Tribeca Film Festival
Photo: Courtesy of the Tribeca Film Festival
1. Television Network Upfront Week
The broadcast TV networks are notorious for keeping word of the upcoming season’s programming under wraps until late spring, when advertisers and press are primed for the big, overpitched reveal. Upfront Week draws an elaborate V.I.P.-packed crowd to the industry’s after-parties and celebrity gatherings, held each year in mid-May.2. Tribeca Film Festival
This two-week event descends on New York each spring. In 2007, the festival received more than 500,000 attendees and featured 779 screenings of 263 films from 47 countries, as well as 10 panel discussions and marquee events like the “Tribeca Drive-In.” All of this resulted in $106 million in economic output. Dalzell Productions returns to produce a portion of the 2008 festival, scheduled to run April 23 to May 4.
3. New York Film Festival
Every SeptemÂber, the Film Society of Lincoln Center gives New Yorkers a sneak peek at some of the best films of the year. Sponsored by The New York Times in 2007, the 45th annual festival premiered 28 films, including Wes Anderson’s The Darjeeling Limited and the Coen brothers’ No Country for Old Men. The festival also held a black-tie gala in honor of New Line Cinema’s 40th anniversary. The 2008 event will again take place at Jazz at Lincoln Center, with the opening- and closing-night ceremonies to be held at Avery Fisher Hall.
4. Tony Awards
Some of the biggest names in show business congregate on one night to celebrate Broadway’s most prestigious awards. Presented by the League of American Theatres and Producers and the American Theatre Wing, the 62nd annual Tony awards will air live from Radio City Music Hall on June 15. Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment will return as executive producers for the three-hour ceremony. The awards are preceded by a luncheon for the nominees at the Rainbow Room on May 29 and a lifetime achievement ceremony on June 14.
5. Museum of the Moving Image Salute
Tom Cruise joined past recipients Robert De Niro, Richard Gere, and Al Pacino as he was honored with this film tribute in November 2007. The black-tie gala, which raises money for the museum’s education programs, moved from its usual home, the Waldorf-Astoria, to Cipriani 42nd Street, and attracted much of the New York socialite set, along with actors Tim Robbins, Julianne Moore, and Kenneth Branagh.
6. CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival
For 30 years, College Music Journal has showcased new artists to the music industry at New York’s largest annual music production, which now also includes films. The 2007 marathon featured M.I.A., Spoon, and just about every blog-approved buzz band. The 2008 festival will showcase 1,000 artists to more than 100,000 fans during five days in mid-October. CMJ founder and executive producer Joanne Abbot Green will oversee the event.
7. The Paley Center for Media Gala
Formerly known as the Museum of Television and Radio, the center was renamed in 2007 as part of an effort to emphasize the institution’s focus on newer media. The 2007 gala attracted big-name stars from TV and beyond, including Barbara Walters, Adam Sandler, Carly Simon, and the M.C., Tom Brokaw. Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone was honored at the February 7, 2008, event at the Waldorf-Astoria.
8. Gotham Awards
The best independent films of the year are acknowledged the Tuesday after Thanksgiving at the Gotham awards. The 2007 ceremony included special tributes to Roger Ebert, Javier Bardem, and Mayor Bloomberg. In 2008, the awards will land on November 25 and will be hosted for the second year at the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Steiner Studios, with catering by Abigail Kirsch.
9. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions
Music executives and artists gather to honor some of the biggest names in the business as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum nonprofit organization salutes new inductees at the Waldorf-Astoria on March 10. Honorees, who must work in the industry for at least 25 years to be considered, will be selected from a list of nominees that this year includes Madonna, the Beastie Boys, John Mellencamp, and Donna Summer.
The broadcast TV networks are notorious for keeping word of the upcoming season’s programming under wraps until late spring, when advertisers and press are primed for the big, overpitched reveal. Upfront Week draws an elaborate V.I.P.-packed crowd to the industry’s after-parties and celebrity gatherings, held each year in mid-May.2. Tribeca Film Festival
This two-week event descends on New York each spring. In 2007, the festival received more than 500,000 attendees and featured 779 screenings of 263 films from 47 countries, as well as 10 panel discussions and marquee events like the “Tribeca Drive-In.” All of this resulted in $106 million in economic output. Dalzell Productions returns to produce a portion of the 2008 festival, scheduled to run April 23 to May 4.
3. New York Film Festival
Every SeptemÂber, the Film Society of Lincoln Center gives New Yorkers a sneak peek at some of the best films of the year. Sponsored by The New York Times in 2007, the 45th annual festival premiered 28 films, including Wes Anderson’s The Darjeeling Limited and the Coen brothers’ No Country for Old Men. The festival also held a black-tie gala in honor of New Line Cinema’s 40th anniversary. The 2008 event will again take place at Jazz at Lincoln Center, with the opening- and closing-night ceremonies to be held at Avery Fisher Hall.
4. Tony Awards
Some of the biggest names in show business congregate on one night to celebrate Broadway’s most prestigious awards. Presented by the League of American Theatres and Producers and the American Theatre Wing, the 62nd annual Tony awards will air live from Radio City Music Hall on June 15. Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment will return as executive producers for the three-hour ceremony. The awards are preceded by a luncheon for the nominees at the Rainbow Room on May 29 and a lifetime achievement ceremony on June 14.
5. Museum of the Moving Image Salute
Tom Cruise joined past recipients Robert De Niro, Richard Gere, and Al Pacino as he was honored with this film tribute in November 2007. The black-tie gala, which raises money for the museum’s education programs, moved from its usual home, the Waldorf-Astoria, to Cipriani 42nd Street, and attracted much of the New York socialite set, along with actors Tim Robbins, Julianne Moore, and Kenneth Branagh.
6. CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival
For 30 years, College Music Journal has showcased new artists to the music industry at New York’s largest annual music production, which now also includes films. The 2007 marathon featured M.I.A., Spoon, and just about every blog-approved buzz band. The 2008 festival will showcase 1,000 artists to more than 100,000 fans during five days in mid-October. CMJ founder and executive producer Joanne Abbot Green will oversee the event.
7. The Paley Center for Media Gala
Formerly known as the Museum of Television and Radio, the center was renamed in 2007 as part of an effort to emphasize the institution’s focus on newer media. The 2007 gala attracted big-name stars from TV and beyond, including Barbara Walters, Adam Sandler, Carly Simon, and the M.C., Tom Brokaw. Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone was honored at the February 7, 2008, event at the Waldorf-Astoria.
8. Gotham Awards
The best independent films of the year are acknowledged the Tuesday after Thanksgiving at the Gotham awards. The 2007 ceremony included special tributes to Roger Ebert, Javier Bardem, and Mayor Bloomberg. In 2008, the awards will land on November 25 and will be hosted for the second year at the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Steiner Studios, with catering by Abigail Kirsch.
9. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions
Music executives and artists gather to honor some of the biggest names in the business as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum nonprofit organization salutes new inductees at the Waldorf-Astoria on March 10. Honorees, who must work in the industry for at least 25 years to be considered, will be selected from a list of nominees that this year includes Madonna, the Beastie Boys, John Mellencamp, and Donna Summer.
