Berlinale, Country Radio Seminar, Publishing and Media Expo, Byron Bay Film Festival, are highlights in February's

Global Media and Entertainment Industry

InCannessince1967,theannualMIDEM(acronymforMarchInternationalduDisqueetdel'Edition Musicale)eventhasthrivedasaninternationalb2beventencompassingtradeshow,conferences, competitions,networkingeventsandliveperformances,aswellasaplatformforshowcasingnewartists, musicaltrendsandmusicrelatedproducts,andconferenceseducatingaboutthemusicindustryandnew revenuestreams.Since2000,thenightbeforeMIDEMopens,thePalaisdesFestivalshoststheNRJ MusicAwards.TheawardsceremonyisorganisedbyNRJ,aFrenchmultimediaconglomerate. Slatedspeakersatthisyear'sMIDEMTalksinclude,RitaOra,JeanMichelJarre,will.i.am,MarcGeiger, LyorCohenandothers.CompetitionsandparticipativemusiceventsatMIDEM2014willinclude:Open Mic,Midemlab,PitchYourSong,MidemHackDay,PlayMidemLive,SyncSessions.ReedMIDEMis theownerandorganizeroftheannualmidemconferencewhichrunsthroughFebruary4. Inthisyear'sprogram,Brazilwillbetheofficial"CountryofHonour"andthereforewillreceivespecial conferenceandperformanceattention.TheBrazilianMusicExperience,presentedbyTheMinistryof Culture,willcomprisethreeeveningsofconcertsdemonstratingthemusicaldiversityofthiscountry.The scheduledlineupofperformers,includingAlceuValena,RitaBenneditto,LeandroFregonesi,Renata JambeiroandMrcioFaracooffergenresrangingfromsambatobossanova,throughshadesofjazzand hiphop.Therewillbeascheduledindustrytalk,"InspirationFromBrazil"thatwillexploretheimpactof emergingmarketsandBrazil'sroleinthistrend. TheEuropeanFilmMarketrunsforninedaysthroughFebruary14inthecityofBerlinaspartofoneof themostregardedfilmfestivalsinternationally,theBerlinale.Takingplaceasearlyasitdoesintheyear,it isastrongdrawforinternationalfilmindustryprofessionalsandisconsideredabarometerforthe upcomingyearinfilm.TheEFMisthebusinesscentreofthefestival,takingplaceintherenaissance exhibitionhalloftheMartinGropiusBau(MGB)intheheartofBerlin. ThisyearonthefirstdayoftheMarket,theEFMoffersanintroductorysession,Shortcutsfor FirstTimersattheGropiusMirrorrestaurant.TheeventwillinformfirsttimeEFMparticipantsaboutthe EuropeanFilmMarket,theBerlinaleCoProductionMarketandtheBerlinaleTalents,aswellasabout currentFestivalofferings. ForsomeyearsatthefestivalaselectionofGermanfilmshasbeenspotlightedinaGermanCinemaseries whichwasreformedin2011tobecomeGermanCinemaLOLA@Berlinale.Theprogrampresentsfilms slatedfortheGermanFilmAwards(akaLola)bytheGermanFilmAcademy.Activehonorarymemberof theGermanFilmAcademy,HeinzBadewitz,longstandingheadofGermanCinema,continuestohostthe series.LOLA@BerlinaleisajointprojectoftheBerlinInternationalFilmFestival,theGermanFilm AcademyandGermanFilms,thenationalcompanyforpromotingGermanfilms. TheEuropeanFilmMarket2014welcomestheBerlinaleTalentsatthenewlyinstitutedBerlinaleTalents MarketHubhostedbyCanon.TalentsprospectswillnotonlylearnofEFMstructures,butcanalsouse thisplatformtointroducethemselvestotraderepresentativesandestablishsustainablecontacts.EFM visitorsgetafirstimpressionofthe40filmprojectsdevelopedinthevariousBerlinaleTalentsprojectlabs, exchangeideaswithemergingdistributorsandproducersanddiscovernewTalents. TheBerlinaleCoProductionMarketisatwoandahalfdayeventforabout450internationalproducers, salesagents,distributorsaswellasbroadcastingandfundingrepresentativesactiveinthefieldof coproduction.TheeleventhBerlinaleCoProductionMarkettakesplacefromSundaytoFebruary911. Eachautumn,productioncompaniesfromaroundtheworldseekingcoproductionpartnerscansubmit projects.Whatthiseventuallyresultsinisthearrangementofcustomizedmeetingsthatispartofthe serviceofferedbytheBerlinaleCoProductionMarket. Furthertotheoneononemeetings,participantscanfindthelatesthandsoninformationandmakenew contactsthroughthemanynetworkingopportunitiesduringthemarket.CaseStudiesonBerlinalefilms elaborateoncurrenttrendsincoproductionandfinancingopportunitiesandinThemeTalksparticipants canexchangeexperienceswithexpertsandcolleaguesonselectedtopics. DuringtheninedaysoftheEFM,theMartinGropiusBau'sbeautifulRenaissanceexhibitionhalls,dating backto1881,areoutfittedtohostover8,000industryprofessionals.Themainmeetingplaceisinthe CentralHall,whosecafatmospheremakeitacomfortableandproductivenetworkingarea.Thereisalso theEFMLoungeonthesecondflooranidealplacetoworkormeetforadrink.Theloungealsohosts eventsandreceptionsduringtheMarket. Takingplaceforoneday,February12,theWestminsterMediaForuminLondonholdsaconferencethat willexaminetheemergingcommercial,regulatoryandpublicpolicychallengesfortheEuropean audiovisualsectorinthecontextoftheEuropeanCommissionGreenPaper"PreparingforaFully ConvergedAudiovisualWorld:Growth,CreationandValues".Theconferencewillofferdelegatesan opportunitytoexaminetheimpactofconvergenceonmedia,telecomsandtechnologymarkets.In particular,theforumexplorestheeffectsoncompetition,innovationandsectorfinancing,theemerging prioritiesforreformoftheAVMSDirectiveandoptionstodeliverafutureregulatoryframeworkableto keeppacewithrapiddevelopments. WestministerForumguestswhowilldeliverkeynoteaddressesinclude,LorenaBoixAlonso,Headof Unit,ConvergingMediaandContent,DGCONNECT,EuropeanCommissionandLouiseMcElvogue, Principal,MacleodMediaandMember,ConvergenceReviewCommittee20112012,Departmentof

Broadband,CommunicationsandtheDigitalEconomy,Australia. Next,anotherWestminsterMediaForumconferencesetforFebruary28willcovertheUKmusicindustrystreamingservices,socialmediaandmarketconsolidation. Thisconferencewillassesshowthemusicindustryispositionedtoadapttotheemergingfinancialandbusinesschallengescreatedbytechnologicalandmedia convergence.CrispinHunt,CoChiefExecutiveOfficer,FeaturedArtistsCoalitionFrancisKeeling,GlobalHeadofDigitalBusiness,GDB,UniversalMusicGroup andGeoffTaylor,ChiefExecutive,BPI(BritishRecordedMusicIndustry)willdeliverkeynotesofferinginsightastohowservicessuchasSpotify,VevoandiTunes Radioarechangingtheeconomicsofmusic,andtheimplicationsofincreaseddisintermediationbetweenartistsandfansinparticularthedevelopingchallengesfor marketingandpublicrelationsfromtheuseofsocialmedia. LondonbasedWestminsterForumProjects(WFP)operatesagroupofinfluential,impartialandcrosspartyforums.Theforumsorganiseseniorlevelseminarsona widerangeofpublicpolicyareas.Noneoftheforumshasapolicyagendaofitsown,otherthansimplytoraisethequalityofdebateonpublicpolicydevelopmentsand socreateopportunitiesforinformeddiscussion. TheCountryRadioSeminarisanannualNashvilleconventionputtogethertoeducateandpromotethroughanexchangeofideasandbusinesspracticesintheCountry musicindustry,withemphasisonissuesrelevanttoCountryradio.TheCountryRadioHallofFamedinnerandinductionceremonyunofficiallyopenstheCountry RadioSeminareachyear.February18,theCountryRadioHallofFameCocktailReceptionisfollowedbytheCountryRadioHallofFamedinnerandinduction ceremony. TheCountryRadioHallofFameisdedicatedtotherecognitionofthoseindividualswhohavemadesignificantcontributionstotheradioindustryovera20yearperiod, 15ofwhichmustbeintheCountryformat.TherewillbeanofficialopeningnightreceptionsetforFebruary19andakickoffnightperformancewithalineupincludes GrandOleOprymembersCarrieUnderwood,RascalFlattsandOldCrowMedicineShow,alongwithThompsonSquare,LoveandTheft,BrandyClark,WillHoge, andEricPaslay.Theeventwillstartat19:00,immediatelyfollowingtheCRSOpeningNightWelcomeReception. SomeoftheCRShighlightstoexpectincludeconferencepresentationofdatafromacomprehensiveCountrymusicresearchstudyontheincreasedpopularitycountry musicisseeingwith1234yearoldagegroups.Iconicproducers/musicians(Hall,JohnsonandOldham)arefeaturedinanewdocumentary:MuscleShoals(Magnolia Pictures),tellingtheirtaleofthesurgeinmusictrendsettingwithinasmalltownontheTennesseeriverwhichstartedinthesixtiesamidstthebackdropofthesocietal revolutionofthe60'sCivilRightsmovement,andthathelpedtosetthebenchmarksfortheRock,Pop,RandB,SoulandCountrymovements.Thescreeningwill featureclipsfromthefilmandconversationwiththemusicians. AndinotherCRShighlightsrunningthroughtheFebruary21conferenceclose,theCMAVocalGroupoftheYear,LittleBigTown,presentsapanelabout perseveranceinthecountrymusicindustryatCRS2014.BobKingsleywillconductaninterviewwiththebandthroughoutthesession,whichwilltakeplaceFebruary 19intheNashvilleConventionCenter.ATeamUMGattheRymanluncheonwillfeatureartistsfromtheUniversalMusicGrouproster. PublishingandMediaExpoinLondonisaneventintentonrevealingthefutureofpublishingwithitsmultichannelcontentdemands,andunitesthemediaindustry reflectingtheemergingnewandtraditionalforms,withnewideasandsolutions.Establishedin2005,PublishingandMediaExposetsouttodefinethefutureof publishingthroughkeynotes,seminarsandexhibitionareasfromFebruary2526.KeynotespeakingassignmentshappenintheKeynoteTheatre.SimonBirkenhead, DirectorofGlobalAdvertisingSales,TelefnicaDigitalwilladdressthe"FutureofMobileWhat'snextaftertheSmartphone". Theexpowillhaveeducationcontentspreadacrossthreekeyareasrepresentingtheindustry.The"AudienceandDataTheatre"programwillexaminethenextwave ofdigitaldisruptioninpublishingisaimedatremovingboundariesandenablingpeopletointeractwithdigitalcontentacrosstheirdevices.CatherineFlynn,Manager, GlobalMarketingSolutions(UK),Facebookwilldelveinto"Thefutureofsocialmediaasamarketingplatform"andhowFacebookwillcontinuetoadaptandevolveas amarketingtool.SimonBirkenhead,DirectorofGlobalAdvertisingSales,TelefnicaDigitalreviewstheFutureofMobileandWhat'snextaftertheSmartphone. Therewillbeanexplorationoftheissuesandpitfallsfacingtherealmonetisationofmobilemedia. Numerousnetworkinghotspotssituatedacrosstheshowfloorincluding:theTFM&ANetworkingBar,theOA&ANetworkingBar,theGMALounge,theBy InvitationOnlyLounge(OpentoVIPonly).Thelatestsolutions&technology.Ensureattendeesareadaptingaheadoftheircompetitors,visitthevastrangeofsolution providersofferingthelatesttechnologyandinnovation. Independentfilmmakersfromover40countriesandatallstagesoftheircareersareabletotoshowcasetheirworkacrossallgenresattheByronBayInternational FilmFestivalinNewSouthWales.Socialnetworkingengagementsincludethegalaredcarpetopeningandclosingnightparties,orfestivalwideaccesstothesunset barforaquietdrink,minglingwithAustralianandinternationalindustryfigures.AfreeFullMoonBeachsideCinemaeventwillbeheldonFebruary14.Thefilms chosenselectionfortheeveningwillbeheartwarming,funnyandimpactingwiththethemesofconnectionandrelationshipschosenfortheeveningsprogramming. ThisyearthefestivalduringthecourseofitsrunfromFebruary28March9willhostarangeofworkshops,panelsandnetworkingopportunities.Thereisa presentationthroughalternativefundinganddistributionoptionsandhowtorunasuccessfulcrowdfundingcampaign.Thereisascheduledtalkaboutcomposingmusic fordifferentscreenenvironmentsandhowtodevelopacareerincomposingforscreen.AMasterclasswithAustraliancinematographerDonMcAlpinewillbeheld followingtheBBFFscreeningofShowMetheMagic(CathyHenkel). AnopportunityforfilmmakerstomeetinternationalandAustralianfilmbuyersandfindoutwhattheyarelookingforisontheagenda.Thereistobeaconstructed meetingplacesanctuaryforestablishedandemergingfilmmakerstogreet,networkandmakecreativeconnectionswithfiguresinthefilmandtelevisionworld.Charles Schuerhoff,DonMcAlpineACSASC,MandyChang(ABC)andTedEmeryandotherspecialguestswillbeinattendance.AfinalRedCarpetGalaPartyhappensa daybeforefestivalcloseonMarch8whereawardswillbehandedout,includingthebigoneforBestFilm. Theaboveeventsareonlyasampleofwhatisfullylisted.Completedetailsareonthe"Media,EntertainmentandPerformingArtsIndustryNewsandEvents"pageat: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html.Theeventsblogalsoshowslinkstopagesthataretranslatedintotenofthemostwidelyusedinternationallanguagesread overtheInternetotherthanEnglish.Thismonth'spictureplacementreflectsTheOscarswillhonorthe75thanniversaryofTheWizardofOz.OscarWeekevents beginFebruary14andtheAcademyAwardpresentationswillbeMarch2.Ifthephotodoesnotappearinthispostpleaseclickthislinktoviewit.Inalookaheadinto nextmonth'scalendarevents,wehave:AmericanModelAwards,inLasVegasGuangzhouInternationalInteractiveMultimediaFair2014,inGuangzhouthe6th AnnualFilmFinanceForumWestcomestoLosAngelesSXSWConvention,returnstoAustin6thAnnualFilmFinanceForumWest,comestoLosAngelesHong KongInternationalFilm&TVMarket2014,inWanchaiTheOscars,willbeheldinHollywood.