AFI Fest, Miami Short Film Festival, CCW+SATCON Broadcast Convention, Stockholm International Film Festival, are highlights in November's Global Media and Entertainment Industry
The anticipated, annual film event that's not quite festival, not quite conference, but mostly business opportunity the business of independent motion picture production and distribution set oceanside against the beach at Santa Monica. In 2015, the 2015 American Film Market (AFM) is unveiling several new initiatives for this year’s event. There will be the addition of two new conferences: The AFM China Conference and the AFM Festival Conference. Additionally, Carousel Cocktails will offer producers and filmmakers new networking opportunities, and, for the first time, AFM and Cinando are providing registered participants with a one year, full access subscription to the Cinando website and apps. -
Adding a sixth AFM conference to the Series, the AFM China Conference on November 6, will present leaders from all sectors of China’s film industry as they explore and reveal how producing, marketing and distributing in China differs from the West. Everything from talent and crews to culture and restrictions to platforms and windows will be covered. The AFM Conference Series will run from November 6 through November 10 and will also include Conferences on Finance, Pitching, Production and Distribution. AFM will also host the world’s producers during four themed networking receptions at the iconic Merry Go Round on the Santa Monica Pier. AFM’s Carousel Cocktails will - - provide a unique and memorable experience as participants connect and relax at the beach.
This year, AFM has a full list of screenings, including 80 world and 324 market premieres, for the upcoming edition. Among the world premieres are TRESPASS AGAINST US (Protagonist Pictures) starring Michael Fassbender and Brendan Gleeson; the John Travoltastarrer I AM WRATH (Hannibal Classics); DAUGHTER OF GOD (Fortitude International) with Keanu Reeves; THE PHENOM (Conquistador) starring Ethan Hawke and Paul Giamatti; and GET SQUIRRELY (SC Films International) with voices by John Leguizamo, Will Forte and John Cleese. Films making their market debuts at AFM include ITHACA (The Exchange) from director Meg Ryan with a cast including Tom Hanks, Sam Shepard and Jack Quaid; thriller GO WITH ME (Electric Entertainment) starring Anthony Hopkins.
Continuing the AFM rollout, Julia Stiles and Ray Liotta; URBAN HYMN (Metro International Entertainment) starring Shirley Henderson; SKY (The Bureau Sales) with Diane Kruger and Norman Reedus; COLONIA (Beta Cinema) starring Emma Watson, Daniel Brϋhl and Michael Nyqvist; JANIS: LITTLE GIRL BLUE (Content) directed by Amy Berg; THE CONFIRMATION (Arclight) starring Clive Owen, Maria Bello, Patton Oswalt, Jaeden Lieberher and Matthew Modine; TOUCHED WITH FIRE (Myriad Pictures) with Katie Holmes and Toronto favorite ANGRY INDIAN GODDESSES (Mongrel International).
AFM is produced by the Independent Film and Television Alliance®, the global trade association of the independent motion picture and television industry and the voice and advocate for the Independents worldwide. The American Film Market (AFM) is the market partner of AFI FEST. The association between the two events connects art and commerce (more on AFI in the next story below). AFM badges will allow access to many AFI events, including all public screenings. AFI FEST badges will allow access to the AFM screenings. AFI FEST filmmakers, whose films are part of the festival, will have full access to AFM (and to be able to promote their film to the AFM participant distributors. Shuttle buses will move participants between Santa Monica and Hollywood.
Based in Hollywood, AFI is an American film institution that has chartered itself to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers. It preserves the legacy of America's film heritage for future generations through the AFI Archive, comprised of valuable footage from across the history of the moving image and the AFI Catalog of Feature Films, an authoritative record of American films from 1893 to the present. AFI offers film enthusiasts a variety of events throughout the year including AFI Fest presented along with longstanding partner Audi. Sony Pictures’ CONCUSSION — starring twotime Academy Award® nominee Will Smith, written and directed by Peter Landesman, and produced by Ridley Scott, Giannina Scott, David Wolthoff, Larry Shuman and Elizabeth Cantillon — will make its global debut and also be the Centerpiece Gala of AFI FEST 2015.
AFI Festivalgoers will be able to obtain available tickets online at AFI.com/AFIFEST days before the open until the last day (November 12) of the festival. Additional tickets will be available all day, every day through Closing Night online and at the festival's box office. No preassigned time slot needed. Sameday tickets are only available in person at the AFI FEST AT&T Box Office or the Rush Line. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for the Short Films category of the annual Academy Awards. AFI FEST holds the FIAPF accreditation (FIAPF.org), assuring a high standard of quality and reliability for the international film community. The American Film Market (AFM) is the market partner of AFI FEST and AFI FEST filmmakers, whose films are part of the festival, will have full access to AFM.
The 31st Annual Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival will be held in Pensacola. Songwriters will perform at venues along the coast from Fairhope, Alabama to Pensacola, Florida through November 15. The festival is dedicated to the memory of the late Frank Brown, who was night watchman at the Flora~Bama for 28 years, and whose moral values, integrity and strength of character are the epitome of what the festival honors him for. He was 91 years old when he retired and was featured on Paul Harvey's syndicated radio show, "The Rest of the Story.” The day before the official festival opening, will feature Local’s Kickoff Party featuring The Beachbilly’s, Bo Roberts and Surprise guest jams. Other program highlights include songwriter showcases, a SESAC showcases, a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Show, open mic, Youth Songwriters Seminar and film screenings. This year the writers will continue to bring their music to children who are hospitalized to brighten their day and help them forget why they are there. Future applicants seeking to perform in the festival are encouraged to apply through the website.
The Miami short Film Festival (MsFF) is a dedicated contributor to the cultural arts, economy, and education of MiamiDade County. Through a strategic partnership model, MsFF has introduced its programs and programming yearround into theaters, classrooms, businesses, and organizations throughout MiamiDade County. MsFF was founded to showcase Miami as a leader in contemporary filmmaking, and focuses on exhibiting captivating, innovative short content. The films are organized thematically, striving to depict the full range of the human experience. The festival opens with ALL THE GOOD ONES ARE GAY! directed by Michael Garlic, USA. Aspiring short filmmakers are invited to submit to the festival through either FilmFreeway or Withoutabox.
Other MsFF entries are: A DEEP BREATH directed by Justin Spray, UK; ABYMEE directed by Lionel Kaplan, France; ASI DE GRANDES SON LAS IDEAS directed by Quique Rivera, Puerto Rico; BACHELORETTE PARTY directed by Maud Lazzerini, France; BIRTHDAY directed by Chris King, USA; CAMINO DEL AQUA directed by Carlos Felipe Montoya, Colombia; CASA DEL SUENOS directed by Ben C. Lucas, Australia; DE SMET directed by Wim Geudens, Netherlands; EL PRIMER DIA directed by Rita Pereyra, USA; FOOS YOUR DADDY directed by Luke Patton, USA; GARTENFEIND directed by Julia Walter, Germany; GIRL NIGHT STAND directed by Jenna Laurenzo, USA, to name some of the entries. MsFF's year round events/programs include Monthly Screenings (at different venues in Miami, Coconut Grove, Miami Beach and Ft. Lauderdale), Outreach Programs, Seminars, Q&A's and much more. The organization has brought a powerful cultural voice to the city of Miami going on it's 13th year and has created a positive influence on local film artists and aficionados.
CCW+SATCON is the east coast media, entertainment, video and communications technology conference and exposition addressing how evolving digital, production and satellite technologies are driving the industry and affecting the way content is delivered across the globe. This long standing New York City based conference/convention is now being produced by the National Association of Broadcasting (NAB). The main CCW Conference, Broadcast and Beyond, is two full days of breakout sessions featuring the latest topics of concern to senior executives and technical management in television, broadband video/streaming media, film and motion pictures, and production and post including pro audio. Steve Mosko, Chairman of Sony Pictures Television, is the Keynote Speaker at this 2015 conference.
From November 11, the SATCON Conference Track will be two full days of breakout sessions designed specifically for satellite TV providers, radar and satellite operators, telco providers, and broadcasters seeking to gain efficiencies in satellite distribution. Lt. Gen. John W. Raymond, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Joint Functional Component Command for Space, is the Keynote Speaker at this year’s conference. The New York Post|Production Conference (NYP|PC) consists of two full days of training, presented in partnership with Future Media Concepts. This training program is designed for digital media professionals including editors, producers, directors, graphic artists, motion graphics designers and new media specialists in production and post, commercial video, distribution and delivery, and independent films. Other separate halfday workshops on both conference days will include: Advertising Outlook: Trends In Content and Technology, Digital Asset Management 2.0 Workshop, Innovative Content Strategies For News: Balancing Data, Technology, Social and More.
CCW+SATCON has scheduled for one day only, November 11, the HITS Broadcast IT Summit. After welcoming remarks from Guy Finley, Executive Director, MESA, the summit opens with a Keynote Conversation, where author/journalist, Michael Wolf interviewed by Devendra Mishra, MESA, explores consumer habits, market conditions and disruptive technologies that support Wolff’s conclusion: the Web, social media, and various mobile platforms are not the new television when it comes to advertising dollars. Instead, television is the new television. This session is then followed by: Generating $ and Sense Across Platforms, The New Cloud: Collaboration by the Numbers, IT Meets Madison Ave., Broadcast Data and Analytics: Leveraging Insights and Intimacy into Results!, Driving Data and Discovery: Technologies, Processes and Structures, It’s Not “If” But “When” You’ll Get Hacked: Secrets to Building An Incident Response Team.
Stockholm International Film Festival looks to broaden the selection of films in Sweden with new films offering visitors an orientation within modern film to stimulate a continuing debate. With seminars, opportunities to meet actors and filmmakers during Face2Faces along with the extensive catalogue, all avenues are opened to make the film experience relevant. The festival has included in its statement of purpose efforts to promote and offer a venue for young and unestablished filmmakers. As many as a third of the films selected are made by a debuting director and only directors who have made less than three films are selected for the competition. Fia Sandlind’s SHE'S WILD AGAIN TONIGHT, has its world premiere at Stockholm Film Festival on November 12. She’s Wild Again Tonight is the final part of the director’s trilogy inspired by Strindberg’s play, "Miss Julie."
Ai Weiwei, known as a subversive contemporary artist whose art has been exhibited at art galleries and museums all over the world, challenging international political discussions on freedom of speech, is due to participate in the jury proceedings for the new film award Stockholm Impact Award. The Stockholm Impact Award is a collaboration between Stockholm Film Festival and City of Stockholm aiming for highlighting films that create opportunities for changes and debate. The prize amount of one million SEK is a contribution to the development of future film projects. This year’s Stockholm Achievement Award goes to American actress Ellen Burstyn who will be in attendance to receive the Bronze Horse and take part in an exclusive Face2Face followed by a screening of THE EXORCIST during Horror Night on Friday the 13 of November. Stockholm Film Festival’s Feature Film Award aims to encourage emerging talented Swedish filmmakers and highlight female directors. Stockholm Film Festival launched the award with Telia as main financier and with production support from the Swedish Film Institute, SVT (Swedish National Television), Europa Sound and Vision and Dagsljus.
Distributors and sales agents will attend the Stockholm Industry Days, November 1719, which is a meeting place for Swedish and international film professionals to connect. Applying for an Industry Pass provides access to almost all activities during the festival, e.g. Work in Progress presentations, interesting seminars, master classes, networking cocktails exclusively for our industry guests and the festival screenings. In the past 22 years some 3000 movies from all over the world has been screened at the Festival and celebrated guests like Dennis Hopper, Lauren Bacall, Gena Rowlands, Ang Lee, David Cronenberg, Roman Polanski, Terry Gilliam and Elia Kazan have all attended the Festival. The festival concludes November 22.
This 16th Annual Latin Grammy Awards will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It will air live on the Univision Television Network at 20:00 ET/PT and 19:00 Central. Leonel García leads with six nominations, followed by Natalia Lafourcade with five. Additionally, Juan Luis Guerra and Alejandro Sanz; engineers Edgar Barrera, Demián Nava, and Alan Saucedo; producer Cachorro López each have four nominations. Other nominees for this 16th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards include, Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, Chino and Nacho, MALUMA, Natalia Lafourcade Official, Julieta Veneers, J Balvin, Beto Sierra. Mexican actress Jacqueline Bracamontes and Puerto Rican singer/songwriter and actress Roselyn Sánchez will host these awards together for the first time.
The Latin Recording Academy is an international, membershipbased organization comprised of Spanish and Portuguesespeaking recording artists, musicians, songwriters, producers and other creative and technical recording professionals. The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for Latin music and its makers. In addition to producing the Latin GRAMMY Awards to honor excellence in the recorded arts and sciences, The Latin Recording Academy provides educational and outreach programs for the Latin music community. The Latin Recording Academy® has named Argentinean contemporary painter Claudio Roncoli the official artist for the 16th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards. Roncoli's artwork will be used as the official image for the world's premier Latin music annual event and will be featured on this year's poster.
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. 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 featured subjects that are part of: Freak Show Horror Fest, MIA Animation Conference, Tokyo International Film Festival, The Viennale. If the photos do not appear in this post please visit the blog page to view this. With December the holiday period approaches and events in the industry taper off. But there will still be events in the month to attend as outlined following: Nevada International Film Festival will be in Las Vegas, the Fourth Annual Hollywood and Vine Festival will be in Los Angeles, the 37th International Festival of New Latin American Cinema will be held in La Habana, IMFCON 2015 the Seventh Annual International Music Festival Conference will be in San Diego, Dubai International Film Festival will be in Dubai, Variety will present the 35th annual PRESS PLAY: Variety Home Entertainment and Digital Hall of Fame in Beverly Hills. Visual Media Expo will be presented in Yokohama. Happy Holidays!