March 3, 2016: Barack and Michelle Obama to Headline SXSW, Summer Olympics Will Include Team of Refugees, Emmys Embrace Streaming Services With New Categories

1. BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA TO HEADLINE SXSW: President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will headline the South by Southwest festival with separate keynote addresses. Logistics from security to the venue are still being worked out, according to South by Southwest Interactive director Hugh Forrest. The president will also attend a Democratic National Committee fund-raiser while in town. Adweek: “Forrest and his team had been communicating with the White House since late fall about bringing the president to SXSW before getting confirmation last week. The first lady's commitment came as a bit of surprise, Forrest noted. … Indeed, SXSW's big ‘get’ came as a result of building a relationship with the White House during the last several years, Forrest explained. The conference has regularly featured some of the president's senior staffers—chief technology officer Megan Smith spoke last year, for instance. As the relationship grew, Forrest and his team put in a request for POTUS.” http://bit.ly/1LWwelA

2. SUMMER OLYMPICS WILL INCLUDE TEAM OF REFUGEES: In a first, the International Olympic Committee will field a team of refugee athletes who will compete in the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro “to send a message of hope for all refugees of the world.” Associated Press: “IOC President Thomas Bach said he expects between five and 10 athletes to be selected for a team that will compete under the Olympic flag as ‘Team Refugee Olympic Athletes.’ The final list of athletes will be named by the International Olympic Committee executive board in June. The team will march in the opening ceremony in Rio on Aug. 5 just before the athletes from host Brazil.” http://on.thestar.com/1QtB9zT

3. EMMYS EMBRACE STREAMING SERVICES WITH NEW CATEGORIES: This year, the Emmy could go to YouTube. The Television Academy announced new short-form categories that will consider work from streaming services such as YouTube, Adult Swim, and Maker Studios. The Hollywood Reporter: “This move will make for the first peer-voted awards for such projects. The only notable streaming races thus far, the Webbys and the Streamys, open up voting to the public — an audience that is known for its enthusiasm. … The Academy announced earlier this year that the Creative Arts ceremony, where these kudos will be handed out, have been split into two different events in the run-up to the traditional Primetime Emmys.” http://bit.ly/1Qs2279

* LOCAL NEWS *

ATLANTA:  TomorrowWorld has canceled its 2016 festival. Atlanta Business Chronicle: http://bit.ly/1T8aY3Q

AUSTIN:  The 19th annual Cine Las Americas International Film Festival will take place May 4-8. The Latin America-focused festival will screen films at the Marchesa Hall & Theatre, the Salvage Vanguard Theater, and the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center.

BOSTON:  On March 24, Team Impact will host the Game Day Gala at Seaport World Trade Center. The evening will feature live music from a college marching band, mascot appearances, and silent and live auctions.

The American Repertory Theater raised nearly $1.1 million at its annual gala, Boundless, which was held February 29. More than 500 guests attended the benefit, which featured a performance from singer and actor Matthew Morrison.

CHICAGO:  Chicago Humanities Festival will host its first Style festival April 28-May 1. Speakers include Arianna Huffington, Alicia Garza, Iris Apfel, and Rachel Roy.

DALLAS:  Josh Heidenreich has been named managing director and general manager of Omni Fort Worth Hotel.

LAS VEGAS:  The International Pizza Expo will take place March 7-10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Along with panels and business workshops, the trade show will feature a block party, acrobatic dough-tossing event, and pizza-making competition.

LOS ANGELES:  The California Fire Foundation's third annual gala will take place March 9 at the Avalon Hollywood. Comedian and actress Natasha Leggero will serve as M.C., and Mayor Eric Garcetti will attend.

Youth empowerment event We Day will take place April 7 at the Forum in Inglewood. The event expects attendance of 16,000 California students, who all earn their tickets through service by participating in one local and one global action.

Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The Collection, a luxury car dealership, served as the official automotive sponsor of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. It ferried chefs and other personalities in vehicles such as the 2017 Audi Q7, the event’s official car, as well as other luxury car brands. It also hosted an Audi lounge at the Grand Tasting Village.

NEW YORK:  New York is experiencing a boom in art-house movie theaters with the opening of the Metrograph on the Lower East Side, the Alamo Drafthouse in downtown Brooklyn, and a renovation to Quad Cinema in Greenwich Village. The New York Times: http://nyti.ms/1Qtzkmq

Houses on the Moon Theater Company will host its fourth annual benefit, Amplify 2016, on April 18 at Gotham Comedy Club. The event will feature a performance from the theater group and an award presentation to three honorees: event professional and philanthropist Laura Welch, TransParents Project/Pflag NYC founder Judy Sennesh, and Safe Passage Project founder and director Lenni Benson.

Lincoln Center's 50th Mostly Mozart Festival will run July 22-August 27. The event will feature more than 50 performances with a focus on Mozart's operas.

Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Sugar Factory American Brasserie at I-Drive 360 will host its grand opening on March 11 with a candy-theme event hosted by Kylie Jenner.

SAN DIEGO:  The sixth annual East Village Opening Day Block Party will take place April 4. The event will have a microbrew beer garden, food from local food trucks and restaurants, and a performance from local band Caliber.

SAN FRANCISCO:  Mina Group has opened the Company in its test kitchen in the Marina. The pop-up concept serves Indian fare made with California ingredients.

TORONTO:  The Green Living Show comes to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre April 15-17. Some 400 exhibits will showcase healthy products; there will also be a Kids Zone, a fitness stage, and an opportunity to drive electric cars.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  The Newseum will live stream discussions with key thought leaders in technology, media, and privacy from the WeDC House at South by Southwest Interactive in Austin, Texas, from March 12-14. This year will be the first time the Newseum has attended the conference.

The Children's Inn at the National Institutes of Health's annual fund-raising event, An Evening for Hope Gala, will take place May 17 at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner. Fox News correspondent James Rosen will be the event toastmaster.

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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, Anna Sekula, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.

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