony Pictures release, 'Captain Phillips'. The festival is competitive with approximately 28 feature films in the Main Slate and 16 short films selected each year by a five person screening committee. Entry into NYFF and ND/NF is open to all filmmakers and all lengths and genres are considered. There are no categories and no prizes are awarded. The Society also publishes the cinematic journal, 'Film Comment', presents an annual Gala Tribute honoring legendary stars and industry leaders of this generation, and partners with Hollywood studios to present premieres and special live appearances at various times of the year.

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 "Soul Muzik" saxophonist, eZra brown (J. Quazi King, Nicole Norwood photo credit) on tour in Japan and the far east for the introduction of his debut solo album. 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: Japanese Cultural and Anime Convention, Ochiba Con, will be in Oshawa. The New Orleans Film Society hosts their annual festival. The Adelaide Film Festival, in Glenside, opens. Colchester Film Festival 2013 featuring short film selections, opens in Colchester. MIA Animation Conference and Festival will be in Miami. The BMI London Awards will be in Hyde Park.

Kaua`i Music Festival, Ticket Summit, Comic-Con, Melbourne Film Festival, are highlights in July's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

The Los Angeles AX 2013 - AnimeExpo trade show is a multi-faceted extravaganza for industry followers to  explore various aspects of both anime and manga as well as for members of the industry to conduct business. Historically, Anime Expo (AX) has been held on the July 4 weekend as a four-day event beginning in 1992, and is one of the longest running anime conventions along with A-kon in Texas. Anime Expo is a 24-hour convention that offers late-night dances, all night video programming, tabletop gaming rooms, and open-mic Karaoke. A Cosplay Photography Contest runs throughout the expo in which the winners will receive a cash prize, and his/her art printed on a page of the 2013 programming guide and a badge to Anime Expo 2014.

The expo will present AX Anime and Manga Studies Symposium -- a special track of academic talks on the history of anime and manga, the works of individual directors and creators, the ways they represent aspects of Japanese culture, how fans in different countries interact with Japanese culture, and other similar topics. It imports professors and graduate students who teach and write about Japanese visual culture, and gives AX attendees an opportunity to learn more about Japanese animation and comics and to find out about some of the newest trends in anime and manga studies.

The AX Fashion Show will showcase trends in Japanese streetwear and design from Harajuku and Shibuya through panels, a showcase fashion show, and special guests. At Anime Expo's Battle of the Bands all amateur bands (amateur only) in and around Southern California are able to enter to win the chance to go up against a select number of finalists to go head to head to decide the finalist. One of the enduring traditions of Anime Expo, is the Masquerade extravaganza on day three where Costumers from around the world take to the stage with their exotic anime inspired costumes and performances vying for the “Best of Show” trophy.

Japanese music entertainment, featuring concerts from major J-Pop, Ani-Song, Japanese rock, and Idol Performers, takes place in the Main Events hall. An anticipated PornoGraffitti Concert is scheduled for July 6 at Club Nokia. In other music related activities, “J-MUSIC LIVE VIEWING 2013” is a project started by Live Viewing Japan Inc. that features Japanese artists’ music contents at movie theaters worldwide. The project will help to project on a global scale the performances of Japan’s top artists on the big screen with high  definition visual and crisp sound. Live Viewing Japan Inc. hopes to expand the local fan base through this project.

Two unrelated Latin music events will happen concurrently in New York City and only blocks away from each other. The Latin Mixx Conference and Awards is a annual networking event to honor and empowers Latin DJs from all genres. It features educational panels, workshops, artists exhibitions, fashion shows, over 100 exhibitors, as well as pre and post parties. The primary focus of the Latin Mixx Conference, which runs July 9-11, is to educate DJs in the areas of business, promotion, music, and  advancements in technology, among other areas which broaden their DJ ability and effectiveness. The Latin Mixx Awards will present winners of the LMX DJ Choice Awards at Stage48. Following this, the Latin Mixx Awards Bash will be held afterward at ZBar.

Although based primarily in mid-town Manhattan, an opening day Latin Alternative Music Conference event on July 9 will be a Bronx Showcase in Crotona Park with performances by Joell Ortiz and RVSB. The first panel on July 11 is a Q*A with the Latin Recording Academy’s Gabriel Abaroa (Latin GRAMMYs) sits down with Ruben Blades immediately followed by DIY 2.0: Tools for the Nueva Generacion presented by Bandzoogle and including: Carolina Arenas (BMI), David Dufresne (Bandzoogle), Pili Montilla (“Te Para Tres” on WAPA-TV), Kendel Ratley (Kickstarter), Tony Van Veen (CD Baby/Disc Makers), Megan West (SoundCloud). On the fourth day of the conference, MITu Network hosts a panel titled, Digital Dinero: Streaming, Social Media and the New Music Economy. Panel participants include: Kenny Cordova, MITu Network, Juan Jose Duran, YouTube/Google, Rocio Gutierrez, Digital Girl, Sean Glover, SoundExchange, Marcos Juarez, Pandora, Camilo Lara, M.I.S./Casete Mexico, Allison Moore, Sony/RED Distribution. Later in the evening there will be a LAMC Spoken Word and Poetry Night at La Casa Azul Bookstore with performances by Bocafloja and Shella Maldonado. Conference closes on July 13.

The Kaua'i Music Festival (KMF) and Songwriter Conference in Lihue is a celebration of the art and craft of songwriting. Opening on July 10, the KMF Songwriter Conference will teach songwriting skills to its attendees. Through one-on-one meetings, small group sessions, workshops, panel discussions, open mic activities, and more, attendees will be able to consult and get feedback directly from the Grammy, Emmy, and Na Hoku-winning songwriters, producers, TV and Film Music Supervisors, A&R Executives, and other music industry people in attendance. In addition to the regular songwriting workshops and one-on-one meetings, there will be two panel discussions and a number of "Informational Workshops" to help working musicians and songwriters.

Panel 1: "Placing Your Music in TV & Film", will be presented by the State of Hawaii, DBEDT, Creative Industries Division. Panel 2: "Writing and Composing for TV & Film", will cover a broad range of topics. Regular BMI contributor, Jason Blume, leads a workshop: "Everything You Need to Know About Placing Your Music in TV & Films" which will clarify the process of pitching your songs for TV shows and movies. Orchestration mock-ups, Hybrid instrumentation, and structure will be in a session covered by David Trotter. Frank Palazzolo will lead a session, "Composing for TV – Parts 1 & 2", using a short video segment from a popular TV show (with network authorization) and ask attendees to team up to compose music for the clip. Many more sessions are planned.

The Kaua`i Music Festival is a 501(c)(3) organization that hosts or co-hosts numerous events throughout the year, leading up to the signature four-day annual Songwriter Conference. The National Songwriters Association International consists of songwriters from all genres of music, professional and amateur, who are committed to protecting the rights and future of the profession of songwriting, and to educate, elevate, and celebrate the songwriter and to act as a unifying force within the music community and the community at large. Day four ends the festival with an Open Mic and Party time in Shutter's Lounge.

The annual Las Vegas TicketSummit conference and trade show is aimed at the ticketing and live entertainment industry. This three-day event starting on July 17 features industry seminars, a concurrent trade show, and networking opportunities for industry professionals. The Ticket Summit All-Access Pass includes entry to: all Panel and Keynote sessions, Exhibit Hall, all conference catered events, and Ticket Summit After Dark events, including but not limited to the Networking Cocktail Party and Closing Gala. Ticket Summit Executive Director, Molly A. Mérez gives the event’s opening address detailing important industry updates and announcements pertaining to the show. There is a Networking Cocktail Party at the end of the first night. Ticket Summit Game Night closes the second night. The event's Closing Gala will be at The Bank.

The Las Vegas Film Festival offers a variety of film screenings including Oscar-winning films to world premieres, exclusive celebrity tributes and interviews, interactive panel discussions, a screenplay competition, red carpet parties, a filmmaker reception, as well as a closing night ceremony and awards. The festival program showcases Feature Films, Shorts, Foreign Films, Documentaries, Animation, Music Videos, Television Pilots, a Nevada Filmmakers Showcase, Experimental Films, a Screenplay Competition and more. Panels slated for presentation include: The Art of Storytelling, The Business of Filmmaking, Filmmakers on Filmmaking. This year's festival running July 18-21 will make available over $15,000 in cash and prizes to winning filmmakers and screenwriters. Juried and audience awards are presented in several categories to celebrate achievements in filmmaking, screenwriting and acting. The Emerging Filmmakers Scholarship Dinner on opening day celebrates new voices in cinema and is the Las Vegas Film Festival’s opportunity to enable future projects through scholarships. A three course, pre-fixe gourmet dinner will be served with a selection of liquor, beer, wine and champagne open bar at the Five Diamond rated Piero’s Italian Cuisine.

Comic-Con International San Diego is generally acknowledged to be the largest comics convention of its kind in the world. While passing through various stages of its development Comic-Con has been involved in showcasing, creating awareness of, and appreciation for, comics and related popular arts including, film, television, gaming, anime, animation, sci-fi, fantasy, etc... for over 40 years. Originally showcasing comic books, science fiction/fantasy and film/television, and related popular arts, the convention now includes a larger range of pop culture elements, such as horror, animation, anime, manga, toys, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels

Comic-Con International also produces two other conventions, WonderCon and the Alternative Press Expo (APE), both held in San Francisco, in northern California. Here's a quick tag list summarizing most of the events or activities that will happen at this year's Comic-Com: Comic Creator Connection, Fan Tables, awards, retailers, Eisner Awards, Masquerade, Artists' Alley, Comics Arts Conference, Blood Drive, preview night, special guests, Hall of Fame, Autograph Area, film festival, Cosplay, Games, Portfolio Review, anime, exhibit hall, children's film festival, art show. This year's Comic-Con event lasts from July 18-21.

With attendance topping out at 130,000 in recent years in the primary facility Comic-Con has grown and needed to include satellite locations, spilling over into local hotels and outdoor parks in the area. Programming events, games, anime, the Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival, and the Eisner Awards all take place outside of the Convention Center, creating a campus-like feel for the convention in downtown San Diego. Comic-Con International is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to creating awareness of, and appreciation for, comics and related popular art forms with events that celebrate the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture.

Since its inception in 1996, Fantasia Film Festival based in Montreal has specialized in varied programming and an emphasis on the imaginative cinema of Asia, Europe and the Americas. Fantasia’s offerings span personal visions to international commercial crowd-pleasers rarely seen in North America. In addition to juried competitions, Fantasia has been presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to guests and additional awards offered by industry organizations that include The AQCC Award (Association Québécoises des Critiques de Cinéma), the Séquences Award and L’Écran fantastique Award.

The Fantasia Industry Rendez-Vous will make its return at 2013 Fantasia from July 25-28. There will be the Frontières pitch session, conferences on the topics of production and distribution for independent genre films, meeting sessions and cocktail receptions coupled with the regular Fantasia schedule of public screenings and parties. In 2012, Fantasia launched a major new industry-driven venture -- the Fantasia Industry Rendez-Vous, with the Frontières International Co-Production Market and the Fantasia Film Market. And a year-round online magazine, Spectacular Optical, focuses on essays and interviews to highlight and expose films in the showcase added each day of the festival.

In addition to the co-production market, Fantasia Festival will be hosting a film market within the same dates, to support the sales efforts for the features that will be part of the programming of the 2013 edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival which will open July 18 and run through August 6. Sales agents and producers will be provided with a space to meet with prospective buyers. Once again, a video screening room will be in operation.

The Melbourne International Film Festival in the St. Kilda district will present new international cinema along with special retrospectives and tributes, including public panels and an international short film competition. It will highlight Australian cinema by showcasing local talent and offering targeted industry programs: an investment fund, a financing market and a development program for emerging directors.

The July 25 opening night red carpet celebration features director Pedro Almodóvar 'I'm So Excited'. After the film, patrons can enjoy a champagne toast and mingle with the performers at Hamer Hall, where the festivities continue on into the late night hours, propped up by an open bar, canapés and music. The Festival closes out August 11 with a screening of Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll at Greater Union followed by an after party hosted at Forum Theatre

Complementing Melbourne film screenings is MIFF's industry program that includes an investment fund (the Premiere Fund) and the director's development program (Accelerator). MIFF's finance market (37° South) brings the national and international screen industry to Melbourne during the festival and celebrates Melbourne as a center for screen business. Established in 1952, the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is one of the world’s oldest film festivals and the Southern Hemisphere’s largest.

SESAC will launch its Sixth Annual Songwriters Bootcamp on July 26 from Los Angeles. Attendees can choose from a variety of sessions covering several aspects of the music industry. This year’s keynote address will be delivered by Grammy-winning songwriter Rico Love. SESAC will run an open forum and workshop where all questions pertaining to song registrations, song splits, live performances, SoundExchange, and more will be answered. Another panel made up of successful composers in a variety of fields will look into how they got started, how spotting sessions work, the difference between scoring linear and non-linear projects, dealing with temp love, and tips for better client relations. There will be a critique session for attendees to bring their best songs to the designated round-table discussion and have them evaluated for film and TV by some of the attending music supervisors who will discuss what works, what doesn’t work, and how you can craft your songs to have the highest chance of getting a synch placement.

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 comic book genre of the type that can be found at San Diego Comic-Con. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it. Looking ahead into the next month, be aware that: The 17th Annual Hollywood Pitch Festival will be in West Hollywood, Lollapalooza 2013 opens in Chicago, Pensacola Para Con: A Convention for Fans of Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Gaming, Anime, Costuming and more will launch in Pensacola, International Film Awards Berlin will be a five day affair in Berlin, the 40th Telluride Film Festival is set to open in Telluride.

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

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

Matsumoto's 2nd Street Jazz in the Little Tokyo district of  L.A.

Galileo Studio and the Azusa Pacific University Department of Theater, Film, and Television are hosting a conference on the art, craft and business of the short film, taking place in Azusa, from December 2-3. Titled "Much More than a Little Feature: The Splendor of the Short Film", day one will be presented as a short film movie night, while day two will be presented as a short film conference. Collaborating organizations for the event include the Angelus Student Film Festival, the Los Angeles Film Studies Center, and Act One: Training for Hollywood. A partial list of speakers include: Luke Matheny, Writer/Director, 2011 Academy Award® Winner for Best Short Film, Live Action “God of Love”; Randy Haberkamp, Director of Special Projects at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences; Bobette Buster, Story Consultant for Pixar, 20th Century Fox, Disney Animation, and Sony Animation and others.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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