April’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry Networking Events

The TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) global conferences, owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, was founded in 1984 to disseminate “ideas worth spreading.” It has licensed a new initiative called TEDx – a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.

At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers form the program to foster substantive discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = an independently organized TED event.

At the April 7 TEDxCoimbatore, in Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, slated speakers include: Melinda Gates, Co-chair Bill-Melinda Gates Foundation, ranked #40 in Forbes magazine list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in 2008. Jayen Varma, Indian Slap Bass Guitarist, who has evolved his unique style by applying Tabla/Mridangam finger technique to his craft, and is completing the recording of a CD with his band Khayal Groove, is a featured participant as well.

Sonoma International Film Festival

The Sonoma International Film Festival is a celebration of independent filmmaking and the art of cinema, set against a backdrop of fine food, the wines of Sonoma Valley and the visual appeal of Sonoma, California. In one of the special scheduled events, the festival opening April 11-15 hosts the U.S. premiere of ‘Sir Billi’, the first full-length animated feature produced entirely in Scotland. Retired film legend Sir Sean Connery (who served as executive producer) voices the title role in a story about a skateboarding grandfather and veterinarian trying to save the last beaver in Scotland with the help of his goat Gordon, voiced by Alan Cumming.

Sir Billi will screen at the 1930s era Renaissance-style Sebastiani Theatre on April 13. In another special evening at the Sonoma Veteran’s Memorial Building on April 14, American filmmaker John Waters presents his one-man “vaudeville” show, ‘This Filthy World’, that celebrates the film career and obsessional tastes of the writer William Burroughs, once called “The Pope of Trash.”

Latino Independent Film

NALIP is a national membership organization that addresses the professional needs of Latino/Latina independent film, television, documentary and media makers. As NALIP 2012 convention unfolds from Universal City, April 12-15, it will include panels and workshops for documentary and narrative filmmakers, feature film directors and aspiring reality TV writer/producers.

This year, Robert Rodriguez is the Keynote Lunch Speaker and entertainment legend Rita Moreno is the NALIP Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. NALIP will host a Welcome Reception at Infusion Lounge on CityWalk on April 14. There is also the annual Achievement and Estela Awards Gala Ceremony.

Actors can attend the Latino edition of Back Stage’s Actorfest on April 12. This all-day event at the Wizards Theater on CityWalk includes workshops like “Breaking Into Hosting,” “Demystifying the Audition Process” and “How to Create, Produce and Star in Your Own Webisodes.”

Chicago International Movies and Music Festival

Chicago International Movies and Music Festival brings together movies about music, movies for music, movies of music, and movies capturing music as it is made.

The entries, coming from all countries and cultures and ranging from documentaries to fiction to concert films to shorts to music videos, have to be about music and/or use music in a creative, integral way. The live performances are inspired by film or feature visual accompaniment.

CIMMfest, which runs April 12-15, will consist of four days of movie screenings, panel discussions, workshops, and other programs bringing together professionals and devotees from across the globe to entertain and educate. Premieres by new and established film and video directors, as well as retrospectives, classic films and videos that will screen during the day, and genre-bending musical performances to rule the night at participating venues around the great music town that is Chicago.

London Independent Film Festival

The London Independent Film Festival which happens April 12-23 is a festival focused on micro-budget and no-budget films in the UK. LIFF was started eight years ago when a group of first time UK directors looking for a new kind of festival experience, started one outside of the standard festival channels.

Today, LIFF has expanded into a supportive system for new filmmakers, and has including a screenplay competition and filmmaker training workshops. LIFF hosts a full programme of workshops and seminars where new filmmakers can learn from experienced filmmakers.

There is at least one lecture by a distinguished filmmaker, several panel discussions on such topics as fundraising and post-production marketing of independent films, and workshops run by working filmmakers on the nuts and bolts of the UK industry.

Coachella Music Festival

coachella
The Coachella Music Festival happens in the desert setting of the Coachella Valley for two consecutive weekends April 13-15 and April 20-22.

Organized by Goldenvoice, The Coachella Music Festival happens in the desert setting of the Coachella Valley over two consecutive weekends – April 13-15 and April 20-22. Coachella features many genres of music including rock, indie, Hip Hop and electronic music, and there is large sculptural art as well.

The event has several stages/tents set-up throughout the camp grounds, each playing live music continuously. Festvial maps are available online, on concert grounds and stores close by to serve as an activity guide.

A partial listing of scheduled acts over the two weekends include: Black Keys, Swedish House Mafia, Pulp, Arctic Monkeys, Mazzy Star, Afrojack, Sky, M83, Jimmy Cliff, Tim Armstrong, Radiohead, Bon Iver, the Skins, David Guetta, Kaskade, Miike Snow, Jeff Mangum, Sebastian Ingrosso, Andrew Bird, Feist, fIREHOSE, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, SBTRKT, Manchester Orchestra, Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, At The Drive-In, Justice, Florence, Machine, AVICII, Beirut, the Weeknd, Calvin Harris, the Hives, DJ Shadow, Nero, Wild Flag, Modeselektor, Dada Life, Santigold, Doctor P.

ZIA Record Exchange will be the Official Music Retailer and Artist/Band signing tent at this year’s Coachella. Venue gates open at 11 am each day. A portion collected from the passes benefits the City of Indio and other local charities.

National Association of Broadcasters

Working on behalf of its radio and television membership, National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) provides members with advocacy efforts, legal expertise and timely communications and opportunities for career growth, professional development and networking with other broadcasters.

This year the annual NAB Convention in Las Vegas holds its “Career Day” event April 18, giving an opportunity for media companies to network with experienced professionals, college students and entry-level job seekers interested in a career in the broadcast industry.

New to the convention this year, which runs April 14-19, Content Market serves as the new spot for programming executives and media platforms surrounding digital distribution and monetization to meet and discuss collaboration opportunities. Content Theater, an attendee favorite every year as well as the Content Lounge is nearby for relaxing and networking.

NAB Official Afterparties include: NAB Show Exhibitor Party on April 14 at TAO Nightclub at the Venetian; NAB Show Opening Party, April 16 at Marquee Nightclub; NAB Show Closing Party, April 19 at TAO Nightclub at the Venetian.

Florida Music Festival

The 11th Annual Florida Music Festival will host more than 150 bands on 10 stages over three nights in its live music showcase. Each night, from April 18-21, a national headliner takes the mainstage at Wall Street Plaza in the center of Downtown Orlando.

This year opens with The Dirty Heads. On the conference end, Warped Tour Founder Kevin Lyman is confirmed as this year’s Keynote Interview. The 2012 Florida Music Festival and Conference is an experience in live music, film, visual arts and the cultural community. At the VIP level, parties include open bar and catering each night and there is a Brunch on April 21 before the conference seminars.

Tribeca Film Festival

As the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival program unfolds from April 18-29, the program contains a variety of independent films including documentaries, narrative features and shorts, as well as a program of family-friendly films. The New York City Festival also features panel discussions with personalities in the entertainment world and a music lounge produced with ASCAP to showcase artists.

Some of the free events open for the public to attend without charge includes: Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” on April 19; “Tribeca Talks: Pen to Paper” hosted by Barnes and Noble Union Square, and others all happening April 20-24. Kids will have opportunities to participate in the Youth Soccer Showcase – with skills, drills, pointers and competitions supervised by professional coaches on April 21.

Billboard Latin Music Conference

The Billboard Latin Music Conference and Awards, set to run April 23-26 in Miami will be of interest to the artists, and other music industry professionals keenly following the developments in the Latin music industry.

A conference opening event on April 23 includes SAM Broadcaster In collaboration with Musical Rhythms Promotions, presenting “MAS Y MAS MUSICA” Showcase to honor “El Caballo Mayor” Johnny Ventura on his 55 year musical career. There will be an after-party following this celebration at Club 90 Degrees. On the evening of April 24, there will be a Poolside Cocktail Reception, featuring La Salsa Vive/Salsa Lives, hosted by Nu Life Entertainment.

In one conference session titled “Regional Mexican,” the new generation of regional Mexican acts discuss genre trends, violence and marketing and promoting online. The conference culminates with the Billboard Latin Music Awards at BankUnited Center, honoring achievement from artists on today’s Latin Billboard charts.

Games and Mobile Forum in New York City

In its primary function as a provider in games industry news, covering daily developments on their news site and producing the annual Games and Mobile Forum in New York City, Digital Media Wire will on April 24 begin hosting a special event in Los Angeles – LA Games Conference – focused on business, finance and creative developments in the games industry. Emphasis for the new endeavor includes mobile, online and console markets and the increasing intersection of Madison Avenue and Hollywood with the industry.

Double Down Interactive President, Glenn Walcott is to be featured in a special case study session of IGT’s $500 Million acquisition of the company with Davis Wright Tremaine LLP’s Stuart Campbell. An official Expo After-Party at the Tropicana Bar by poolside is to be co-hosted by PayPal, Openbucks and Tagged.

NYC Downtown Short Film Festival

The NYC Downtown Short Film Festival is a program of DMAC-Duo Multicultural Arts Center, a (501 c3) non-profit organization in New York City’s East Village. The mission of DMAC is to create, promote and celebrate multicultural arts through theater, music, dance, art and film.

The Festival goes from April 26 though May 7, overlapping with the earlier calendar start of Tribeca Film Festival, a time in New York City when New Yorkers and visitors are geared up to attend film festivals. The DMAC theater space has a rich and colorful history when it was previously known as The Astoria. Among other distinguishments, in the early 1970s Francis Ford Coppola rented the theater and shot the famous operetta scene from Godfather 2 on location.

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 read languages. A new initiative has begun to offer the news summary in various translated versions, viewable as a .pdf document and delivered via file sharing and content deliver network protocols, as well as other means.

What’s Up Next Month

Gazing ahead into the next month, be aware that… American International Film Festival will be in Skokie. New York Festivals International Advertising Awards, honoring advertising in all media from over 70 countries, will be in New York City. The New York Los Angeles International Film Festival, a biannual event taking place in both cities only days apart screens in both cities.

The Fifth Annual Film Production and Finance Summit will be in Los Angles. And Streaming Media East 2012 comes to New York City. And don’t forget that the News and Events and the site blog have translation tools to deliver page content in an array of translatable languages other than English.