Walker Art Center Presents Native-Directed Film Series INDIgenesis: Gen 3, Guest Curated by Missy Whiteman

INDIgenesis: GEN 3, A Showcase of Indigenous Filmmakers and Storytellers, March 19–28

Presented over two weeks, the series INDIgenesis: GEN 3, guest curated by Missy Whiteman (Northern Arapaho and Kickapoo Nations), opens with an evening of expanded cinema and includes several shorts programs in the Walker Cinema and Bentson Mediatheque, an afternoon of virtual reality, and a closing-night feature film.

The ongoing showcase of works by Native filmmakers and artists is rooted in Indigenous principles that consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations. GEN 3 connects perspectives and stories from the past, present, and future to convey Indigenous truths, teachings, and values.

“Indigenous artists use the creative process of filmmaking for revitalization and narrative sovereignty,” says Whiteman. “Our stories tell us where we came from, re-create our truths, affirm our languages and culture, and inspire us to imagine our Indigenous future. We come from the stars. How far will we take this medium?”

Throughout the program, join conversations with artists and community members centered on themes of Indigenous Futurism, revitalization, and artistic creation.

Opening Night: Remembering the Future
Expanded Cinema Screening/Performance
Thursday, March 19, 7:30 pm Free, Walker Cinema

Missy Whiteman’s The Coyote Way: Going Back Home, 2016. Photo courtesy the filmmaker.

Combining film, a live score, hoop dancing, hip-hop, and spoken word, a collective of Indigenous artists led by curator Missy Whiteman creates an immersive environment that transcends time and place. Guided by ancestral knowledge systems, traditional stories, and contemporary forms of expression, the expanded cinema program features performances by DJ AO (Hopi/Mdewakatonwan Dakota), Sacramento Knoxx (Ojibwe/Chicano), Lumhe “Micco” Sampson (Mvskoke Creek/Seneca), and Michael Wilson (Ojibwe). Archival found footage and Whiteman’s sci-fi docu-narrative The Coyote Way: Going Back Home (2016), filmed in the community of Little Earth in South Minneapolis, illuminate the space.

Missy Whiteman’s The Coyote Way: Going Back Home, 2016. Photo courtesy the filmmaker.

View The Coyote Way: Going Back Home trailer

Indigenous Lens: Our RealityShort films by multiple directors
Friday, March 20, 7 pm, $10 ($8 Walker members, students, and seniors), Walker Cinema

This evening of short films showcases a collection of contemporary stories about what it means to be Indigenous today, portraying identity and adaptability in a colonialist system. The program spans a spectrum of themes, including two-spirit transgender love, coming of age, reflections on friends and fathers, “indigenizing” pop art, and creative investigations into acts of repatriation. Digital video, 85 mins

Copresented with Hud Oberly (Comanche/Osage/Caddo), Indigenous Program at Sundance Institute (in attendance).

Lore
Directed by Sky Hopinka (Ho-Chunk Nation/Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians)

Images of friends and landscapes are fragmented and reassembled as a voice tells stories, composing elements of nostalgia in terms of lore. 2019, 10 min. View excerpt.

Adam Khalil, Zack Khalil, Jackson Polys, and Bailey Sweitzer’s Culture Capture: Terminal Adddition, 2019. Photo courtesy the filmmakers.

Culture Capture: Terminal Adddition
Directed by New Red Order: Adam Khalil (Ojibway), Zack Khalil (Ojibway), Jackson Polys (Tlingit), Bayley Sweitzer

The latest video by the public secret society known as the New Red Order is an incendiary indictment of the norms of European settler colonialism. Examining institutionalized racism through a mix of 3D photographic scans and vivid dramatizations, this work questions the contemporary act of disposing historical artifacts as quick fixes, proposing the political potential of adding rather than removing. 2019, 7 min. View excerpt.

Shane McSauby’s Mino Bimaadiziwin, 2017. Photo courtesy the filmmaker.

Mino Bimaadiziwin
Directed by Shane McSauby (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians)

A trans Anishinaabe man meets a young Anishinaabe woman who pushes him to reconnect with their culture. 2017, 10 min. View excerpt.

The Moon and the Night
Directed by Erin Lau (Kanaka Maoli)

Erin Lau’s The Moon and the Night, 2017. Photo courtesy the filmmaker.

Set in rural Hawaii, a Native Hawaiian teenage girl must confront her father after he enters her beloved pet in a dogfight. 2018, 19 min. View excerpt.

Erin Lau’s The Moon and the Night, 2017. Photo courtesy the filmmaker.

Erin Lau. Photo courtesy the filmmaker. Photo By: Antonio Agosto

Shinaab II
Directed by Lyle Michell Corbine, Jr. (Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Indians)

A young man seeks to honor the memory of his late father in a film that looks at Ojibwe ideas surrounding death and mourning. 2019, 6 min.

Daniel Flores’ Viva Diva, 2019. Image courtesy the artist.

Viva Diva
Directed by Daniel Flores (Yaqui)

This road trip movie follows Rozene and Diva as they make their way down to Guadalajara for their gender affirmation surgeries. 2017, 15 min. View excerpt.

Daniel Flores. Image courtesy the artist.

Dig It If You Can
Directed by Kyle Bell (Creek-Thlopthlocco Tribal Town)

An insightful portrait of the self-taught artist and designer Steven Paul Judd (Kiowa), whose satirical manipulations of pop culture for an Indigenous audience are gaining a passionate, mass following as he realizes his youthful dreams. 2016, 18 min. View excerpt.

Laugh, Cry, Love, Thrill and Cheer as 14 All-Time Film Favorites Light Up Movie Theaters Nationwide in the 2020 TCM Big Screen Classics Series

More Than 60 Years of Incredible Hollywood History Will Be Back on the Big Screen, Playing Across the U.S. for the Enormously Popular Event Cinema Series

“Surely, you can’t be serious!” In 2020, 14 of movie history’s greatest romances, funniest comedies, scariest monsters, boldest visions, ultimate adventures, and most unforgettable dramas will be back in movie theaters across the country as Fathom Events and Turner Classic Movies present the fourth annual, yearlong TCM Big Screen Classics series.

2020 TCM Big Screen Classics

Among the highlights are the first national theatrical release of 1933’s King Kong in more than 60 years; the tear-jerking Love Story for Valentine’s Day; the 60th anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho; and a rare big-screen appearance of Fiddler on the Roof. Plus, 2020 is the 40th anniversary of Airplane! We are serious. And don’t call us Shirley.

The 2020 lineup for the TCM Big Screen Classics series is:

• An American in Paris (1951)
• Love Story (1970)
• The Color Purple (1985)
• King Kong (1933)
• A League of Their Own (1992)
• Airplane! (1980)
• Annie (1982)
• The Blues Brothers (1980)
• Ghost (1990)
• Babe (1995)
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
• Psycho (1960)
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
• Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

Now in its fourth year, the TCM Big Screen Classics series continues to grow in popularity. In 2019, many events in the series experienced sold-out audiences and ranked near or at the top of box-office results – showcasing the enduring appeal and popularity of gathering in a darkened movie theater to see the sights and hear the sounds of the best Hollywood has ever created. Each film is presented with pristine digital projection and movie-theater-quality sound, further enhanced by fascinating pre- and post-feature insights presented by popular TCM hosts.

“2019 was a banner year for Fathom and the TCM Big Screen Classics series, with record levels of attendees and a bigger box office than ever before,” said Fathom Events Vice President of Studio Relations Tom Lucas. “That success challenged us to search out some of the greatest films ever released, including iconic titles from over six decades, featuring world-renowned filmmakers, legendary stars, Best Picture winners, and epic productions – all meant to be seen on the big screen.”

“This is a slate of films to make every movie lover genuinely excited, and our partnership with Fathom Events means we can bring these films to a bigger audience than ever. This series celebrates the magic of the movies all throughout the country, proving that there is nothing that matches the joy of seeing these films in a movie theater,” added Genevieve McGillicuddy, vice president of enterprise and strategic partnerships, TCM.

Tickets for all films in the 2020 TCM Big Screen Classics series are available at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. For a complete list of theater locations for each event, visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

The movies coming soon to a theater near you in the TCM Big Screen Classics are:

Love Story (1970) – 50th Anniversary from Paramount Pictures

Love Story

Love Story (1970) – 50th Anniversary from Paramount Pictures
Sunday, February 9, and Wednesday, February 12
One of the most romantic movies ever made remains one of the most enduringly popular. This heartfelt tale of the love of a lifetime received seven Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress. 
CAST: Ryan O’Neal, Ali MacGraw, John Marley, Ray Milland
SCREENPLAY: Erich Segal, based on his novel
DIRECTED BY: Arthur Hiller

The Color Purple

The Color Purple

The Color Purple (1985) – 35th Anniversary from Warner Bros.
Sunday, February 23
Resilient Celie endures decades of abuse, bigotry and violence, as she finds love – and family – amid her harsh and unforgiving surroundings. Nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and presented to honor National Black History Month.
CAST: Whoopi Goldberg, Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, Akosua Busia
SCREENPLAY BY: Menno Meyjes, based on the novel by Alice Walker
DIRECTED BY: Steven Spielberg

King Kong

King Kong (1933) from Warner Bros.
Sunday, March 15
“No, it wasn’t the airplanes. It was Beauty killed the Beast.” When King Kong is captured and taken off his tropical island for the bright lights of Manhattan, an unexpected bond is formed between the great beast and a damsel in distress.
CAST: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher, King Kong
SCREENPLAY BY: James Creelman and Ruth Rose
DIRECTED BY: Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack

Walker Art Center’s Out There 2020: Annual Festival of Performance Alternatives at The Walker Arts Center

Program Features Tina Satter / Half Straddle; Miguel Gutierrez; Ligia Lewis, and Back to Back Theatre

OUT THERE IS BACK WITH 20/20 VISION. Through a range of theatrical aesthetics, this year’s slate of international artists engage us with revelatory works by turns playful and dark, political and personal, gothic and supernatural. They interrogate labels and preconceptions, the artificial and the organic. This year, two artists new to the Walker and two returning favorites push back and look forward, reframe and reposition. Their concerns are ours: identity, race, sexuality, and the meaning of intelligence.

Tina Satter / Half Straddle: Is This A Room: Reality Winner Verbatim Transcription

Out There: Tina Satter/ Half Straddle, Is This A Room. Photo: © Paula Court courtesy of The Kitchen Half Straddle

January 9–January 11, 2020, 8pm

“Is This A Room is a beautiful work—impassioned yet made with a cool hand; straight-faced yet often funny. It is also devastating because damn, the real world is a hell of a writer.” —Artforum

After the FBI interrogated Reality Winner, a 25-year-old former Air Force linguist, the transcript of the encounter ignited director Tina Satter’s theatrical imagination. Satter’s company Half Straddle replicates, word by word, the verbal dance between the whip-smart Winner and reality-twisting agents, demonstrating how military interrogation tactics, toxic masculinity, and systemic marginalization resulted in her conviction for espionage. Funny and suspenseful, engaging and enraging, the production re-creates one afternoon spent in a bizarre and secret world—the turning point of a personal life wrenched irrevocably into the political. Program length: 70 minutes.

Tina Satter is an American writer and director for theater and film who was a recipient of a 2016 Foundation for Contemporary Arts Award, a 2014 Doris Duke Artist Impact Award, and was named an Off-Off Broadway Innovator to Watch by Time Out New York. With Half Straddle, she has written and directed ten original full-length plays, and re-imagined them for a range of spaces as they have toured to numerous theaters and festivals in the U.S. and internationally.

Meet the Artists

• Thursday, January 9: Post-show reception with the artists in Cityview Bar
• Friday, January 10: Post-show Q&A with the artists onstage.

Miguel Gutierrez: This Bridge Called My Ass

Out There: Miguel Gutierrez, This Bridge Called My Ass. Photo: Ian Douglas

January 16–17, 8pm, January 18 4pm & 8pm, Walker Commission

“A dense, audacious and wickedly funny work that…contains multitudes and unflinchingly bears their weight.”—New York Times

Movement artist Miguel Gutierrez‘s second Walker commission provocatively investigates identity politics, Latinx clichés, and Western concepts of form, drawing from (in part) the influences of the groundbreaking 1981 feminist anthology This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color. Gutierrez and five diverse Latinx performers amplify stereotypes to move past respectability politics within an unstable environment of bodies, light, sound, and text (in Spanish, with surtitles). The chaotic, playfully erotic production concludes with an over-the-top version of an absurdist telenovela. Contains nudity and sexual content. Program length: 90 minutes.

Miguel Gutierrez is a choreographer, composer, performer, singer, writer, educator and advocate who has lived in New York for over twenty years. He is fascinated by the time-based nature of performance and how it creates an ideal frame for phenomenological questions around presence and meaning-making. His work proposes an immersive state, for performer and audience alike, where attention itself becomes an elastic material. He believes in an approach to art making that is fierce, fragile, empathetic, political, and irreverent.

Meet the Artists

• Thursday, January 16: Post-show reception with the artists in Cityview Bar
• Friday, January 17: Post-show Q&A with the artists onstage

2019 Holiday Travel: New, Record-Setting “Mile High Tree” Anchors Denver’s Mile High Holidays Festivities

Denver’s Newest Holiday Attraction – A 110-Foot Digital Tree – Amplifies The Excitement Around The City’s Seasonal Blockbuster Exhibitions, Events And Performing Arts

This year, along with hundreds of holiday traditions and festivities, The Mile High City will feature two brand-new lighting attractions illuminating downtown, making the city look and feel more festive than ever. The Mile High Tree – the tallest digital tree in North America – will feature pre-programmed LED light shows choreographed to multicultural holiday music; and Night Lights Denver – an outdoor projection mapping installation featuring local artists – will also light up the city skyline.

VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau logo. (PRNewsFoto/VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau)

These new attractions complement the already robust programming that makes up Denver’s Mile High Holidays. There are also world-class exhibitions, like Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature and The Science Behind Pixar, at the city’s museums; innovative and immersive performing arts like Camp Christmas and movies with the Colorado Symphony; and plenty of local gifts to be found in neighborhoods, galleries, boutique shops and marketplaces.

Below are just a few experiences to be found during Mile High Holidays. For more information on how to spend a night or a long weekend in Denver, and to take advantage of holiday hotel deals starting at $99, visit www.MileHighHolidays.com.

Blockbuster Exhibitions

Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature, through February 2, 2020

The Denver Art Museum is the sole U.S. venue for the most comprehensive exhibition of Monet paintings in more than two decades. The exhibition features more than 100 paintings spanning Monet’s entire career and focuses on the celebrated French impressionist artist’s enduring relationship with nature and his response to the varied and distinct places in which he worked. In connection with Denver Art Museum, several hotels have created VIP packages that include untimed, skip-the-line tickets, which allow access to the exhibition even if the date is sold out to the general public; these packages can be found at https://monetindenver.com.

The Science Behind Pixar, through April 5, 2020

Enjoy a unique look into the Pixar process, and explore the science and technology behind some of the most beloved animated films and their characters with The Science Behind Pixar at Denver Museum of Nature & Science. This interactive exhibition showcases the science, technology, engineering, art, and math concepts used by the artists and computer scientists who help bring Pixar’s award-winning films to the big screen. With more than 50 interactive elements, the exhibition’s eight sections each focus on a step in the filmmaking process to give you an unparalleled view of the production pipeline and concepts used at Pixar every day. Participate in fun, engaging hands-on activities, listen to firsthand accounts from members of the studio’s production teams, and even come face-to-face with re-creations of your favorite Pixar film characters, including Buzz Lightyear, Dory, Mike and Sulley, Edna Mode, and WALL•E.

Extreme Sports: Beyond Human Limits, through April 12, 2020

Visitors will be put to the test as they jump, fly, dive, climb and explore some of the riskiest activities in the world at this Denver Museum of Nature & Science exhibition. Physical, multimedia and creative challenges place guests inside the minds and bodies of extreme athletes and their passions such as wingsuit flying, ice and rock climbing, parkour, and free diving. Amid exhilarating speeds, breathtaking heights, and profound depths, the stories of these passionate athletes will leave visitors inspired to push their own personal limits.

Beer Here! Brewing the West, through August 9, 2020

Explore Colorado’s brewing industry from the saloons of the Gold Rush through Prohibition to today’s booming craft beer scene at History Colorado Center‘s Beer Here! Brewing the West. Learn about the Centennial State’s brewing past, present and future through historical artifacts, interactive elements and more.

Holiday Performing Arts

Celebrate the Theater, Music and Dance in Denver

Camp Christmas, November 21, 2019 – January 5, 2020

The newest indoor immersive installation from Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Camp Christmas, will feature mesmerizing displays of decorations that shift time and reality. Performed at Stanley Marketplace, Camp Christmas is Denver’s newest holiday experience, where yuletide traditions of the past and present get merrily mashed together in a massive 10,000-square-foot wonderland. All ages are welcome at this family-friendly experience.

The Hip Hop Nutcracker, November 23-24

Innovative digital graffiti and visuals transform the landscape of E.T.A. Hoffmann‘s beloved story from traditional 19th Century Germany to the vibrant, diverse sights and sounds of contemporary New York City. Through this re-mixed and re-imagined version of the classic, performed at Buell Theater in the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the dynamic performers of The Hip Hop Nutcracker take audience members on a journey that celebrates love, community and the magic of a New Year.

The Nutcracker, November 30 – December 29

Children and adults will enjoy Colorado Ballet‘s 58th annual production of the classic Christmas ballet The Nutcracker, held at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House and featuring unforgettable characters, classic choreography, exquisite sets, dazzling costumes and Tchaikovsky’s extraordinary arrangement performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra.

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, December 3-8

Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical returns to the Buell Theatre in Denver to steal Christmas after a blockbuster debut in 2014. More than 2.5 million theatre-goers across America have been delighted by this heart-warming holiday musical, featuring the hit songs “You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas” from the original animated TV special. Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is “two sizes too small,” decides to steal Christmas away from the holiday-loving Whos. Magnificent sets and costumes inspired by Dr. Seuss’ original illustrations transport audiences to the whimsical world of Whoville and helps remind them of the true meaning of the holiday season.

Movie at the Symphony: Home Alone in Concert, November 29; Love Actually in Concert, December 6

A holiday classic, Home Alone will feature renowned composer John Williams‘ charming and delightful score performed live by the Colorado Symphony at Boettcher Concert Hall as the film is shown on large suspended screens in Boettcher Concert Hall. Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old boy who is accidentally left behind when his family leaves for Christmas vacation, and who must defend his home against two bungling thieves (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern). Hilarious and heartwarming, Home Alone is holiday fun for the whole family.

Love Actually is the ultimate romantic holiday comedy. Featuring an all-star cast, the film will take audiences on a tour of love’s delightful twists and turns. The score will be performed by the Colorado Symphony and conductor Christopher Dragon.

Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum, December 7-22

For 28 years, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble has been blending dance, live music, spoken word and seasonal celebrations and customs from around the world into a memorable holiday tradition like no other. A Denver original, Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum is a family favorite that inspires audiences of all ages to discover, celebrate and honor the holiday traditions of cultures from around the world.

Celtic Woman: The Best of Christmas Tour, December 8

The celestial voices of multi-platinum Irish singing group, Celtic Woman, will be coupled with the Colorado Symphony in Denver’s stop of The Best of Christmas Tour. The performance at Boettcher Concert Hall will feature music from the all-female ensemble’s most favorite Yuletide songs.

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker, December 13-14

The one and only Moscow Ballet will present the Great Russian Nutcracker at Denver’s Paramount Theatre. Featuring world class Russian artists, hand-painted sets, Russian Snow Maidens, and jubilant Nesting Dolls – Great Russian Nutcracker brings the Christmas spirit to life for all ages.

Walker Art Center Presents a Dialogue and Retrospective, Julia Reichert: 50 Years in Film

Independent documentary filmmaker Julia Reichert has been asking defining questions about workers’ rights, gender roles, taboos, and social change in America since the early 1970s. The pioneering Emmy Award–winner and three-time Academy Award–nominee comes to the Walker Arts Center for a retrospective of her distinguished body of work, Julia Reichert: 50 Years in Film, Feb 1–29, 2020 (at the Walker’s Bentson Mediatheque). Reichert will be on-site February 28 and 29, 2020 to discuss her career and her two recent, widely celebrated documentaries, American Factory and 9 to 5: The Story of a Movement.

Julia Reichert. Image courtesy the artist.

Indiewire on Julia Reichert
Women and Hollywood on Julia Reichert

Schedule of Events

Double Feature: Growing Up Female and Union Maids

Julia Reichert’s Growing Up Female, 1971. Image courtesy the artist.

Julia Reichert’s Growing Up Female, 1971. Image courtesy the artist.

Growing Up Female Directed by Julia Reichert and Jim Klein

Thursday, February 20, 7 pm Free

“I wish every high school kid in America could see this film.” —Susan Sontag on Growing Up Female

Growing Up Female is the very first feature-length film of the modern women’s movement. Considered controversial and exhilarating on its release, the film examines female socialization through a personal look into the lives of six women, ages four to 35, and the forces that shape them—teachers, counselors, advertisements, music, and the institution of marriage. A time capsule of a generation’s feminist issues, sometimes intersecting with race and class, the film illuminates a complex system of institutions upholding internal and external oppression. Selected to the National Film Registry in 2011. 1971, DCP, 52 min.

Julia Reichert’s Union Maids, 1976. Image courtesy the artist.

Julia Reichert’s Union Maids, 1976. Image courtesy the artist.

Union Maids, Directed by Julia Reichert, Jim Klein, and Miles Mogulescu

Reichert interviews three “Union Maids” on their experiences as organizing women of the Labor movement. Fighting for humanitarian rights, these radical workers reflect on their lives filled with purpose and struggle. Frustrated by the privileged class’ participation in the women’s movement and caught up in race and gender discrimination within class warfare, their voices echo and contextualize many social justice issues today. 1976, DCP, 48 min.

Julia Reichert at her film editing table in 1973. Image courtesy the artist.

Seeing Red: Stories of American Communists, Directed by Julia Reichert and Jim Klein

Julia Reichert’s Seeing Red, 1983. Image courtesy the artist.

Friday, February 21, 7 pm; $10 ($8 Walker members, students, and seniors)

Reichert brings to light the forgotten history of Americans who joined the Communist Party and the high price many of them paid for their beliefs. Boldly countering traditional myths, the film presents engaging interviews and personal accounts that take on a new resonance in today’s charged political climate. 1983, DCP, 100 min.

20th Annual SOUND UNSEEN | FILM + MUSIC FESTIVAL Announces 2019 Full Film Lineup

The Sound Unseen Film + Music Festival (November 12-17) announced the film lineup for this year’s 20th Anniversary edition of the film festival.

Highlights include a special appearance of John Doe with the screening of W.T. Morgan’s documentary X: THE UNHEARD MUSIC, award-winning filmmaker Ondi Timoner coming to Sound Unseen with a 15th Anniversary screening of her film, DIG!, as well as a special presentation of the MAPPLETHORPE Director’s Cut. Sound Unseen also announced that Scott Crawford’s BOY HOWDY: THE STORY OF CREEM MAGAZINE, would be the Closing Night selection.

In the fall of 1999, Sound Unseen introduced itself as a unique, cutting edge “films-on-music” festival in Minneapolis. Formulated as a cultural organization dedicated to the role of film and music as a conduit of powerful ideas and diverse viewpoints. Its mission is to foster a greater appreciation of cinema, to bridge cultures, create and expand community, provide cultural exchange, networking opportunities and educational outreach through regular interaction with great films, filmmakers, musicians and artists.

Since its inception, It has established itself as one of the premiere niche festivals in the country, but more importantly as a vital part of the regional cultural scene. Now in its 19th year, the festival has expanded to include year-round programming, unique pop-up events, and special screenings including world and regional premieres.

Mystify: Michael Hutchence will have its Minnesota Premiere at the 20th Annual SOUND UNSEEN | FILM + MUSIC FESTIVAL

Named “One of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals In The World” by Moviemaker Magazine in 2016, the “Best Winter Film Festival” by the Star Tribune 2012, and the “Best of the Fests 2010” from Mpls/St Paul Magazine, Sound Unseen continues its tenure as the region’s premiere films-on-music festival. While bringing the best in documentaries, short films, and music videos it also showcases rare concert footage, interactive panels, and live music events. As part of its year-round presence, Sound Unseen offers a successful monthly screening series and special events throughout the Twin Cities. This diversity in content is one of the things that separates Sound Unseen from the typical outdoor mega concerts and film festivals.

Sound Unseen Festival Director Jim Brunzell and Producer/Co-Programmer Rich Gill, said, “Our lineup this year is a wonderful mix of films hot on the film festival circuit, classics, and screenings that include appearances by wonderful filmmakers and musicians. We are really excited about this group of films and events built around them that should make our 20th Anniversary edition truly memorable.”

Scott Crawford’s BOY HOWDY: THE STORY OF CREEM MAGAZINE joins the previously announced Seamus Murphy’s A DOG CALLED MONEY (Opening Night), and Brandon Vedder’s STRANGE NEGOTIATIONS (Centerpiece) to complete an impressive trio of Gala screenings. BOY HOWDY: THE STORY OF CREEM MAGAZINE looks at the seminal Creem Magazine‘s humble beginnings to becoming one of the publications of record for rock n’ roll. Fifty years after publishing its first issue, “America’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll Magazine” remains a seditious spirit in music and culture. The film features interviews with Cameron Crowe, Alice Cooper, Kirk Hammett, Joan Jett, Michael Stipe, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Chad Smith, Peter Wolf and Wayne Kramer.

The one and only John Doe of X will come to Sound Unseen as part of a presentation of W.T. Morgan’s X: THE UNHEARD MUSIC. Screened on 35mm, the film is one of the best music films of the punk era. Shot over the course of five years, this documentary presents spectacular live performances interspersed with interviews with the band members and associates.

The only filmmaker to be a two-time Sundance Film Festival Grand Prize Jury Winner, Ondi Timoner comes to Minnesota with two of her films. The first is the 15th Anniversary screening of DIG!. The 2004 documentary looked at the collision of art and commerce through the eyes of The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre. The film was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art for their permanent collection. Timoner will also be on hand for her Director’s Cut of MAPPLETHORPE. Led by a devastating performance by Matt Smith in the title role, the stylish and well-crafted biopic covers the full life of its subject, world renowned and controversial photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, most frequently providing an alluring view of New York in its grittiest era.

Other highlights include; ALL I CAN SAY, a film created from hours of home video footage shot by tragic Blind Melon front man Shannon Hoon; Martha Kehoe and Joan Tosoni‘s GORDON LIGHTFOOT: IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND, a portrait of Canada’s most famous singer-songwriter; Tyler Measom’s I WANT MY MTV, which traces the beginnings and exploding influence of the music video channel; Steven Gaddis’ LIVE FROM THE ASTROTURF: ALICE COOPER, about a super-secret concert event at a record store in Dallas, featuring the legendary shock rocker; the North American premiere of Simon David’s TIME AND PLACE, about cult favorite Atlanta R&B artist Lee Moses; and Brent Hodges’ WHO LET THE DOGS OUT, which explores the history, influence, and story behind the famous (or infamous) song.

For more information about Sound Unseen, as well as how to purchase tickets, go to: http://www.soundunseen.com.

The 2019 Sound Unseen Film Festival official selections:

Opening Night Selection

A DOG CALLED MONEY MIDWEST PREMIERE

Director: Seamus Murphy

Countries: Ireland/UK, Running Time: 90 min

Alternative-music icon PJ Harvey’s ninth studio album, 2016’s “The Hope Six Demolition Project,” was created through a unique process that blended travelogue, photography, performance art, and now a documentary feature. It began when Harvey, looking to develop a new set of politically tinged songs that would also evoke a tangible sense of place, decided to accompany award-winning photojournalist and filmmaker Seamus Murphy as he travelled on assignments to war-torn regions in Afghanistan and Kosovo, as well as to the poor, mostly black neighborhoods of Washington, D.C.

CENTERPIECE SELECTION

STRANGE NEGOTIATIONS MINNESOTA PREMIERE

Director: Brandon Vedder

Countries: USA, Running Time: 91 min

After renouncing his long-held Christian beliefs and walking away from his critically-acclaimed band, Pedro the Lion, musician David Bazan retreated into a solitary life of touring solo, struggling to rebuild his worldview and career from the ground-up, and to support his family of four. STRANGE NEGOTIATIONS finds David a decade into his journey, during which he has become a sort of reluctant prophet to Americans reeling from their country’s own crisis of faith highlighted during the 2016 presidential election.

CLOSING NIGHT SELECTION

BOY HOWDY: THE STORY OF CREEM MAGAZINE MINNESOTA PREMIERE

Director: Scott Crawford

Country: USA, Running Time: 75 min

Capturing the messy upheaval of the ’70s just as rock was re-inventing itself, the film explores Creem Magazine’s humble beginnings in post-riot Detroit, follows its upward trajectory from underground paper to national powerhouse, then bears witness to its imminent demise following the tragic and untimely deaths of its visionary publisher, Barry Kramer, and its most famous alum and genius clown prince, Lester Bangs, a year later.

Walker Art Center Presents Sound Unseen Film + Music Festival Opening Night Film

Evening Will Feature Live Music by Katy Vernon and PJ Harvey Film A Dog Called Money

The Sound Unseen Film+Music Festival (November 12 – 17, 2019) celebrates 20 years of film, music, and art in the Twin Cities. The opening night event includes a live music performance by Katy Vernon on the Walker Cinema Stage starting at 6:30 pm and a postshow reception in the main lobby. (Visit Sound Unseen for the full schedule of events and locations.)

Walker Arts Center logo (edited)

In the fall of 1999, Sound Unseen introduced itself as a unique, cutting edge “films-on-music” festival in Minneapolis. Formulated as a cultural organization dedicated to the role of film and music as a conduit of powerful ideas and diverse viewpoints. Its mission is to foster a greater appreciation of cinema, to bridge cultures, create and expand community, provide cultural exchange, networking opportunities and educational outreach through regular interaction with great films, filmmakers, musicians and artists.

The Sound Unseen Film+Music Festival logo

Since its inception, It has established itself as one of the premiere niche festivals in the country, but more importantly as a vital part of the regional cultural scene. Now in its 19th year, the festival has expanded to include year-round programming, unique pop-up events, and special screenings including world and regional premieres.

Named “One of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals In The World” by Moviemaker Magazine in 2016, the “Best Winter Film Festival” by the Star Tribune 2012, and the “Best of the Fests 2010” from  Mpls/St Paul Magazine, Sound Unseen continues its tenure as the region’s premiere films-on-music festival. While bringing the best in documentaries, short films, and music videos it also showcases rare concert footage, interactive panels, and live music events. As part of its year-round presence, Sound Unseen offers a successful monthly screening series and special events throughout the Twin Cities. This diversity in content is one of the things that separates Sound Unseen from the typical outdoor mega concerts and film festivals.

Sound Unseen has received press coverage in all major local media including The Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, City Pages, Vita.mn, Secrets of the City, Walker Art blog, TC Daily Planet, Northland News, Growler Magazine, MinnPost; local radio stations The Current, KQRS, MPR, Radio K and television news including NBC, FOX, and CBS. National media mentions have included Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, USA Today, Music Film Web blog, The Playlist, and AIF Independent magazine of New York.

Screenshot from PJ Harvey Film A Dog Called Money, directed by Seamus Murphy

Alternative-music icon PJ Harvey’s ninth studio album, 2016’s The Hope Six Demolition Project, was created through a unique process that blended travelogue, photography, performance art, and now a documentary feature. It began when Harvey, looking to develop a new set of politically tinged songs that would also evoke a tangible sense of place, decided to accompany award-winning photojournalist and filmmaker Seamus Murphy as he travelled on assignments to war-torn regions in Afghanistan and Kosovo, as well as to the poor, mostly black neighborhoods of Washington, DC. As Murphy filmed, Harvey personally interacted with the members of the different communities and wrote her impressions in a diary, crafting song lyrics and melodies based on the stories she uncovered. Back in London, Harvey and her band experimented with these new songs during a live sound installation called “Recording in Progress” at the distinguished Somerset House, generating an album’s worth of material entirely within a glass-walled recording studio, with members of the public invited to watch. Chronicling the entire project, and even including a handful of songs not on the final album, A Dog Called Money is Murphy’s inspiring, expressionistic document of this unprecedented collaborative experiment. 2019, Ireland/UK, DCP, 90 min. —Clinton McClung, Seattle International Film Festival

Sound Unseen Opening Night
Tuesday, November 12
Live Music: Katy Vernon, 6:30pm
Screening: A Dog Called Money, 7pm
Walker Cinema, $20 ($15 Walker members, students, and seniors)

Co-presented with Sound Unseen.

‘Just Mercy’ Announced As Closing Night At Austin Film Festival, Marking The Return Of AFF Screenwriting Winner Andrew Lanham

Meg And Lawrence Kasdan To Return To AFF Conference And Welcome The World Premiere Of Documentary , Last Week At Ed’s’

The 26th annual Austin Film Festival (AFF) (October 24 – 31, 2019), the premier film festival recognizing writers’ and filmmakers’ contributions to film, television, theatre and new media, will proudly present Just Mercy as its Closing Night film on October 31, 2019 at 9:15pm at The Paramount Theatre. Attending with the film is screenwriter Andrew Lanham, UT Michener Graduate and 2016 AFF Screenwriter to watch. Lanham has also been recognized by AFF previously as 2010’s Drama Screenplay Competition winner for The Jumper of Maine. (You can view the full sof films here.)

Directed and co-written by Destin Daniel Cretton, Just Mercy tells the true story of attorney Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) and his fight to defend Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), a man wrongfully sentenced to death. The film made its World Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival in September and will be theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures, beginning December 25, 2019. Cast member Tim Blake Nelson will also attend with the screening, joining Lanham for a post-film Q&A.

“Authenticity is essential to capturing something so historic as this struggle for justice and humanity,” stated Casey Baron, Film Program Director. “It is an honor to welcome back a storyteller the Festival has watched grow and achieve over the past decade, with us to celebrate our Closing Night.”

Additionally, Lawrence Kasdan (The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Big Chill, The Force Awakens) is set to return to AFF’s Conference for a conversation about the necessities for writing a successful screenplay. He and Meg Kasdan (Grand Canyon, Darling Companion) will co-present the World Premiere of Last Night at Ed’s alongside Kasdan, documenting the personal story of a beloved Hollywood establishment’s final days. The film will screen Saturday October 26, 2019 at 2 pm at the State Theatre, and Kasdan’s Conversation will take place Saturday October 26, 2019 at 4:45pm at the Central Presbyterian Church.

AFF will also be presenting Scandalous, an investigation into the sordid and larger-than-life history of the National Enquirer. Under the direction of Texas filmmaker Mark Landsman, the film dives into the infamous tabloid’s sensational coverage that captivated readers for decades. Scandalous screens October 27, 2019 at 5:30 pm at the Alamo Drafthouse Village.

The 26th Annual Austin Film Festival To Open With The Us Premiere Of ‘The Obituary Of Tunde Johnson,’ And Announced Additional Titles Set To Screen At The Festival

Austin Film Festival banner

The 26th Annual Austin Film Festival (AFF), the premier film festival recognizing writers’ and filmmakers’ contributions to film, television, theatre and new media, announced its Opening Night feature, The Obituary of Tunde Johnson, taking place October 24, 2019. Director Ali LeRoi will present the film alongside screenwriter Stanley Kalu. The film is LeRoi’s feature directorial debut, and Kalu’s first produced feature screenplay. Kalu won The LAUNCH: Million Dollar Screenplay Competition in 2018, co-founded by Zachary Green and Jason Shuman. Along with receiving a $50,000 education grant and literary representation, Kalu’s film was produced by Green, Shuman and philanthropists Chuck and Marni Bond.

The Obituary of Tunde Johnson follows Tunde Johnson (portrayed by Steven Silver), a gay, black teenager trapped in a time loop that forces him to relive his own brutal murder at the hands of a police officer on duty. The film made its World Premiere at 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. LeRoi and Kalu will participate in a post-film Q&A following the screening and will also take part in programming as panelists at the AFF Writers Conference.

AFF also proudly announces an additional Marquee feature, Atlantics. Atlantics, a haunting romance set in Senegal, is the feature directorial debut of Mati Diop. The film was awarded the Sutherland Award at the BFI London Film Festival as well as the Grand Prix at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. The film will screen Sunday October 27, 2019 at 2:30pm at the Alamo Drafthouse Village. Atlantics will premiere in theaters November 15, 2019 and on Netflix November 29, 2019.

The Festival’s shorts programming blocks include Wanted: Strong Woman, in which a woman finds a new passion, Black Goat, the story of a girl’s dark coming of age ritual, Robu, a young man’s journey through Japan to recover a special manga, and Digital Series Brothers from the Suburbs, a comedy centered on three black high schoolers. The Festival is also screening short films The Shabbos Goy, a comedy from Paul Feig, Laura Fischer’s Powderkeg Fuse incubator, Bye Bye Body, an introspective look at body positivity, and family drama Jane. Other mentionable shorts include the University of Texas filmmakers’ Femenina, which tells the story of a wrestler’s grappling with his own sexuality, and Super Sonic, a romance cultivated beyond one man’s hearing-impairment.

Ninth Annual Napa Valley Film Festival Announces Film Line-Up

Festival to open with “Just Mercy,” close with World Premiere of “Verticals”

The ninth annual Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) has announced its film line-up, including Opening and Closing Night screenings. NVFF returns this fall with its five-day festival showcasing the year’s best new independent films, November 13-17. Organizers will showcase Napa Valley’s finest food and wine at all special events, including the Festival Gala, VIP receptions and Vintner Circle dinners, and will feature a lively series of filmmaker-chef collaborative demonstrations at the Monogram Appliances Demonstration Kitchen at the Oxbow Commons in downtown Napa. The seven screening venues located throughout the Valley include the Archer Hotel Napa, the historic Cameo Cinema, the CIA at Copia, Charles Krug Winery, Lincoln Theater, Native Sons, and the Uptown Theatre.

Napa Valley Film Festival Logo

“We are excited to release another eclectic selection of highly-curated comedies and dramas from established and emerging filmmakers,” said Napa Valley Film Festival CEO Tom Tardio. “These films consist of inspiring and compelling stories that will thoroughly engage and entertain our festival-goers. At the intersections of film, food, and wine, the festival continues to deliver tremendously unique and exclusive experiences that only a world-class destination such as Napa Valley can provide and only that NVFF can deliver.”

Sneak Preview Night, Opening Night and Closing Night

NVFF will kick off with their Sneak Preview Night on Tuesday, November 12 with a special presentation of 20th Century Fox’s Ford v Ferrari. The film is inspired by the remarkable true story of visionary American car designer Carroll Shelby and the fearless British driver Ken Miles. Directed by James Mangold, the film stars Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe, Tracy Letts, Josh Lucas, Noah Jupe, Remo Girone and Ray McKinnon.

The festival’s official Opening Night film on Wednesday, November 13 is Warner Bros.’ Just Mercy, a powerful and thought-provoking true story following young lawyer Bryan Stevenson and his history-making battle for justice. The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and stars Michael B. Jordan, Brie Larson and Jamie Foxx.

Closing the festival on Sunday, November 17 is SOMMTV’s world premiere of Verticals, a series that showcases Napa Valley winemakers and the human condition through a bottle of wine. This premiere is also the launch of SOMMTV, the first food and wine dedicated streaming platform. The series is directed by Jason Wise.

Award Season Contenders

• Clemency (Neon) – Years of carrying out death row executions have taken a toll on prison warden, Bernadine Williams. The emotional wedge in her marriage grows and memories of a recently botched execution plague her daily. As she prepares to end the life of another inmate, Bernadine must confront the psychological and emotional demons her job creates, ultimately connecting her to the man she is sanctioned to execute. Directed by Chinonye Chukwu and starring Alfre Woodard, Aldis Hodge, Wendell Price, Richard Schiff and Danielle Brooks.
• Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Neon) – In 1760 France, Marianne is commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse, a young woman who has just left the convent. Marianne arrives under the guise of companionship with the reluctant bride-to-be, observing Héloïse by day and secretly painting her by firelight at night. As the two women orbit one another, intimacy and attraction grow as they share Héloïse’s first moments of freedom. Héloïse’s portrait soon becomes a collaborative act of and testament to their love. Directed by Céline Sciamma and starring Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel.
• To The Stars (Samuel Goldwyn Films) – Iris, a bespectacled and reclusive teen living in a god-fearing Oklahoma town in the 1960s, endures the booze-induced antics of her mother and daily doses of bullying from her classmates. She finds solace in Maggie, the charismatic and enigmatic new girl at school, who hones in on Iris’s untapped potential and coaxes her out of her shell. When Maggie’s mysterious past can no longer be suppressed, the small community is thrown into a state of panic, leaving Maggie to take potentially drastic measures and inciting Iris to stand up for her friend and herself. Directed by Martha Stephens and starring Kara Hayward, Liana Liberato, Malin Akerman, Tony Hale, Shea Whigham and Adelaide Clemens.
• Troop Zero (Amazon Studios) – In a tiny Georgia town in 1977, a motherless girl named Christmas Flint dreams of life beyond the confines of her trailer-park home and hopes to make contact with outer space. When Christmas learns that the winners of the annual Birdie Scout Jamboree talent contest will be included on a recording to be sent into space for posterity, she tries to join the local Scouts troop. When she is rejected by the snobbish group of girls and their uptight leader Miss Massey, Christmas rallies a group of elementary-school outliers to start their own chapter. Troop Zero is an endearing and magical tale of friendship and individuality. Directed by Bert & Bertie and starring Viola Davis, Mckenna Grace, Jim Gaffigan, Mike Epps, Charles Shotwell and Allison Janney.

Special Presentations

• Code & Response – 2018 was the worst year on record for natural disasters. Code & Response takes us into the heart of the aftermath of some of those disasters as we meet the first responders who are supported by innovative technology. Follow four coders from around the world (Japan, Puerto Rico, California, and Mexico) to learn about why they are getting involved, as well as how they are building technologies to help first responders save lives. Directed by Austin Peck.
• Elsewhere – Bruno is still mourning his wife’s passing when his in-laws evict him from the home he and wife built together. Unwilling to let his beloved home fall into disrepair, Bruno sneaks back to the house and meets the new owner of the home, Marie. Determined to be the only person to make any changes to the house he built, Bruno poses as a local handyman and Marie hires him for renovations. As the two begin work on the house, Bruno is forced to face the reality that his wife is gone, and he learns to move on from his grief. Directed by Hernán Jiménez and starring Aden Young, Parker Posey, Ken Jeong, Beau Bridges and Jacki Weaver. World Premiere
• From the Vine – Mark, a downtrodden CEO, is experiencing an ethical crisis at work. In an attempt to re-calibrate his moral compass, he travels back to his hometown in rural Italy. He finds newfound purpose by reviving his grandfather’s old vineyard, offering the small town of Acerenza a sustainable future and reconnecting with his family in the process. Combining magical realism and Italian neorealism, and set against the backdrop of Italian wine country, From the Vine is about returning to your roots and redefining your life when you’re at the bottom of the barrel. Directed by Sean Cisterna and starring Joe Pantoliano, Wendy Crewson, Marco Leonardi, Paula Brancati and Tony Cisterna.
• Gay Chorus Deep South – In response to a wave of discriminatory anti-LGBTQ laws in Southern states, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus embarks on a tour of the American Deep South. The tour brings a message of music, love, and acceptance to communities and individuals confronting intolerance. What emerges is a less divided America, where the lines that separate us in faith, politics, and sexual identity are erased through the soaring power of music, humanity, and a little drag. Directed by David Charles Rodrigues.
• I Want My MTV – A nostalgic and thrilling ride, I Want My MTV takes its audience back to the beginning, when the idea of a television channel devoted to only videos seemed destined for failure. The chronicling of this unique journey provides a peek into how a team of young executives were tasked with growing this seed of an idea, which would quickly flourish into a beloved and often controversial cultural juggernaut. Features commentary from Sting, Billy Idol, The Eurythmics, Jerry Cantrell, Pat Benatar, and more. Directed by Patrick Waldrop and Tyler Measom, and starring Sting, Billy Idol, Pat Benatar, Dee Snider, Norman Lear, The Eurythmics , Darryl McDaniel and Jerry Cantrell.
• It All Begins with a Song: The Story of the Nashville Songwriter – It All Begins with a Song: The Story of the Nashville Songwriter is a celebration of one of music’s most important yet underrated forces: the songwriter. These songwriters have penned melodies and lyrics for some of the biggest stars in the music industry, yet few know their names. Pull back the curtain to reveal the process of creating a successful song and learn more about the origins of some of the world’s most iconic hits. Directed by Anthony ‘Chusy’ Haney-Jardine.
• The Land of High Mountains – The Land of High Mountains is the inspiring true story of the only pediatric hospital in Haiti. In a country where one third of the population is under fourteen years of age and foreign NGOs consistently come and go, Saint Damien Pediatric Hospital has been providing life-saving healthcare to the most vulnerable families for over thirty years. This is a powerful account of the incredible people, both Haitian and foreign who, despite encountering every conceivable obstacle, are working together to create a brighter future for their patients and for Haiti. Directed by Will Agee and starring Liferne Forestal, Phadoul Amisial, Fr. Rick Frechette, Dr. Renee Alce, Dr. Jacqueline Gautier, Fr. Enzo Del Brocco, Veline , Gaelle , Lourdy , Pierre Nadine, Sainfleur Jean Israel, Marie Yolene, Vilaire Meralin and Christiana Liberis.
• Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound – Since the invention of sound in films, sound designers have been influencing the landscape of cinema. Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes of sound design throughout cinematic history. Through interviews with legendary directors and some of the industry’s most-respected sound designers, we revisit film classics that helped shape the way we listen to and experience films today. Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound reveals the hidden impact of sound in cinema and how the auditory intake of a film holds so much power over an individual’s experience of storytelling. Directed by Midge Costin.
• Martha: A Picture Story – In the 1970s, Martha Cooper was one of a handful of photographers documenting the first vivid images of graffiti appearing on New York City’s subway carriages. 20 years later, she discovers that her book Subway Art has become one of the most stolen books of all time – inspiring the spread of graffiti around the globe and making Martha an unexpected icon of the street art world. Now, at age 75, Martha must navigate her way through the vastly changed culture of the modern world. Directed by Selina Miles.
• My Beautiful Stutter – After lifetimes of bullying, isolation, and failed fluency training, witness the incredible transformation of five kids who stutter when they enter a groundbreaking program through SAY, The Stuttering Association. Over the course of a year of events and workshops, these young people of wildly different backgrounds experience SAY’s revolutionary mantra: it’s okay to stutter. Directed by Ryan Gielen and starring Taro Alexander.
• RUTH – Justice Ginsburg in Her Own Words – How does a person with three strikes against her rise to the highest court in the land, the U.S. Supreme Court? RUTH – Justice Ginsburg in Her Own Words tells the improbable story of how Ruth Bader Ginsburg became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. It also reveals both the public and private sides of a resilient, resourceful woman who has survived the hostility of the profoundly male universe of government and law to become a revered Justice and icon for gender equality and women’s rights. Directed by Freida Lee Mock and starring Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Justice Goodwin Liu, Dean Erwin Chemerinsky, Irin Carmon, Shana Knizhnik, Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy, M.E. Freeman, Lilly Ledbetter and Kathleen Peratis.
• The Three Drinkers Do Scotch Whisky – Packed full of humour, personality, and flavour, The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky is a drinks-focussed travelogue, where three friends embark on a road trip through Scotland. From Dufftown and Islay to Elgin and Jura, they journey through breath-taking landscapes, visiting iconic distilleries and touching on Scottish culture, tourism and traditional dishes you can’t even pronounce. This is whisky for a new, global audience, from twenty-one to ninety-one. Directed by David Agrawal. World Premiere

OTHER FILM HIGHLIGHTS

Core Competitions (previously announced)

Narrative Competition

• Bring Me an Avocado, Directed by Maria Mealla and starring Bernardo Peña, Sarah Burkhalter, Molly Ratermann, Candace Roberts.
• Here Awhile, Directed by Tim True and starring Anna Camp, Steven Strait, and Joe Lo Truglio. World Premiere
• Justine, Directed by Stephanie Turner and starring Glynn Turman, Darby Stanchfield, Josh Stamberg, Daisy Prescott, and Stephanie Turner.
• Lucky Grandma, Directed by Sasie Sealy and starring Tsai Chin, Corey Ha, Michael Tow, Woody Fu, Yan Xi, Wai Ching Ho, and Clem Cheung.
• The Nomads, Directed by Brandon Eric Kamin and starring Tika Sumpter and Tate Donovan.
• Run This Town, Directed by Ricky Tollman and starring Ben Platt, Mena Massoud, Nina Dobrev, Damian Lewis, Jennifer Ehle, and Scott Speedman.
• Standing Up, Falling Down, Directed by Matt Ratner and starring Billy Crystal, Ben Schwartz, Eloise Mumford, Grace Gummer, Caitlin McGee, David Castaneda, Debra Monk, and Jill Hennessy.
• Stealing School, Directed by Li Dong and starring Celine Tsai, Jonathan Keltz, Michelle Monteith, Mpho Koaho, Darrin Baker, Jonathan Malen, Matthew Edison, and Vas Saranga. World Premiere

Documentary Competition

• I Am Human, Directed by Taryn Southern and Elena Gaby.
• Latter Day Jew, Directed by Aliza Rosen.
• Motherload, Directed by Liz Canning.
• The Pollinators, Directed by Peter Nelson.
• The Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion, Directed by Lisa Cortes and Farah X.
• The Story of Plastic, Directed by Deia Schlosberg.
• This Is My Home, Directed by Karl Nickoley.
• Well Groomed, Directed by Rebecca Stern.

Verge

• Come As You Are, Directed by Richard Wong.
• Greener Grass, Directed by Dawn Luebbe and Jocelyn DeBoer.
• Hosea, Directed by Ryan Daniel Dobson. World Premiere
• Last Call, Directed by Gavin Michael Booth.
• Only, Directed by Takashi Doscher.
• Speed of Life, Directed by Liz Manashil.
• Treasure Trouble, Directed by Dan Erickson.
• The Way You Look Tonight, Directed by John Cerrito.

Culinary Cinema

• Breaking Bread, Directed by Beth Elise Hawk.
• Funke, Directed by Gab Taraboulsy.
• Nose to Tail, Directed by Jesse Zigelstein.
• Nothing Fancy: Diana Kennedy, Directed by Elizabeth Carroll.
• Stage: The Culinary Internship, Directed by Abby Ainsworth.
• A Taste of Sky, Directed by Michael Lei.

The festival will also feature Short Film Programs with:

• 17 Narrative Shorts
• 11 Documentary Shorts

The Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) is a five-day celebration that blends the art of film, food, and wine together. Discover the best new independent films of the year, savor exquisite cuisine paired with legendary wines, and create lasting memories found only in the Napa Valley. The Napa Valley Film Festival is presented by Cinema Napa Valley, a registered 501c3 non-profit organization headquartered in Napa, California. Cinema Napa Valley’s mission is to celebrate the cinematic arts and enrich the community by presenting an annual world-class festival and year-round education and outreach programs. The Napa Valley Film Festival takes place November 13-17, 2019. Visit napavalleyfilmfest.org for more information on passes and festival events.

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Presenting Sponsor: Rolls-Royce

Major Sponsor: Meadowood Napa Valley

Leading Sponsors: AVMS, Charles Krug Winery, Colorzone, DoNapa, Monogram, Raymond Vineyards, Viking Cruises, Westin Verasa Napa


Supporting Sponsors: Archer Hotel Napa, Blackbird Vineyards, Blanc Creatives, Cathay Pacific, De’Longhi, Estate Events by Meadowood, Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch, Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards, Peroni Italy, The Studio by Feast It Forward, Twin Dolphin Los Cabos, Whole Foods Market, Yountville Chamber of Commerce

Media Sponsors: Travel + Leisure, Variety, Wine Spectator

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Honors Indigenous Peoples’ Day with Launch Of Free Community Celebration That Places Native American Voices at the Forefront

Presented in Partnership with Akomawt Educational Initiative and Jonathan James-Perry (Aquinnah Wampanoag Nation)

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), is offering its first free celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday, October 14, presented in partnership with the Akomawt Educational Initiative and Jonathan James-Perry, Tribal Citizen of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Nation.

The community celebration re-positions Columbus Day as a holiday to honor the original inhabitants of the Americas. Part of the Fenway Alliance’s 18th annual Opening Our Doors Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the MFA recognizes the heritage of Native Americans and the histories of their nations and communities, promoting the artistry of indigenous peoples in Greater Boston and New England. Throughout the day, visitors can explore the Native North American Art Gallery, enjoy music and dance, and drop in on a variety of family art-making activities. Indigenous Peoples’ Day is sponsored by Ameriprise Financial. Additional programming support is provided by The Lowell Institute.

“The MFA was founded in 1870 and stands on the historic homelands of the Massachusett people. This event is one step in building bridges and engaging indigenous communities with the Museum through local and region-wide partnerships with artists, performers, educators, tribal nation leaders and community members,” said Makeeba McCreary, Patti and Jonathan Kraft Chief of Learning and Community Engagement at the MFA. “As a museum, we acknowledge the long history of the land that we occupy today and seek ways to make these narratives more prominent and visible within our galleries.”

During the celebration, visitors are invited to share their perspectives on Cyrus Dallin’s Appeal to the Great Spirit (1909), a monumental sculpture on the MFA’s Huntington Avenue lawn, through a community-activated art project. Visitor feedback will help to inform the interpretation of the work—continuing conversations that began during a spring 2019 lecture and community discussion. In the afternoon, a welcome and blessing will be held by Matthew Teitelbaum, Ann and Graham Gund Director; Elizabeth Solomon, Member of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag; Jonathan James-Perry, Tribal Citizen of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Nation; and Chris Newell, Passamaquoddy, Akomawt Educational Initiatve.

Additional highlights of the community celebration include:

• Tours in the Native North American Art Gallery co-led by MFA curators and educators from the Akomawt Educational Initiative
• Native American hoop dance performances by Toronto-based professional hoop dancer Lisa Odjig (Ojibwe), telling the story of creation; narrated by renowned musician Chris Newell (Passamaquoddy), also the co-founder and director of education at the Akomawt Educational Initiative
• Vocal performances by Jennifer Kreisberg (Tuscarora, North Carolina)
• Hand drum and contemporary powwow song performances by the Iron River Singers, an intertribal northern style group composed of Ojibwe, Abenaki and Wampanoag singers from the South Coast of Massachusetts
• Interactive songs and dances by The Kingfisher Dance Theater, featuring members of the Southern New England Native community
• Art-making activities led by Elizabeth James-Perry (Aquinnah Wampanoag) and Kerri Helme (Mashpee Wampanoag)
• Weaving and beadwork demonstrations with artist Sparrow Plainbull (Haliwa-Saponi)

Indigenous Peoples’ Day one of 11 annual community celebrations at the MFA, co-created with valued community partners, artists and performers, highlighting external perspectives and local expertise. The series includes Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lunar New Year, Nowruz, Memorial Day, Highland Street Foundation Free Fun Friday, Latinx Heritage Night, ASL Night, Diwali and Hanukkah.

Schedule of Indigenous Peoples’ Day Events. Museum admission is free all day, 10 am–5 pm

Share Your Thoughts

• 10 am–4 pm | Huntington Avenue Lawn
• What do you see when you look at Cyrus Dallin’s sculpture Appeal to the Great Spirit? Share your thoughts about this artwork. Your response will inform its future interpretation.

Welcome and Blessing

• 1:30 pm | Shapiro Family Courtyard
• Matthew Teitelbaum, Ann and Graham Gund Director; Jonathan James-Perry, Tribal Citizen of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Nation; and Chris Newell, Akomawt Educational Initiative

Native American Hoop Dance Featuring Lisa Odjig (Ojibwe)

• 11 am and 2 pm | Shapiro Family Courtyard
• Watch as two-time World Hoop Dance Champion Lisa Odjig tells the story of creation using music, dance and multiple flexible hoops. Narrated by renowned musician and MC Chris Newell (Passamaquoddy).

Jennifer Kreisberg (Tuscarora Nation)

• Noon and 3 pm | Remis Auditorium
• Mother, singer, composer, producer, teacher, and activist—Jennifer Kreisberg (Tuscarora, North Carolina) comes from four generations of Seven Singing Sisters through her maternal line. She is known for her fierce vocals and soaring range.

Iron River Singers

• Enjoy hand drum and contemporary powwow songs from Iron River Singers, an intertribal northern style group comprised of Ojibwe, Abenaki, and Wampanoag singers from the South Coast of Massachusetts.

The Kingfisher Dance Theater

• 11:30 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm | Gallery 250
• Enjoy interactive song and dance with members of the Southern New England Native community.

Art-making Activities

• 10 am–1 pm | Education Center in the Druker Family Pavilion, Room 159
• Elizabeth James-Perry (Aquinnah Wampanoag): Wampum

• 11am–4 pm | Gallery 168
• Sparrow Plainbull (Haliwa-Saponi): Weaving and beadwork

Examining the Collection Tours

• 10:30 am and 2:30 pm | Gallery LG33
• Join Akomawt Educational Initiative educators and MFA curators in the Native North American Art gallery as they discuss the defining characteristics of “Native art” and who gets to make these decisions. Hear about techniques used in the works on display and learn about the ever-changing cultural contexts in which we understand them.

Guided Tours

Meet at Sharf Visitor Center

Join a free guided tour to explore highlights from the Museum’s many collections.

• 10:30 am | Highlights of the Museum Collections
• 11:30 am | Art of Asia
• 12:15 pm | Art of the Americas
• 12:30 pm | 3 in 30 Minutes
• 1 pm | Introduction to the Contemporary Collection
• 1:45 pm | Art of Europe
• 2:30 pm | Art of the Ancient World
• 3:15 pm | Highlights of the Museum Collections

Education, access and community programs at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), connect visitors from Boston’s neighborhoods, New England and around the world with art. The MFA welcomes more than one million visitors annually, serving many through its learning and community engagement programs. Opportunities for free and discounted admission for students, teachers, children, EBT card holders and military personnel and veterans can be found at mfa.org/visit, including free access for college students through the MFA’s University Membership and Pozen Community College Access program. Visitors can also learn about access programming for visitors with disabilities online, which includes free entry for personal care attendants. Additionally, the MFA Citizens program offers free one-year family memberships to newly naturalized U.S. citizens living in Massachusetts. The Museum is free for all after 4 pm every Wednesday and offers 11 free community celebrations annually. Each year, the Museum welcomes approximately 55,000 students and teachers—kindergarten through high school—for school group visits. Additional educational programming includes gallery talks, lectures, artist demonstrations, studio art classes and art-making workshops for hospital patients. In 2020, the MFA is marking its 150th anniversary with a yearlong celebration of generosity, community and inclusion through a series of special events and initiatives.

The MFA is located on the Avenue of the Arts at 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115. For more information, call 617.267.9300, visit mfa.org or follow the MFA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Publishing Giant Condé Nast Announces New Global Leadership Structure

U.S./New York-based Condé Nast and London-based Condé Nast International Are Integrated as One Global Team. New Consumer Marketing Function to Bring Focus on Direct-to-Consumer Efforts With Unified Commercial Team to Better Serve Global Clients’ Holistic Needs

New Leadership Structure is Expected to Help Further Turn the Financial Ship Around As Company Moves Beyond Closing and Selling Off Magazine Titles, Layoffs and Consolidation of Workforce Across All Titles

Long expected, Condé Nast yesterday appointed a new global leadership team designed to accelerate the company’s evolution into a 21st-century media company. The new organizational structure, which combines Condé Nast and Condé Nast International into a unified global team, was created with several guiding principles in mind, including the preservation of local editorial voice and authority, an enhanced focus on the consumer, unification of the company’s ad and commercial sales functions to reflect clients’ local and global needs and the development of new ways to share capabilities and best practices across the company.

Condé Nast is a global media company, home to iconic brands including Vogue, The New Yorker, GQ, Glamour, AD, Vanity Fair, and Wired, among many others. The company’s award-winning content reaches 84 million consumers in print, 367 million in digital and 379 million across social platforms, and generates more than 1 billion video views each month. The company is headquartered in London and New York and operates in 32 markets worldwide including China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico & Latin America, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, the U.K., and the U.S., with local license partners across the globe. Launched in 2011, Condé Nast Entertainment is an award-winning production and distribution studio that creates programming across film, television, social and digital video and virtual reality.

“One of my top priorities has been to define our organizational structure so that we can take full advantage of our unique growth opportunities and exceptional content around the world,” said the recently-appointed CEO of Condé Nast, RogerLynch “I’m confident that our new global structure will better enable us to collaborate across teams and markets and, ultimately, deliver unparalleled experiences for our consumers and clients.“

The new structure is as follows:

Global Content Functions:: Anna Wintour, U.S. Artistic Director, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue U.S. and (newly-appointed) Global Content Advisor, will continue in her role as U.S. Artistic Director and Editor-in-Chief of Vogue U.S., and will add Global Content Advisor and oversight of Vogue International to her responsibilities. In her expanded role, Wintour will advise the executive leadership team on global content opportunities and act as a resource to editors-in-chief and editorial talent worldwide.

Oren Katzeff, President of Condé Nast Entertainment (CNE), will expand the company’s digital video, film and television operations to create best-in-class video content experiences for audiences worldwide. The company has been increasing its focus on video content and currently generates 1.1 billion video views per month. Under Oren’s leadership, CNE will now be the core of our global network of video teams, supporting the growth of our video businesses in all markets.

David Remnick, Editor-in-Chief of The New Yorker, will also continue to report directly to Lynch.

Global Operations Organization: Wolfgang Blau, President, International & Chief Operating Officer will oversee all non-U.S. markets, as well as selected global strategic functions, including Product & Technology, Data, Licensing, Global Editorial Operations, Business Development, and Delivery & Business Transformation. This organization will ensure day-to-day operational excellence and capability sharing across the business.

Global Commercial Organization: Pamela Drucker Mann, Global Chief Revenue Officer & President, U.S. Revenue, will lead a new global revenue organization that brings together the company’s U.S. and international ad sales, creative and agency, B2B marketing and client service capabilities. Jamie Jouning, promoted to Chief Client Officer, will report to Drucker Mann and oversee key global accounts, multi-market deals, and central digital ad operations. Drucker Mann will define ad sales and ad product strategies globally, and work closely with Jamie and the central team and commercial leads in the company’s worldwide markets to drive overall ad, agency, and B2B revenue and share best practices.

Consumer Marketing Organization: Condé Nast is creating a new consumer marketing organization that will be led by a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and will bring added focus to the company’s direct-to-consumer efforts. As the company expands its consumer offerings, this team will be charged with developing best-in-class capabilities and consistency across consumer experiences on every platform. The team will also be responsible for consumer revenue, with a core focus on subscriptions and memberships. In addition, the team will have responsibility for global brand management, consumer research, and insights and global audience development, ensuring a data-driven approach to the company’s efforts. The search for a CMO to lead this new organization will begin immediately.

Corporate Functions: The company is also globalizing its three corporate functions to leverage skills, expertise and standardize processes and best practices: People, Finance and Communications. The company will begin an immediate search and selection process for these and other open roles. Until new leaders are identified, teams will maintain their existing reporting lines and responsibilities.

“We’re bringing added focus to our direct-to-consumer efforts and will build a new consumer marketing function that will be charged with developing best-in-class subscription and membership capabilities, and maintaining the authenticity of our iconic global brands,” Lynch continued. “And by transforming our sales organization into a unified global team, Condé Nast will be better positioned to serve the holistic needs of our clients around the world and make it easier for them to do business with us.“

The new structure and appointments take effect immediately.

On Location Experiences And Bud Light Launches Three Day Music Fest Leading Up To Super Bowl Liii In Atlanta

First Ever Bud Light Music Festival Brings The Biggest Names In Music on 2019 SuperBowl LIII Weekend

Bruno Mars, Cardi B, Aerosmith, Ludacris, Migos, Lil Yachty, Lil Baby And More To Perform

Tickets To The General Public Went On Sale Friday, November 9 At 12:00 Pm Via Superbowlmusicfest.Com And Ticketmaster

On Location Experiences, the official hospitality partner of the National Football League (“NFL” or “The League”) and Bud Light, the official beer sponsor of the NFL, announced the launch of the first-ever Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest. The three-night festival will give football fans and the entire city of Atlanta an opportunity to enjoy the artists they love from Thursday, January 31st through Saturday, February 2nd at Atlanta’s fully transformed, premium, sports, and live entertainment venue State Farm Arena. On Saturday Night, the Bud Light Super Bowl Eve concert will feature one of the world’s biggest pop artists Bruno Mars and one of the top female rappers in the game Cardi B. Friday’s lineup includes Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Aerosmith and a soon-to-be-announced special guest.

On Location Experiences Music Fest (PRNewsfoto/On Location Experiences)

Electronic Arts Inc.‘s EA SPORTS BOWL will once again serve as the unofficial kickoff to the biggest weekend in the NFL season Thursday night with a Welcome to Atlanta Showcase that features Atlanta hip-hop legend Ludacris and friends, as well as a special Quality Control Music showcase featuring rap supergroup Migos, Lil Yachty, Lil Baby and more.

“Super Bowl Music Fest was created from the vision of bringing the scale of a top-tier music festival and building it around the excitement of one of the world’s biggest sporting events. With an all-star lineup and the chance to showcase outstanding local talent to over 45,000 people over three nights at State Farm Arena, Super Bowl Music Fest creates a one of a kind experience,” said John Collins, CEO of On Location Experiences. “We are tremendously excited to bring this unique experience to Atlanta and fans all weekend long.”

In addition to top-level talent spanning a multitude of genres, the festival will feature celebrity and athlete appearances. Additional presenting partners for the Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest are StubHub and Ticketmaster. An array of premium seating offerings, including suites and club packages, will be available also featuring options for premium hospitality. For updates, visit https://www.superbowlmusicfest.com.

“Atlanta is a city with such a strong music culture, that we wanted to work together with our partners at On Location Experiences to bring a music festival to the city that has something for everyone and pays homage to the city’s history of iconic music,” said Shana Barry, Director of Experiential, Bud Light. “Between bringing some of the biggest acts out there right now along with some local Atlanta flavor, we hope that we can give people a chance to come together, drink a few beers and have an unforgettable experience during Super Bowl weekend.“

BUD LIGHT SUPER BOWL MUSIC FEST SCHEDULE

• Thursday, January 31 – Ludacris & Friends, Quality Control Presents: Migos, Lil Yachty, & Lil Baby. Plus Metro Boomin + Special Guests, a DJ set by Lil Jon, & more
• Friday, February 1 – Aerosmith and Special Guest
• Saturday, February 2 – Bruno Mars and Cardi B

The Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest is executive-produced by On Location Experiences and SYNERGY Productions, LLC with production support from Live Nation Urban.

On Location Experiences (a privately held company, owned by RedBird Capital Partners, Bruin Sports Capital, 32 Equity and the Carlyle Group) is a leader in premium experiential hospitality business, establishing a new industry standard to serve iconic rights holders with extensive experience in ticketing, curated hospitality, live event production and travel management in the worlds of sports and entertainment. The events planning company is a partner to over 150 rights holders including the NFL, NCAA, the PGA of America and the United States Tennis Association, and provides unrivaled official access for both corporate clients and fans looking for immersive experiences at marquee events including the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, NFL Draft, NCAA Final Four, PGA of America events, numerous College Football Bowl Games and the Tennis Majors.

On Location through CID Entertainment & Future Beat also partner with numerous artists and music festivals across genres, including Imagine Dragons, Metallica, Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa, Electric Daisy Carnival, Migos, Post Malone, Iron Maiden, and J. Cole. On Location’s operations include Anthony Travel, CID Entertainment, Future Beat, KreateInc., PrimeSport, and Steve Furgal’s International Tennis Tours.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS / HASHTAGS
Website: www.superbowlmusicfest.com
Instagram: SBMusicFest
Facebook: SBMusicFest
Twitter: SBMusicFest
Hashtag: #SBMusicFest

The Inaugural BOURBON & BEYOND Festival Announces its Headlining Lineup of Top Chefs, Bourbon Experts, and World-Class Musicians

All Will Take Over Louisville for One Weekend Only on September 23rd & 24th 2017

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

FEATURING: The Finest Kentucky Bourbons Curated by Top Bourbon Experts, One-Of-A-Kind Creations From Louisville and The Country’s Most Celebrated Chefs & Beyond

PERFORMANCES BY: Stevie Nicks, Eddie Vedder, Steve Miller Band, Joe Bonamassa, Band of Horses, Gary Clark Jr., Paul Rodgers and More

Danny Wimmer Presents is thrilled to announce the official headliners and the first phase of musicians, chefs, food and beverage experiences for BOURBON & BEYOND, its bold, new, bourbon-inspired festival taking place for the first time on Saturday, September 23 and Sunday, September 24, 2017, in Louisville, Kentucky.

BOURBON & BEYOND will be an incredible all-in-one bourbon, food, and entertainment destination that honors the rich history of bourbon that is so deeply rooted in the heart of Kentucky. All together BOURBON & BEYOND is a celebration of craftsmanship, soul, and spirit.

Bourbon & Beyond logo

Recognized for his monumental music festivals, Danny Wimmer‘s newest venture moves above and beyond music. Together with best-selling author and acclaimed bourbon authority, Fred Minnick, and nationally-celebrated Louisville chef, Edward Lee, Danny Wimmer Presents blends the best elements of a bourbon festival, a food festival, and a music festival into one all-encompassing celebration in honor of the soul and spirit of Kentucky. BOURBON & BEYOND will be an enriching weekend featuring the best bourbons, master distillers, national and local chefs, bartenders, musicians, and many other artisans.

THE BOURBON LINEUP:

The festival will showcase over 50 of the best Kentucky bourbons curated by Fred Minnick, Edward Lee, and Chris Cosentino. Festivalgoers will get the chance to dive deep into the Kentucky bourbon experience through several exciting facets like:

• The Big Bourbon Bar: A 20,000-square-foot bar featuring delicious bourbon cocktails presented by the Louisville Courier-Journal.
• The Hunter’s Club: A bourbon hound’s dream come true with experimental, rare, and hard-to-find bourbons.
• The Bourbon Barrel Cooperage: A behind-the-scenes look at how coopers craft the oak barrels used to age bourbon.
• The Distillery: An interactive experience to discover the life of a master blender, taster, and distiller.

• Bourbon Workshops: Access to bourbon’s best and brightest in a series of free and intimate distilling, bartending, pairing, and cooking workshops.
  

  2017 BOURBON & BEYOND Festival Official Line Up (PRNewsfoto/BOURBON & BEYOND)

In addition to the many incredible Kentucky bourbon experiences, BOURBON & BEYOND will partner with renowned local chefs and over 20 beloved Louisville restaurants to deliver one-of-a-kind delectable creations. The first round of participating restaurants includes Baxter’s 942 Bar & Grill, Boss Hog’s BBQ, Doc Crow’s, Gospel Bird, Seviche, The Manhattan Exchange, Whiskey Dry and much more to be announced in the coming months.

Guests will be able to eat, drink, and party at The Big Easy Boil presented by Southern Comfort, Tiki Barrel Bar, Funk & Soul & BBQ. BOURBON & BEYOND will also offer Incredible Feasts, one-of-a-kind communal dining experiences including The Chicks & Champs Gospel Brunch and the exclusive B&B Supper Club featuring Tom Colicchio. Chefs appearing throughout the weekend include Tom Colicchio, Carla Hall, Edward Lee, Chris Cosentino, Amanda Freitag, Jose Salazar, Cosmo Goss & Erling Wu-Bower, Kevin Ashworth, Anthony Lamas, Anthony Falco, and others.

World-class musical performances will further amplify this distinctive festival experience. With two main music stages, festival-goers will enjoy music from the following lineup of artists: Stevie Nicks, Eddie Vedder, Steve Miller Band, Band of Horses, Joe Bonamassa, Gary Clark Jr., Paul Rodgers, Amos Lee, Buddy Guy, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jonny Lang, G. Love & Special Sauce, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, ZZ Ward, Nikki Lane, Shawn James & The Shapeshifters, Fantastic Negrito, Kiefer Sutherland, Dave Cavalier, Bluegrass favorites curated by The Bluegrass Situation, and more.

More announcements, including bourbons, bluegrass, additional chefs, and restaurants will be coming soon.

Tickets are ON SALE NOW at www.BourbonAndBeyond.com.

For our love of bourbon.

For our love of Kentucky.

BOURBON & BEYOND.

National Geographic and Katie Couric Launch Screening Tour for Upcoming Documentary “Gender Revolution: A Journey With Katie Couric”

Two-Hour Documentary Hosted and Executive Produced by Couric Is Available for Free to All Schools and Nonprofits That Will Host Inclusive Screenings and Conversations

First look clip from GENDER REVOLUTION: A JOURNEY WITH KATIE COURIC: https://files.natgeonetworks.com/_Sp2gXfxhvt1d5R

Every day all around the world, gender is making headlines, weaving its way into conversations big and small, in settings from the government to households, from schools to places of employment. The two-hour National Geographic documentary GENDER REVOLUTION: A JOURNEY WITH KATIE COURIC (trailer here) approaches the topic of gender through the lens of science, society, and culture, all woven together by personal stories and experiences.

National Geographic logo. (PRNewsFoto/National Geographic Society)

In GENDER REVOLUTION: A JOURNEY WITH KATIE COURIC, premiering Monday, Feb. 6, at 9/8c, National Geographic set out to explore this evolving concept of gender through the lens of science, society, and culture. Produced by Katie Couric Media with National Geographic Studios and World of Wonder Productions, the special will also air on National Geographic around the globe in 171 countries and in 45 languages.

To extend the life of this important documentary beyond its Feb. 6 television broadcast, National Geographic and Picture Motion are partnering on the Gender Revolution Tour, allowing any high school, college, university or nonprofit to sign up to host a free screening and discussion. The tour will harness the momentum of the conversations happening around the globe and offer an opportunity to have an informed dialogue on one of the most complicated and evolving issues in the current zeitgeist. The Gender Revolution Tour is being managed by impact agency Picture Motion.

Requests to participate in the Gender Revolution Tour can be made by filling out the request form at http://bit.ly/NatGeoGenderRevolution. Screening hosts will be sent a DVD of the film and an extensive discussion guide (LINK), created by Journeys in Film, that provides additional resources on understanding gender.

At the time of this release, more than 100 universities, high schools, and non-profit groups have already scheduled screening events of the GENDER REVOLUTION leading up to and during the week of the film’s television premiere on National Geographic.

Katie Couric Media develops and produces content, programming, and documentaries for TV networks and digital distribution platforms, focusing on compelling issues the award-winning journalist and best-selling author has covered throughout her career. Katie Couric Media projects include the “Katie Couric” podcast from Earwolf, which features the host in candid, unscripted conversations about American life and politics; the National Geographic documentary GENDER REVOLUTION; and the upcoming movie “Flint” with Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, about the drinking water contamination in Flint, Michigan. Katie Couric is the executive producer of “Fed Up” (2014) and “Under the Gun” (2016), both documentaries that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

“From the very start, it was my hope that as many people as possible would be given the opportunity to see this film,” said Couric. “I am thrilled that along with National Geographic and Picture Motion we are going to be able to share GENDER REVOLUTION and our accompanying discussion guide with groups all over the country.”

“National Geographic is about exploration and discovery. Through the Gender Revolution Tour we want to encourage constructive conversations that will allow people to connect with each other over material that is science-based, investigative and in some cases deeply personal,” said Chris Albert, Executive Vice President, Global Communications for National Geographic. “We believe this is a timely and groundbreaking documentary, and are thrilled to make it available for free to any organization interested in expanding its knowledge on the gender discussion.”

“We are so thrilled, but not entirely surprised, to see GENDER REVOLUTION so embraced. From Catholic Colleges to LGBT advocacy groups, city-based Sororities to mid-west High Schools, Gender Studies programs to Trans Support Groups for Parents; there has been an outpour of support for a film like GENDER REVOLUTION,” said Christie Marchese, CEO and Founder, Picture Motion.

GENDER REVOLUTION is produced by Katie Couric Media, World of Wonder Productions and National Geographic Studios for National Geographic. For Katie Couric Media, executive producers are Katie Couric and Mitch Semel. For World of Wonder, Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, and Jeremy Simmons serve as executive producers. For National Geographic Studios, executive producers are Jeff Hasler and Brian Lovett. For National Geographic, Tim Pastore is president, original programming and production, and Michael J. Miller is executive producer.

THIRTEEN’s American Masters Kicks Off Season 31 with Exclusive U.S. Broadcast Premiere of By Sidney Lumet, Tuesday, January 3 on PBS

Exclusive Interview With Treat Williams, Star Of Lumet’s Prince Of The City, And Emmy-Winning Filmmaker Nancy Buirski Follows The Documentary

Prolific and versatile filmmaker Sidney Lumet (1924-2011) made 44 films in 50 years, earning the Academy Honorary Award for lifetime achievement after four Oscar nominations. Considered a quintessential New York filmmaker, Lumet frequently used New York City’s urban mettle to infuse his films with a realism and intensity that kept audiences in suspense while prodding them to consider their own morality. In American Masters: By Sidney Lumet, he tells his own story in a never-before-seen interview shot in 2008 by late filmmaker Daniel Anker and producer Thane Rosenbaum. With candor, humor and grace, Lumet reveals what matters to him as an artist and as a human being. Launching Season 31, American Masters: By Sidney Lumet premieres nationwide Tuesday, January 3 at 8 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) and features a new, exclusive interview with Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-nominated actor Treat Williams, who starred in Lumet’s Prince of the City, afterward.

Peabody and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Nancy Buirski (Afternoon of a Faun, The Loving Story, Loving) weaves Lumet’s personal stories and commentary with scenes from his films to create a portrait of one of the most accomplished, influential and socially conscious directors in the history of cinema. Clips spanning his canon, from 12 Angry Men, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, Network, Prince of the City, The Verdict, and many more, reveal the spiritual and ethical lessons at the core of his work.

Looking back over his career, Lumet speaks intimately about the experiences that informed his work, which he loved. His Depression-era, working-class Lower East Side beginnings as a child actor with his father in Yiddish theater, on Broadway, and his gradual transition to directing live TV, informed the stories he chose and his ability to translate important stage works into film, such as The Sea Gull, The Fugitive Kind and Long Day’s Journey into Night. In clips from these films, American Masters: By Sidney Lumet underscores Lumet’s own journey: his relationship with his father mirrored in Long Day’s Journey into Night, Daniel, Running on Empty and Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead.

Marching for workers’ rights in the 1930s, standing up to McCarthy-era blacklist interrogation and finding ways to employ his blacklisted friends, Lumet developed an appreciation for people who question authority. His movies often featured characters fighting for justice, standing up to the crowd and questioning personal responsibility. First and foremost a storyteller, Lumet’s strongly moral tales captured the dilemmas and concerns of a society struggling with essentials: how does one behave to others and to oneself? (You can read the full biography here.)

Give the Gift of the Ultimate Culinary Experience This Holiday

All You’ll Really Want for Christmas is Food and Wine

Still looking for a unique, affordable and delicious gift idea this holiday? Give the gift of the ultimate Seattle culinary experience with tickets to the Seattle Wine and Food Experience (SWFE) weekend of events on February 24 – 26, 2017. The newly-expanded weekend features three events: POP! Bubbles & Seafood, Comfort (NEW) and the Grand Tasting. A total indulgence for foodies, the weekend includes more than 300 of Seattle’s best chefs from gastro pubs to fine dining establishments, distillers, local cider and brew masters with more than 600 wines making this Experience the perfect holiday gift for the food and wine lover in your life.

The Seattle Wine and Food Experience, presented by Seattle magazine, brings the city’s vibrant culinary and beverage scene to life. The Weekend Pass ($220) is the best deal for that special foodie on your holiday shopping list. Need more convincing? Here are the top 5 reasons to attend each event:

POP! Bubbles & Seafood: Friday, February 24, 2017 at McCaw Hall

• Champagne, Sparkling Wine, Cava, Cremant and more than 40 kinds of bubbles to sample
• World-class seafood, including oyster bars, from 20 of Seattle’s best chefs
• Saber-Off Competition featuring local celebrities and incredible tunes by DJ Dubreezy
• The Callebaut Belgium Chocolate Lounge featuring bites from Seattle’s top pastry chefs
• Dozens of Reserve Red wines from the region’s top wineries

Comfort: Seattle’s Best Feel-Good Foods and Crafty Brews: Saturday, February 25, 2017 at Fremont Foundry

• Comfort is the newest and coziest addition to the Experience
• Mac & cheese, burgers, doughnut wall, fried chicken and many more comfort foods
• More than 50 craft beers, ciders, bubbly and more to quench your thirst between tasty bites
• Do-It-Yourself Bars: Hot Toddy, Bloody Mary, S’mores, Fry Bar and more
• Rock out with your friends to tunes by DJ Branden Landon and take photos in the Shutterbus

The Grand Tasting: Sunday, February 26, 2017 at McCaw Exhibition Hall

• More than 500 wines, plus tastes from distilleries, beer and cider, Oh My!
• Fare from 25 local chefs and 25 specialty food makers
• Explore the Celebrity Modern Luxury Lounge for a chance to win a cruise!
• Yakima Valley Craft Food and Beverage Exhibit
• The Savor Experience from San Luis Obispo County
• The Sweet Suite–Indulge to your heart’s content
• The “Pearls” of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates with wines from Canon 13, Intrinsic, Mamma Mia and more
• Taste from Nicky Farms exotic meats, Heritage Meats Butchery Block and Sustainable Alaska Seafood
• Buy your favorite wine, beer, cider and spirits from the QFC product store benefiting Les Dames d’Escoffier, Seattle****

Initial Lineup Announced for 2017 Essence Festival in New Orleans

Weekend Ticket Packages on Sale Now

Time Inc.’s Essence announced the initial lineup for the 2017 Essence Festival Concert Series in New Orleans featuring headliners Diana Ross and Mary J. Blige, among many others. The 23^rd annual event will take place June 30-July 2, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The initial performance lineup is outlined below. Additional acts will be announced in the coming weeks.

Artists confirmed to perform at the nightly Essence Festival concerts over Fourth of July Weekend at the Louisiana Superdome include: Diana Ross, Mary J Blige, Chaka Khan, Doug E Fresh, Erykah Badu, India.Arie, Jazmine Sullivan, John Legend, June’s Diary, Lalah Hathaway, Lizzo, Master P, Michel’le, Moses Sumney, Ro James, Shaggy, Sir the Baptist, Solange, Teyana Taylor, The Jones Girls Feat. Shirley Jones, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Tweet, Yuna, and many more to be announced soon.

“This year’s Festival lineup puts women at the forefront of an incredible weekend of entertainment featuring more than 40 of the world’s most gifted artists and performers,” said Essence President Michelle Ebanks. “It is an honor to welcome the inimitable Diana Ross to the Festival for the first time. Plus, Festival veteran Mary J. Blige is back to share ‘Strength of a Woman’ with her most passionate fans.”

The A-list nighttime concerts will feature more than 40 acts and will take place across five stages — including the Festival’s renowned Mainstage and four intimate Superlounges. Mary J. Blige will headline a special night, themed My Path to Strength, introducing her highly anticipated album “Strength of a Woman.”

Weekend ticket packages went on sale Friday, December 16 at 10am CT with prices starting at $126. For information about ticket sales, accommodations and the latest news about the Essence Festival visit Essence Festival. Join the Festival community: follow us on Twitter @essencefest #EssenceFest and become a fan of 2017 Essence Festival on Facebook.

The 2017 Essence Festival is presented by Coca-Cola.

UBS celebrates Art Basel Miami Beach 2016

First Major Publication About UBS’s Renowned Art Collection In Nearly A Decade – UBS Art Collection: To Art Its Freedom, Published By Hatje Cantz – Debuts At Art Basel In Miami Beach

Accompanying Display In UBS Lounge Will Showcase Seminal Works Featured In The New Ubs Publication Including Those By Artists Cy Twombly, Alex Katz, Ed Ruscha, Tracey Emin, Sarah Morris And Doug Aitken

UBS will celebrate the opening of Art Basel Miami Beach 2016 by releasing its first major print publication on the UBS Art Collection in nearly a decade. UBS Art Collection: To Art its Freedom is a 274-page, deluxe hardback overview of the UBS Art Collection that includes a text on the history of the collection written by Mary Rozell, Global Head UBS Art Collection, as well as an essay by noted scholar Dieter Buchhart. The volume features more than 200 color illustrations of works by acknowledged masters such as Cy Twombly, Alighiero Boetti, Mary Heilmann, Ed Ruscha and Christopher Wool alongside a number of the collection’s recent acquisitions and works by emerging artists.

© 2016, ProLitteris, Zurich Alex Katz, Good Morning I, 1974 (Photo: Business Wire)

This publication, which will be launched at Art Basel Miami Beach 2016, provides the inspiration for the selection of artworks on view within the UBS lounge. UBS Art Collection: To Art its Freedom will feature more than 200 color illustrations and includes the text: “UBS Art Collection: A History and a Moment” written by Mary Rozell, Global Head UBS Art Collection, which presents a history of the Collection, as well as a view to its future. The central essay by noted art historian and curator Dieter Buchhart entitled “To Art its Freedom: A Collection as Emblem of Post-postmodern Polyphony” which contextualizes the Collection within the framework of art history and makes connections among the various featured works. The title of the publication is a quotation from the famous words above the entrance to the Secession Building in Vienna, “To Every Age its Art, to Art its Freedom,” which, according to Buchhart, reflects the spirit of the UBS Art Collection – one that endures and remains relevant, independent of changing circumstances or frameworks.

UBS And Contemporary Art

UBS’s long and substantial record of patronage in contemporary art enables clients and audiences to participate in the international conversation about art and the global art world through the firm’s global art platform. In addition to the UBS Art Collection, considered one of the world’s largest and most important corporate collections of contemporary art, UBS has an extensive roster of contemporary art programs that include the firm’s long-term support for the premier international Art Basel shows in Basel, Miami Beach and Hong Kong, for which UBS serves as global Lead Partner; the Guggenheim UBS MAP Global Art Initiative with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum; and a global exhibition tour of WOMEN: New Portraits, an exhibition of newly commissioned photographs by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz. These activities are complemented by a number of regional partnerships with fine art institutions including the Fondation Beyeler in Switzerland, Galleria d’Arte Moderna in Milan, the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark, the Deichtorhallen in Hamburg and the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. UBS also provides its clients with insight into the contemporary art world through the free art news app UBS Planet Art, collaborations with the Swiss Institute, and the online resource Artsy, as well as through the UBS Arts Forum. (For more information about UBS’s commitment to contemporary art, visit www.ubs.com/art.)

Today the UBS Art Collection is considered one of the largest and most important corporate collections of contemporary art in the world. Comprised of various individual art collections with unique attributes that have been integrated over time through a series of mergers and acquisitions – notably between Union Bank of Switzerland, Swiss Bank Corporation and PaineWebber Inc. – the UBS Art Collection currently includes more than 30,000 paintings, works on paper, photography, sculpture, video and installations by artists from 73 countries. The vast majority of these works are displayed in more than 800 UBS offices around the world, serving as an inspiration for employees and a platform for dialogue with clients and the public.

Denver Arts Week Celebrates 10th Anniversary

For 10 straight years, the eight-day citywide festival has celebrated Denver’s creative community with hundreds of events bringing thousands of people each year

Denver Arts Week, an annual celebration of The Mile High City‘s vibrant arts scene, will mark its 10th anniversary this year from November 4-12. Presented by VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau, the event will feature annual favorites like Know Your Arts First Friday and FREE Night at the Museums, as well as new experiences throughout the more than 300 events at galleries, museums and arts districts throughout the city.

“Denver is home to a phenomenal year-round arts scene – with world-renowned museums, cutting edge street art, exceptional performing arts and more,” says Richard Scharf, president and CEO of VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau. “For 10 years, Denver Arts Week has encouraged people to celebrate the city’s cultural scene, and we are thrilled that the event has continued to evolve and grow as much as the arts scene has. The tenth anniversary is the perfect opportunity to attend some classic events or experience new ones and really immerse yourself in the city’s creative community.“

With more than 300 cultural events – some of which are free or heavily discounted – throughout the city over nine days, there are plenty of reasons to make a night – or a few nights – of it; and there are plenty of great hotel deals to facilitate a stay in Denver. For a complete calendar and a full listing of all the deals and discounts on art, experiences and hotels, visit the Denver Arts Week website.

10 Ways to Make the Most of Denver Arts Week

It can be difficult to choose from the myriad of events taking place around town; here’s how to get the most out of Denver Arts Week 2016:

1. Explore vibrant art districts and diverse neighborhoods on First Friday Art Walks, Nov. 4

Art District on Santa Fe

The annual event kicks off with citywide First Friday Art Walks in Denver’s art districts, where more than 100 galleries and display spaces stay open late and feature art shows, demonstrations and more. Go on a VIP Art Tour in the River North Art District (RiNo), take advantage of Tennyson Street Cultural District‘s $52.80 art sale, submit your own art in the Art District on Santa Fe‘s “To Denver With Love” art contest, and venture to the Golden Triangle neighborhood to see some of the city’s finest galleries.

2. Experience FREE Night at the Museums on Nov. 5

Venues around town are open late, from 5 to 10 p.m., during FREE Night at the Museums. The museums offer special programming, family-friendly activities and live entertainment, and there are complimentary shuttles to make “museum hopping” easy and convenient. The Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver Art Museum, History Colorado Center, The Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (CELL), Forney Museum of Transportation and Denver Firefighters Museum are just some of this year’s many not-to-miss participants.

3. Check out blockbuster exhibitions, from mummies to Japanese fashion

This fall, several of Denver’s major museums are hosting international traveling exhibitions and original curations. See Washed Ashore, Art to Save the Sea at Denver Zoo; Shock Wave: Japanese Fashion Design, 1980s-90s at the Denver Art Museum; and Extreme Mammals and Mummies: New Secrets from the Tombs, both of which are at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Washed Ashore, Art to Save the Sea, features 15 giant sculptures depicting sea life, made almost entirely of debris collected from beaches.

This unusual traveling exhibit, Washed Ashore, Art to Save the Sea, features 15 giant sculptures depicting sea life, made almost entirely of debris collected from beaches. Hosted by Denver Zoo, it’s the first time the exhibit has appeared at an inland, noncoastal location. The exhibit will be open from Sept. 24, 2016, to Jan. 16, 2017. The Washed Ashore Project aims to educate the public and raise awareness about pollution through the arts. As a community-based organization, lead artist Angela Haseltine Pozzi draws on people of all ages to help her remove thousands of pounds of debris from beaches then turn it into large works of art.

The organization says 90 percent of the debris they collect come from petroleum-based products such as plastics, nylon ropes and fishing nets. Almost all of the trash then gets turned into sculptures such as a walk-through replica of ocean currents and a coral reef made of Styrofoam.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) Presents The 2016 “CAREERS In Film Summit” In Los Angeles And London

Events In Support Of “My Brother’s Keeper”and London Based “Into Film”

Panel Discussions To Be Live-Streamed on Oscars.org

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), in support of President Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” Initiative, will present the second annual Careers in Film Summit on Saturday, October 8, at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The daylong event for high school and college students will bring together Academy members and other film industry guests to discuss their professions as well as the paths they took to achieve career success.

For the first time, the Los Angeles event will be live-streamed on Oscars.org, and students from around the world will be able to watch each of the six panels.

President Barack Obama launched the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and to ensure that all young people can reach their full potential. Unemployment among the Millennial Generation, particularly in minority communities, is at record levels, and entrepreneurship can serve as pathway toward economic mobility. While many young people of color have the intuition and drive to succeed there is a gap in understanding how to translate entrepreneurial dreams into viable businesses. When nurtured through proper education, support, and coaching, young entrepreneurs can found enriching small business endeavors that will benefit the individuals and the communities in which they live. (Learn more at www.BizMyWay.com.)

On the two year anniversary of My Brother’s Keeper, MBK Task Force Chair Broderick Johnson reflected on MBK’s impact across the country and on the work still underway, stating, “MBK is about obliterating the barriers our kids face. It’s about building strong, lasting bridges to opportunity for boys and girls, young men and young women, no matter what their background or the circumstances into which they were born. It’s about investing in what works, acting with a sense of urgency, basing strategies on data and evidence, and having the courage to call-out and tear down discrimination in every system and policy where it shows up. And, in two years we could not be more excited about the momentum, energy, and enthusiasm that has been sparked all across the country.”

The Academy also will be presenting Careers in Film Summit–London on Friday, November 11, at the Regent Street Cinema in London. Presented in partnership with the UK film education charity Into Film, the half-day event will feature three hour-long panels (panelists to be announced at a later date) and is part of the Into Film Festival, the world’s biggest youth-focused film festival. 

Into Film seeks to put film at the heart of children and young people’s learning and cultural experience. The ambitious UK-wide Into Film program provides 5-19 year olds with unparalleled opportunities to see, think, make and imagine, contributing to their educational, cultural, creative and personal development. Into Film will achieve this by:

• · Working with the education and informal youth sectors to support and promote learning through and about film
• · Partnering with industry to enhance the appreciation and understanding of film
• · Taking advantage of the learning solutions made possible by digital technology

Now in its fourth year, the Into Film Festival (November 9-25, 2016) is a free celebration of film and education for children and young people. The program features over 3,000 free cinema screenings and events across the UK, many linked to topical themes or subjects in the curriculum. The program showcases everything from exclusive blockbuster previews to classic family films, to workshops and Q&A sessions with industry professionals. The 2016 Festival has over 450,000 5-19 year olds and educators booked in so far. It encourages young people, including many who may never otherwise visit the cinema, to learn and develop an interest in film, with the aim of engaging and informing a new generation of cinema-goers. Bookings can be made at www.intofilm.org/events/festival

At the second annual Careers in Film Summit in Los Angeles, some of the film industry professions to be represented include cinematography, composing, sound design, film editing, costume design, special effects makeup, visual effects, public relations and marketing. The panelists will offer students firsthand knowledge of their experiences working in the industry and identify key knowledge areas and skill sets that are essential for specific careers. Film clips chosen by the panelists will highlight significant work.

THE L.A. PANELS AND PANELISTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

9 A.M. WORKING ABOVE THE LINE

• Moderated by Mike Muse, My Brother’s Keeper
• Tyrese Gibson, Actor – “Fast and Furious” series, “Transformers”
• Catherine Hardwicke, Director – “Twilight,” “Thirteen”
• James Lopez, Production Executive – “The Perfect Guy,” “Think Like a Man”
• Theodore Melfi, Writer-Producer-Director – “Hidden Figures,” “St. Vincent”
• Tyger Williams, Writer – “The Perfect Guy,” “Menace II Society”

11 A.M. LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!: PRE- PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTION

• Moderated by Carolyn Giardina, The Hollywood Reporter
• Jerry Constantine, Special Effects Makeup Artist – “Watchmen,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
• Warren Drummond, Storyboard Artist – “Fences,” “X-Men: First Class”
• Camille Friend, Hairstylist – “The Hateful Eight,” “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay”
• Daryn Okada, Cinematographer – “Let’s Be Cops,” “Mean Girls”
• Phil Saunders, Concept Artist – “Marvel’s The Avengers” series, “Iron Man” series
• Marlene Stewart, Costume Designer – “The Divergent Series: Allegiant,” “The Judge”

12 P.M. GET IT IN THE CAN: POST-PRODUCTION

• Moderated by Carolyn Giardina, The Hollywood Reporter
• Rosa Costanza, Sound Technician – “Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension,” “Sinister 2”
• Greg Hedgepath, Sound Editor – “Straight Outta Compton,” “The Hunger Games”
• Alyson Moore, Foley Artist – “Inception,” “The Dark Knight”
• Steven Morrow, Sound Mixer – “La La Land, “The Perfect Guy”
• Greg Rudloff, Re-recording Mixer – “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “American Sniper”
• Theresa Rygiel, Visual Effects – “Furious 7,” “The Lord of the Rings” series
• Troy Takaki, Film Editor – “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series, “Fool’s Gold”

SCAD Announces Line-Up For 2016 Savannah Film Festival

“Jackie” to Open Fest; “La La Land” and “Arrival” set as Spotlight and Centerpiece Gala Screenings

Additional Gala Screenings and Docs to Watch Announced

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has announce its line-up of films for the 2016 Savannah Film Festival, including Gala Screenings, Signature Series, Docs to Watch and a new Global Shorts Forum. The festival will launch on Saturday, Oct. 22 with “Jackie” and will feature the Spotlight Gala Screening of “La La Land” and Centerpiece Gala Screening of “Arrival.”

Savannah Film Festival (PRNewsFoto/SCAD)

Hosted by SCAD, the annual event has celebrated cinematic creativity from award-winning professionals and emerging filmmakers for 19 years. The festival will be held in downtown Savannah, Georgia, and runs from Saturday, Oct. 22 to Saturday, Oct. 29.

The 19^th annual festival gathers a diverse group of industry professionals from all fields of the business to participate in panels and Q&A discussions on several topics about the film, television and digital media business. More importantly, the Festival, and the competition, provides students with opportunities as unique as the movies on the screen. It’s a chance for SCAD students to exclusively connect with leaders from the entertainment industry through master classes, coffee talks, lectures and panel discussions and a chance for Savannah, a premier film hub, to promote quality movies produced by independent and studio filmmakers.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

Opening Gala Screening: “Jackie” – A searing and intimate portrait of one of the most important and tragic moments in American history, seen through the eyes of the iconic First Lady, then Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy (Natalie Portman). “Jackie” places us in her world during the days immediately following her husband’s assassination. Known for her extraordinary dignity and poise, here we see a psychological portrait of the First Lady as she struggles to maintain her husband’s legacy and the world of “Camelot” that they created and loved so well. Director: Pablo Larrain. Cast: Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup and John Hurt.

Spotlight Gala Screening: “La La Land” – Written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Damien Chazelle, “La La Land” tells the story of Mia (Emma Stone), an aspiring actress, and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams. Director: Damien Chazelle. Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and John Legend.

Centerpiece Gala Screening: “Arrival” – When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team — led by expert linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) — is brought together to investigate. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers — and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity. Director: Denis Villeneuve. Cast: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg and Mark O’Brien.

GALA SCREENINGS: The annual Gala Screenings spotlight upcoming studio films before their wide releases, including this year’s entries:

Travel & Culture: All Eyes Are On The New Parisian Cultural Season

Get Out Your Diaries and Calendars, The List is Long!

New and Major Events are Always Synonymous With the New Parisian Cultural Season and Autumn 2016 has an Expected Stellar Line-up.

While it is true that Paris is gearing up for the Spring/Summer 2017 Paris Fashion Week Shows, The City is more than just about high fashion. It’s a foodie paradise, one of the top cultural centers of the world and one of the top tourist destinations in Europe and the world at large. From Rembrandt at the Musée Jacquemart-André to Hergé at the Grand Palais, the opening of new museums and celebrated shows, Paris pulls out all the stops to charm Parisians and visitors this fall and early winter. The following list was compiled and provided by The Paris Visitors and Convention Bureau (Office du Tourisme et des Congrès de Paris) whose mission it is to welcome and provide visitors with information; to promote the capital’s attractions, in France and abroad; and to provide assistance to Paris tourism professionals.

Office du Tourisme et des Congrès de Paris Logo (PRNewsFoto/Office du Tourisme)

OUTSTANDING EXHIBITIONS

From 14 September to 12 February, Henri Fantin-Latour has top billing at the Musée du Luxembourg – a retrospective that has been eagerly-awaited since the previous one in 1982. At the Musée du Louvre, the public can admire the sculptures, drawings and prints of Edme Bouchardon in a monograph exhibition. More contemporary, the Centre Pompidou will celebrate René Magritte around questions of likeness and realism (September 21, 2016 – January 23, 2017). Belgium will also be under the spotlight with the exhibition Hergé at the Grand Palais (September 28, 2016 – January 15, 2017).

Modern art fans should pencil in a visit to the Musée d’Art moderne de la Ville to see the Bernard Buffet exhibition (October 14, 2016 to February 26, 2017), to the Fondation Louis Vuitton for its key exhibition, Icons of Modern Art. The Shchukin Collection, from the Musée de l’Ermitage – Musée Pouchkine (October 22, 2016 – March 6, 2017), and Cy Twombly at the Centre Pompidou (November 30, 2016 – April 24, 2017). And the Espace Dalí presents a dialogue between the great artist Salvador Dali and Joann Sfar now through 31 March 31, 2017.

Herge exhibition :The Grand Palais pays tribute to Georges Remi, better known as Herge. Considered to be the father of the European comic-strip, the creator of Tintin sold some 250 million comic-strip books during his career and has been translated into one hundred or so languages.This retrospective exhibition with original plates is an opportunity to admire the work of the Belgian artist, but also to find out more about Herge the person, through the many archive images and testimonies. (PRNewsFoto/Office du Tourisme et des Congrè)

NEW CULTURAL VENUES

After 8 months of closure, the Musée Maillol is reopening, under the aegis of Culturespaces, with an exhibition by the famous artist Ben (now through January 15). This should renew the genre and attract a new public. Early October will see the opening of Art 42, the first museum of street art, which will be free and permanent, and which will bring together more than 150 works, in the 17th arrondissement. The opening is an important step towards the promotion of urban art, a subject dear to Parisians, which could gain recognition as a discipline apart.

MAJOR FESTIVE EVENTS 

Staple events of the autumn season unveil their new program and are set to win over numerous visitors again. Towards the end of September, there is the 6^th Fête de la Gastronomie which takes place from 23 to 25 September, and which offers a rich program of special events (cooking classes, walks, new meals, etc.). And on 25 September, the Car Free Day, launched in 2015, takes on a greater dimension this year with an area five times larger! The Grape Harvest in Montmartre livens up the streets of the Butte, from 5 to 9 October, for its … 83rd edition. Not forgetting Nuit Blanche which will celebrate its 10th anniversary on the theme of love on October 1^st. There will be a trail along the Seine with performance art and surprising artistic installations for the public.

Nuit Blanche in ParisAs the days shorten and autumn turns to winter, the Nuit Blanche event in Paris offers an opportunity to see the city in a new light. For once special night, the city’s streets are teeming with people of all ages, lit by moonlight and by strange lights, works of art become the focal point. (PRNewsFoto/Office du Tourisme et des Congrè)

BET Networks And AEG Announce Dates for 2017 BET Experience At L.A. LIVE

MORE THAN 165,000 FANS ATTENDED THE 2016 BET EXPERIENCE AT L.A. LIVE

DEPOSITS FOR GOLD, PLATINUM AND DIAMOND VIP TICKET PACKAGES AVAILABLE NOW AT BETEXPERIENCE.COM

BET NETWORKS and AEG announced the 2017 dates for the BET Experience at L.A. LIVE as June 22-25, 2017. The four-year old festival drew its highest attendance last year with 165,000 guests, a 10% increase from 2015.

(PRNewsFoto/AEG)

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc., is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks – BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

Deposits for VIP ticket packages are now being accepted for BET Experience 2017. These packages are available for guests who don’t want to miss out on the three-day festival filled with music, comedy and concerts taking place at The Novo by Microsoft and STAPLES Center. Plus, they get to see “106 & PARK” and attend the FREE BET Experience Fan Fest at the Los Angeles Convention Center that features seminars, a celebrity basketball game, celebrity meet & greets and other special appearances. The weekend will be capped off with the BET Awards on Sunday, June 25, 2017 at Microsoft Theater.

2017 BET Experience VIP Packages on sale now (PRNewsFoto/AEG)

The 2016 BET Experience at L.A. LIVE sold-out of more than 1,000 VIP Packages. In addition to VIP amenities throughout the BET Experience weekend, three levels of BETX VIP Packages offer guests the only opportunity to purchase tickets to the highly anticipated BET Awards, broadcast live. In anticipation of another stellar lineup announcement for the 2017 BET Experience weekend, guests interested in VIP Packages for 2017 can place a deposit to secure their spots early and guarantee priority seating at all STAPLES Center shows and the BET Awards starting now for past VIP ticket buyers and on September 15 for new VIP ticket buyers. Non-refundable deposits are available for the following BET Experience VIP Packages:

• Diamond ($500 deposit)
• Platinum ($200 deposit) and
• Gold ($100 deposit).

Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, AEG is the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company. With offices on five continents, AEG operates in the following business segments: AEG Facilities, which with its affiliates owns, manages or consults with more than 120 preeminent venues around the world including The O2 Arena, the Sprint Center and the Mercedes-Benz Arena; AEG Live, one of the largest live music companies in the world dedicated to producing and promoting global and regional concert tours, music and special events and world-renowned festivals; AEG Sports, the world’s largest operator of sports franchises and high-profile sporting events; AEG Global Partnerships, which oversees worldwide sales and servicing of sponsorships including naming rights, premium seating and other strategic partnerships; and AEG Real Estate, which develops world-class venues and sports and entertainment districts like STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE. Through its worldwide network of venues, portfolio of powerful sports and music brands, AXS.com ticketing platform, AXS cable television channel and its integrated entertainment districts, AEG entertains more than 100 million guests annually. More information about AEG can be found at www.aegworldwide.com.

Full 2017 VIP Package details and pricing will be released in the coming months, but to reference elements of the 2016 Packages, please visit BETExperience.com. Deposits may be placed for 2017 BETX VIP Packages by visiting BETExperience.com or by calling (877) 234-8425.

The Village Voice Announces Final Line Up For Brooklyn Pour NYC’s Largest One-Day Craft Beer Festival

Over 65 Leading Local and National Breweries Offer 125 of Their Latest, Seasonal Beers Alongside Liquor Sampling, Food, Entertainment, a VIP Experience and More on Sat. Sept. 24 at Brooklyn Expo Center

Limited VIP and General Admissions Tickets Available A Portion of Proceeds to Benefit Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue

The Village Voice announces the final lineup of breweries and new additions for the 6th annual Brooklyn Pour, officially New York City’s largest one-day beer festival, taking place September 24 at the Brooklyn Expo Center (72 Noble Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222) from 3:00–6:00 pm.

Drawing 2,000 attendees annually, The Village Voice‘s Brooklyn Pour Craft Beer Festival event sells out in advance every year. All ticketholders will be offered unlimited tastings and a souvenir tasting glass.

With over 125 samples of the best seasonal, micro and reserve brews from over 65 regional and national breweries, the 6th annual Brooklyn Pour will be The Village Voice’s largest to date. Additionally announced today, Brooklyn Pour will feature a game zone plus a dining hall presented by The Astor Room, the retro supper club of Kaufman Astoria Studios. Expanded tastings including mead, hard seltzer and root beer, ciders and liquor for all guests.

In addition to General Admission tickets ($55), Brooklyn Pour will also offer limited VIP tickets ($85). VIP ticket-holders will receive early entry and private VIP lounge access. The VIP lounge will feature exclusive complimentary oyster pairing samples presented by Blue Point Brewing, cheese tastings offered by Cabot Creamery, complimentary canapes and VIP gift bags.

The Village Voice is partnering with Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue on the festival this year; a portion of proceeds will be donated to the charity, which is a non-profit, all-breed dog rescue. The organization is comprised of a network of fosters and volunteers who work tirelessly together to rescue adoptable dogs from high kill, rural shelters in southern USA.

“The Village Voice’s Brooklyn Pour is one of the most highly anticipated craft beer festivals in the Tri-state area,” said Suzan Gursoy, Publisher of The Village Voice. “Now officially New York City’s largest one-day beer festival, we’re thrilled to announce this year’s expanded offerings and extensive list of participating breweries.“

Participating craft breweries at the festival include:

Main Partner Etihad Airways to Present its Virtual Reality Movie Featuring Nicole Kidman at the 2016 Zurich Film Festival

Airline to Also Sponsor the Prestigious Audience Award

At this year’s 12^th annual Zurich Film Festival, taking place from 22 September to 2 October, visitors will be able to experience Etihad Airways’ 360-degree virtual reality movie featuring Academy Award winning actress Nicole Kidman and have the chance to win flights to Abu Dhabi by participating in a draw for the Audience Award presented by Etihad Airways.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are excited to continue our partnership with one of the most prestigious cultural events in Switzerland. The sponsorship underscores our active support of global cultural events, engagement in the local communities we serve and it reinforces our long-term commitment to the Swiss market. Switzerland is an important market for our airline, which we have been serving since 2004. Travellers from cities around the world can conveniently reach Zurich and Geneva using Etihad Airways’ daily flights and the domestic and regional European services of our partner airlines, airberlin, Niki, Alitalia, Air Serbia and Etihad Regional.”

Now in its twelfth year, the Zurich Film Festival showcases diverse stories from around the world with screenings of nearly 160 films, offering cinematic treats to more than 85,000 national and international visitors. Participants include both emerging and renowned filmmakers as well as buyers, sellers, distributors, media professionals and industry leaders.

The festival is internationally recognized and has attracted high profile personalities on its green carpet every year, including Hollywood celebrities Cate Blanchett, Hugh Jackman, Richard Gere, Sylvester Stallone, John Travolta, Susan Sarandon, Oliver Stone, Sean Penn, Diane Keaton and many more.

In addition to a veritable feast of films on tap (over 172 at last count), guests will also have the opportunity to view Etihad Airways’ 360-degree virtual reality movie starring Academy Award winning actress Nicole Kidman in the main festival tent. The five-minute feature, titled ‘Reimagine’, which was first released in May 2016, immerses its viewers in a journey following Kidman through one of Etihad Airways’ new Airbus A380s flying between New York and Abu Dhabi. Each scene in the film takes on a theme intended to stimulate the senses of light, sound, motion, and conversation.

For the 2016 edition, Etihad Airways will sponsor the Audience Award. As the culmination of three categories, the Audience Award is one of the festival’s most prestigious and is voted for by festival visitors. By voting, viewers have the opportunity to win two Business Class return-flights with Etihad Airways to Abu Dhabi and experience the exclusive business class service of Etihad Airways, or two Economy Class return-flights with airberlin to a destination in the USA. The Director of the winning film will be awarded two Business Class return-flights with Etihad Airways to Abu Dhabi and three luxurious nights in a 5-star hotel. What’s more; film fans who buy their movie ticket at an official Zurich Film Festival ticket counter, will receive a 20% discount voucher for all flights with Etihad Airways and a reduction of CHF 20 for flights with airberlin.

Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri, Zurich Film Festival’s Co-Directors, said: “We are very proud of our partnership with Etihad Airways, which helps us reach audiences worldwide. This partnership has proven to be a great fit as the Zurich Film Festival and Etihad Airways share a vision of bringing people together from across the globe through arts and culture.”

For more information about the festival, visit www.zff.com.

Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival Releases Line-Up Of Events For Its 16th Year

Tickets Go On Sale Monday, October 24, 2016

The 16th annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival takes place February 22 – 26, 2017. (PRNewsFoto/Food Network & Cooking Channel)

The 16^th annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF®) today unveiled its line-up of more than 90 events taking place February 22 – 26, 2017. Widely recognized as one of America’s most prestigious gourmet gatherings, the Festival has raised more than $24 million to date for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University.

“We’ve curated a robust program of events for the Festival’s 16th year,” noted Festival Founder and Director Lee Brian Schrager, who also serves as Senior Vice President, Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. “With an array of dinners, tastings, seminars, and parties showcasing a variety of cuisines, wines and spirits from around the world, guests will find plenty of ways to satiate their taste buds at this year’s Festival.”

The iconic series of Miami Beach’s signature events returns in 2017, kicking-off with Barilla’s Italian Bites on the Beach hosted by Valerie Bertinelli & Alex Guarnaschelli. The eleventh edition of one of the Festival’s most coveted tickets gets an update, evolving into the Heineken Light Burger Bash presented by Schweid & Sons hosted by Rachael Ray this year. After its successful launch at last year’s Festival, the weekend will again close out with Lucky Chopsticks: An Asian Night Market hosted by Andrew Zimmern. More Miami Beach staple events will return with a classic mix of both fan-favorites and new talent including Tacos After Dark, Oyster Bash hosted by Josh Capon, Fontainebleau Miami Beach presents Wine Spectator’s Best of the Best sponsored by Bank of America, Fun and Fit as a Family featuring Goya Kids Kitchen, Chicken Coupe hosted by Andrew Carmellini, Southern Kitchen Brunch part of The NYT Cooking Series, and the Wine Spectator Wine Seminars presented by Bank of America.

An aerial view of a signature event on Miami Beach at the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival. (PRNewsFoto/Food Network & Cooking Channel)

Additionally, the Festival’s beloved white tents nestled in the sand between 10th and 13th Streets and Ocean Drive (see image above) will continue to host the Goya Foods Grand Tasting Village featuring Grand Tasting Tents & KitchenAid® Culinary Demonstrations during the weekend. Plus, SOBEWFF® honors some of the world’s most recognized leaders in the culinary and beverage industries at its annual Tribute Dinner presented by Bank of America part of The NYT Cooking Dinner Series, and the sweet 16 is no exception. This year, the Festival honors the deeply passionate and talented ThinkFoodGroup chef/owner José Andrés alongside Maisons Marques & Domaines (MMD) owners Jean-Claude Rouzaud and Frédéric Rouzaud, during an evening guided by Master of Ceremonies Anthony Bourdain at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

SOBEWFF® continues its expansion into Broward County with the return of the Taste Fort Lauderdale Series and a star-studded line-up of talent. The fun begins with Seaside Eats hosted by Anne Burrell at the historic Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, and continues with the Festival’s first late-night party in the area, DRINK Fort Lauderdale, taking over the popular FATVillage for one night. Closing out the series will be the return of the Bloody Mary Brunch, with new hosts David Burtka & Neil Patrick Harris.

A selection of intimate dinner experiences will round out the series, including the following:

• Dinner hosted by Amanda Freitag and Angelo Elia
• Dinner hosted by Marc Murphy and Chris Miracolo
• Dinner hosted by Valerie Bertinelli, Daphne Oz, Tiffani Thiessen, & Geoffrey Zakarian
• A North Carolina Sisterhood: Dinner hosted by Ashley Christensen, Vivian Howard, Andrea Reusing, Gavin Pera & Ryan Cross

Fans will also have a plethora of new events to choose from in 2017, including a Craft-y Happy Hour, Burnt Ends: A Kosher BBQ Dinner hosted by Alon Shaya, Salty, Sweet & Savory Treats: A Late-Night Party featuring Bar Lab, The Salty Donut & Sarsaparilla Club, Noodling Around: A Late-Night Party hosted by Dale Talde, Food Fight hosted by Guy Fieri, and more.

September is California Wine Month. Where Will You Be?

Raise a Glass to Harvest at More than 50 Winery Events Around the State

September is the time when California’s wine grape harvest is in full swing and the perfect time to experience the annual harvest season first hand. Visitors can experience the excitement of harvest during California Wine Month in September with more than 50 winery events and immersion experiences—from wine festivals and winemaking classes to winemaker dinners, VIP tastings and tours happening around the state.

A California Wine Month poster featuring the state’s wine regions and 138 American Viticultural Areas can be ordered at: www.discovercaliforniawines.com/californiawinemonth or by emailing communications@wineinstitute.org . (PRNewsFoto/Wine Institute)

This September marks the 12th annual California Wine Month, created by the Wine Institute to honor America’s top wine-producing state. “The celebration recognizes the contributions of vintners and growers to our state economy, culture and lifestyle,” said Robert P. (Bobby) Koch, president and CEO of Wine Institute. “With an economic contribution of $57.6 billion annually to the state economy and $114.1 billion annually to the U.S. economy, California wine is an important economic engine for our state and our nation. Our scenic wine regions draw visitors worldwide to enjoy California’s great wine, cuisine and attractions.“

Here’s a complete listing by region of all the events. Visit discovercaliforniawines.com to view events by date and order a map of California wine regions and their 138 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). For great California wine and food road trip ideas click here. Event highlights include:

North Coast

Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, Sept. 2-4 over Labor Day weekend has been named one of the “10 Best Wine & Food Events in the U.S.” As Sonoma County’s largest charity event, it brings together over 200 of Sonoma’s top winemakers and growers, along with a collection of the area’s best chefs. For three delicious, decadent days, guests can enjoy the Taste of Sonoma at MacMurray Ranch, as well as a wine auction, seminars, cooking demonstrations, vineyard tours and multiple winery parties.

Mendocino’s Annual Winesong Charity Auction & Tasting, Sept. 9-10 begins with a Pinot Noir Celebration on Sept. 9 with 25 wineries paired with culinary offerings, overlooking the ocean at Little River Inn. On Sept. 10, guests can stroll through the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens at the Winesong Food & Wine Tasting, enjoying regional vintages, 50 food purveyors and music groups.

Lake County Wine Auction, Sept.17 at Cache Creek Vineyards in Clearlake Oaks. Enjoy a gourmet dinner and dancing under the stars while mingling with the county’s star winemakers.

2016 Sonoma Valley Crush, Sept. 16-18, where wine lovers can get their grape on. For three days, wineries will be offering a variety of harvest activities including grape sampling in the vineyards, crush pad tours, samples of just-pressed juice and grapes picked fresh off the vine. Guests can sip wine while it’s fermenting and chat with artisan winemakers about harvest.

Calistoga Wine Experience, Sept. 10 – Napa Valley boasts many fantastic events and immersion experiences, from barn bashes and winemaker tours to harvest balls. On Sept. 10, the Calistoga Wine Experience combines all the best features of Calistoga: delicious wines, culinary offerings and a spectacular harvest setting. Guests will taste wines from more than 35 Calistoga wineries, meet the owners and winemakers, enjoy appetizers and live jazz music.

Inland Valleys

Madera Wine Trail’s California Wine Month Celebration, Sept. 16 – Head to the beautiful Madera County foothills Sept. 16 for the Madera Wine Trail’s California Wine Month Celebration. This delectable event will offer wine tasting from local wineries, food by a variety of local restaurants and live music. The Madera Vintners Association will also honor and award partners and associates that have influenced the local wine industry, the MVA and its winery members.

Lodi Grape Festival, Sept. 15-18, check out the lively Lodi Grape Festival for music, food, wine and even a circus! Sept. 16 join the festival’s Wine Cellar tasting experience where nine local wineries will be showcasing a variety of wines from floral Pinot Grigios to the region’s renowned peppery Zinfandels.

PBS Rolls Out New Dramas, Arts, Performance, History and Election Coverage This Fall

PBS Confirms Premiere Date for HAMILTON’S AMERICA, a Behind-the-Scenes Special on the Making of the Tony Award-Winning Broadway Phenomenon and Centerpiece of PBS Arts Fall Festival

MASTERPIECE Offers New Seasons of “Poldark” and “Indian Summers”

Renée Fleming Performance to Headline PBS TCA Press Tour Sessions Also Featuring Josh Radnor, John Singleton and Aidan Turner, andTony Award-winner Sophie Okonedo

Election and History Specials Bring New Insights Into Past and Present

PBS’ fall 2016 primetime schedule is rich in politics, arts, drama and political history, covering a span from the American Revolution to the upcoming Presidential election. FRONTLINE’s acclaimed series “The Choice 2016”returns on September 27 with an in-depth look at this year’s presidential candidates, while THE CONTENDERS – 16 FOR ’16, debuting September 13, looks back at previous elections through the stories of former candidates. History and politics carry over into the arts with “Hamilton’s America” from GREAT PERFORMANCES, an intimate look at the making of the wildly successful Broadway production of Hamilton, winner of 11 Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize, which kicks off the sixth season of the PBS ARTS FALL FESTIVAL on October 21. Fall 2016 also brings the highly–anticipated return of “Poldark” on MASTERPIECE (date TBA), whose Season 2 continues the story of Captain Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner) in a love story set in windswept Cornwall of the late 1700s. On September 6, PBS presents 9/11 INSIDE THEPENTAGON, a documentary that goes behind the scenes at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, and airs in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the attack [VIEW CLIP]. On September 20, Ken Burns’s DEFYING THE NAZIS: THE SHARPS’ WAR tells the moving story of an American couple who rescued hundreds trying to escape the Nazis [VIEW CLIP].

Image: (L) MASTERPIECE “Poldark,” Aidan Turner as Ross Poldark. © Robert Viglasky/Mammoth Screen for MASTERPIECE. (R) GREAT PERFORMANCES “Hamilton’s America,” Phillipa Soo and Lin-Manuel Miranda. © Joan Marcus

As part of PBS’ commitment to education, the fall season will kick off with “SPOTLIGHT EDUCATION”, a week of primetime programming focused on the challenges facing America’s education system. Starting Monday, Sept.12, PBS will lead a national dialogue on-air, online and across communities, exploring ideas and solutions to improve outcomes for all of America’s youth. National broadcast programs include POV “All the Difference,” TED TALKS “Education Revolution,” [VIEW CLIP] FRONTLINE “The Diploma Mill,” (w.t.), NOVA “School of the Future,” CRAFT IN AMERICA “Teachers” and TIME FOR SCHOOL. Funding for these programs is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), in partnership with PBS, as part of the public media initiative, “American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen.”

On October 25, “Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You” on AMERICAN MASTERS celebrates the life of the acclaimed, and often controversial, TV writer and producer. In BLACK AMERICA SINCE MLK: AND STILL I RISE, which debuts in two-parts on November 15 and November 22, acclaimed scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the last 50 years of African-American history, looking at culture, politics and an ever-changing racial landscape to explore the remarkable progress, daunting setbacks and deep contradictions of black America. ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, a new feature film starring Martin Sheen and based on the iconic book by L.M. Montgomery, will air on Thanksgiving night, November 24.

As part of PBS’ partnership with NPR to cover the 2016 elections, the 2016 Campaign Connection site offers a round-up of election coverage from across public media. FRONTLINE’s “The Choice 2016” and THE CONTENDERS – 16 FOR ’16 are part of the PBS ELECTION 2016 lineup, which  brings together venerable news and public affairs shows with new programs and specials to offer viewers information and insights about the 2016 elections, the candidates and key issues for voters. PBS NEWSHOUR, WASHINGTON WEEK WITH GWEN IFILL and PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND will provide distinctive coverage of the ongoing national, state and local campaigns, as well as presidential and vice presidential debates. On election night, PBS NEWSHOUR will offer live coverage of national and local results. 

“PBS’ fall programming truly stands out for its amazing variety, quality and diversity,” said Beth Hoppe, PBS’ Chief Programming Executive and General Manager. “Like the artists who populate our Friday primetime cultural programs this fall, PBS brings new perspectives to stories both well-known and untold. PBS viewers will discover everything from joyous musical creations to thoughtful approaches to presidential elections, learn from biographies of acclaimed Americans and find inspiration even in history’s darkest hours.”

MASTERPIECE enhances PBS’ Sunday night drama block with the September 11 debut of CHURCHILL’S SECRET, with Emmy® Award-winner Michael Gambon as Winston Churchill in an all-star production based on a little-known incident in Churchill’s illustrious life. Following CHURCHILL’S SECRET on September 11 is INDIAN SUMMERS, set during the tumultuous period of British Colonialism in the 1930s.  Rachel Griffiths and Art Malik join Julie Walters, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, and Nikesh Patel for Season 2 of the picturesque series. POLDARK, starring Aidan Turner in a love story set in windswept Cornwall in the late 1700s, returns for a second highly-anticipated season (date TBA).

The PBS Arts Fall Festival kicks off on October 21, and continues with a number of new programs on Friday nights throughout the fall. Joining “Hamilton’s America” from GREAT PERFORMANCES are Imelda Staunton as the iconic Momma Rose in a British revival of the classic American musical “Gypsy” and “Shakespeare Live! From the Royal Shakespeare Company.” LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER returns to the festival this year with “Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater” and pianist “Lang Lang’s New York Rhapsody.” Full broadcast dates and several other programs that are part of the PBS Arts Fall Festival will be announced later. SOUNDBREAKING: STORIES FROM THE CUTTING EDGE OF RECORDED MUSIC, an eight-episode series that explores how cutting edge technology combines with human artistry to create modern recorded music, premieres on November 14. ART IN THE 21ST CENTURY, hosted by Claire Danes and produced by ART21 premieres a new season on September 16.

PBS will unveil many of these new shows at the Television Critics Association Press Tour July 28 and 29 with a range of stars from the worlds of arts and politics. Talent appearing at the TCA include Jenna Coleman, Tom Hughes, Rufus Sewell and Daisy Goodwin for MASTERPIECE “Victoria”; Aidan Turner, Heida Reed and Eleanor Tomlinson for Season 2 of “Poldark” on MASTERPIECE; Ken Burns for DEFYING THE NAZIS: THE SHARPS’ WAR; McKinley Belcher III, Gary Cole, Hannah James andJosh Radnor for MERCY STREET Season 2; Tom Sturridge,Sophie Okonedo and award-winning director Dominic Cooke forGREAT PERFORMANCES “The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses”; and Henry Louis Gates, Jr. for BLACK AMERICA SINCE MLK: AND STILL I RISE. A panel introducing THE CONTENDERS – 16 FOR ’16 will feature series producer Carlos Watson (host of the weekly PBS talk show POINT TAKEN) and several of the politicians who appear in the series, which showcases the memorable presidential and vice presidential campaigns of Howard Dean, Michael Dukakis, Ralph Nader and John McCain, among others. PBS will also welcome Kenya Barris, creator and executive producer of black-ish, and Oscar-nominated filmmaker John Singleton on a panel for THE TALK.  PBS is delighted to feature a special performance by celebrated soprano and music ambassador Renée Fleming. The star of many PBS productions, Ms. Fleming most recently was featured in PBS’ National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, DC. Her next project, which she curated, will be the broadcast of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s “Bel Canto” on GREAT PERFORMANCES (airdate TBA).  Other talent and performers will be announced later.  

A chronological listing of Fall 2016 PBS programs follows, grouped by month and premiere date:

SEPTEMBER ON PBS:

POV “The Birth of Saké” – Go behind the scenes at Japan’s Yoshida Brewery, where a brotherhood of artisans, ranging from 20 to 70, spend six months in nearly monastic isolation as they follow an age-old process to create saké, the nation’s revered rice wine.Monday, September 5, 10-11 p.m. ET

9/11 INSIDE THE PENTAGON – On September 11, 2001 at 9:37 a.m. American Flight 77 slammed into the Pentagon killing 184 people. What happened behind the walls of the Pentagon is a largely untold chapter in history. Fifteen years later, survivors and first responders shed light on that tragic day. Tuesday, September 6, 8-9 p.m. ET

AMERICA BY THE NUMBERS: THE NEW DECIDERS– Learn how Asian-American, black millennial, Arab-American, and Latino evangelical voters are exerting their growing strength and influence in this 2016 election special about power and politics, demographics and democracy.  Tuesday, September 6, 10-11 p.m. ET

CHURCHILL’S SECRET ON MASTERPIECE – Michael Gambon (The Singing Detective, Harry Potter) stars as Winston Churchill in this dramatization of Churchill’s life-threatening stroke in the summer of 1953, when he was prime minister for the second time.  His illness and battle to recover were kept secret from the world. Lindsay Duncan (Birdman) plays Churchill’s wife Clementine, and Romola Garai (The Hour) is the remarkable young nurse who cared for him. Sunday, September 11, 8-10 pm ET

INDIAN SUMMERS ON MASTERPIECE  – It’s 1935 in Simla—an Indian retreat for British colonials set in the Himalayas. An assassination attempt on the Viceroy Lord Willingdon (Patrick Malahide), and the surprise arrival of Lord Hawthorne (James Fleet, Outlander), puts Ralph’s (Henry Lloyd-Hughes) future in the balance. Meanwhile, Cynthia’s (Julie Walters) Royal Simla Club plays host to an important royal guest, the Maharaja Maritpur (Art Malik, Upstairs Downstairs) and his elegant and mysterious mistress Sirene (Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters). Sundays, September 11-November 20, 10-11 p.m. ET

Rooftop Films Announces 2016 Summer Series Lineup

Rooftop Films is happy to announce free movies, feature documentary and feature film line up for the summer of 2016. This year Rooftop will help produce over 30 free outdoor screenings, many of which are new, independent films– in partnership with Institutions Across New York City– that will screen as part of the 20th Annual Summer Series. Rooftop Films will also partner with multiple New York cultural institutions to screen new independent films along with classics and recent blockbuster hits.

http://www.rooftopfilms.com

Rooftop Films is a non-profit organization whose mission is to engage and inspire the diverse communities of New York City by showcasing the work of emerging filmmakers and musicians. In addition to their annual Summer Series – which takes place in unique outdoor venues every weekend throughout the summer – Rooftop provides grants to filmmakers, teaches media literacy and filmmaking to young people, rents equipment at low-cost to artists and non-profits, and produces new independent films.

Highlights include four events with lululemon athletica, including a sneak preview of Anna Rose Holmer‘s Sundance Film Festival hit and Rooftop Films/Brigade Marketing Grantee The Fits, a danceathon screening of Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat’s The Living Stars, a special silent screening of Patrick Shen’s In Pursuit of Silence, during which the audience will listen to the film on headphones, and a Cinema Ramble at Storm King Art Center with multiple screens set up across the park.

FEATURE DOCUMENTARIES (MORE FILMS, DATES AND VENUES TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON)

The Bandit (Jesse Moss | USA | 82′)

Burt Reynolds and Hal Needham recount the strange, wild making of Smokey and the Bandit. Presented in Partnership with: CMT

Cameraperson (Kirsten Johnson | USA | 102′)

Cinematographer Kirsten Johnson’s deeply poetic memoir, culled from footage shot for other films. Presented in Partnership with: The Film Collaborative

Danny Brown Concert Documentary (Title TBA) (Andrew Cohn | USA)

An intimate, behind-the-scenes adventure with Detroit-rapper Danny Brown during a hometown show. Presented in partnership with: House of Vans

Don Juan (Jerzy Sladkowski | Sweden/Finland | 92′)

A 4-sided love triangle, complete with autism & neuroses in the Russian city Nizhny Novgorod. Presented in Partnership with: IDFA and Swedish Film Institute

Goodnight Brooklyn – The Story of Death by Audio (Matthew Conboy | USA | 82′)

The origins, influence and ultimate closure of one of Brooklyn’s best DIY music venues.

In Pursuit of Silence (Patrick Shen | USA | 81’)

A contemplative meditation that explores our relationship with silence, sound, and the impact of noise on our lives. The film will be presented as a special silent screening, with the audience listening to the film on headphones.

Life, Animated (Roger Ross Williams | USA | 91′)

A young man with autism discovers a way to make sense of world via classic Disney animated films. Presented in Partnership with: The Orchard, in theaters July 8

Los Punks: We Are All We Have (Angela Boatwright | USA | 79′)

All thrash, noise, and pits; meet the fans and bands of the thriving backyard punk scene in LA. Presented in partnership with: House of Vans

The Music of Strangers: Yo Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble (Morgan Neville | USA | 96′)

The extraordinary story of the renowned international musical collective which was created by famed cellist, Yo-Yo Ma. Presented in Partnership with The Orchard, in theaters June 10