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.
