1. NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL SEEKS TO SPREAD SOCIAL AWARENESS WHILE INFLUENCING OSCAR RACE: The New York Film Festival, which runs September 30-October 16, has been known to premiere a number of Oscar-worthy fall films. This year the festival expects to do the same, while also presenting films—including Ava DuVernay’s prison documentary 13th and Ang Lee’s military drama Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk—that tackle current social issues. Los Angeles Times: “‘There’s a distinction to draw between artistic urgency and national urgency,’ said Kent Jones, the director of NYFF. ‘‘Billy Lynn’ and ‘13th’ have artistic urgency, and that’s the reason they’re here. But they also urgently connect to the moment.’ Long-running film festivals have recently sought to find a balance between their age-old local missions and an environment that has grown more global, social media-friendly and awards-obsessed. But few have sat at this fault line like New York. With only about 25 auteur-minded films in its main selection, the Lincoln Center event has a curatorial emphasis that has helped it operate outside both the Hollywood and news zeitgeists. Movies are chosen by a committee of four or five critic-academics; galas are well-heeled affairs for the upscale New York arts world. But in recent years the festival has also plugged in to wider realms. NYFF now has an internal mandate that it include at least two world premieres of major films. This year the number is double that. In addition to ‘13th’ and ‘Billy Lynn,’ the gathering will also feature as its centerpiece director Mike Mills’ ode to the ladies of his life, ‘20th Century Women’ and the awards ambitions it carries for star Annette Bening and costars Elle Fanning and Greta Gerwig. The DuVernay piece marks the first time the festival is opening with a documentary. Programmers eschewed high-profile awards contenders to go with the film, which Netflix debuts next month.” http://lat.ms/2dlSBWU
2. STAN LEE GIVES LOS ANGELES A COMIC CON: Comic-book creator Stan Lee is getting a day named after him in Los Angeles on October 28, which happens to coincide with the fifth edition of his convention—which he has rebranded as Stan Lee's Los Angeles Comic Con. The Hollywood Reporter: "Comic book fans area rejoiced when Lee launched his convention in 2011, and for Lee, the name change makes sense when major cities from New York to San Diego have flagship conventions bearing their cities' names. … Part of the draw of L.A. Comic Con is that it shines a spotlight on local talent in the city, with things like the Cosplay National Championship and Prop National Championship. And in honor of Halloween, it will continue the tradition of bringing in two tons of candy for trick or treaters—who go from booth to booth to get their bounty (as their parents or guardians check out the goods venders are selling). Children 12 and under are admitted free, and it's been a big way to draw attention to talented artisans, with Tralins pointing out that visitors don't skip any booths when candy is involved. For Lee, he's determined to continue making L.A. Comic Con bigger every year—to be synonymous not only with TV, movies and comics, but also sports and music eventually." http://bit.ly/2dDxnYU
3. CITI TO HOST LIVE VIRTUAL-REALITY CONCERT SERIES: Citi, Live Nation, and NextVR have announced they are working to produce a live virtual-reality concert series of as many as 10 concerts. USA Today: "The first performer will be named later this year and the concert will be accessible via the Live Nation Channel on the NextVR app, which is compatible with Samsung GearVR and Oculus Rift headsets. The concert series is part of the Backstage with Citi' program, which grants credit card members behind the scenes access with their special tickets. The idea here is to use VR to bring patrons into dressing rooms and on stage at sound checks virtually. 'The time is right to experiment (with VR) in the music space,' Darin Wolf, executive vice president of Live Nation media and sponsorships, said in a statement. 'Together we will be able to provide unparalleled access for fans to enjoy live music and see first-hand the emotion and adrenaline rush from artists as they prepare to perform live.' … But there's still one big unknown factor when it comes to watching concerts or sporting events in VR. Most virtual reality researchers insist that people limit their exposure to the technology to 15-minute periods. How a Bruce Springsteen fan might stay hunkered down in VR for a four-hour Boss-fest remains to be seen." http://usat.ly/2cWvVwH
* INDUSTRY NEWS *
Event marketing software Event Farm has announced a close of $6.1 million for Series A funding.
* LOCAL NEWS *
COAST TO COAST: West Elm Hotels, a partnership with West Elm and hospitality management and development company DDK, will launch in 2018. The first properties are expected to be located in Detroit, Minneapolis, Savannah, Charlotte, and Indianapolis.
ATLANTA: BashBlok, an Atlanta-based female-founded event planning app, has launched.
BOSTON: White Elephant Village Ballroom & Conference Center has opened on South Beach Street in Nantucket. The 4,200-square-foot venue can accommodate as many as 400 guests for receptions, with seating capacity for 250 theater-style or 240 banquet-style. A boardroom that is adjacent to the ballroom can hold as many as 22 people.
CHICAGO: The American Writers Museum is slated to open in March 2017 on North Michigan Avenue.
DALLAS/FORT WORTH: Renaissance Dallas Richardson Hotel, which is owned by John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, has named Stephanie McClure director of sales.
LAS VEGAS: Harrah's Las Vegas has unveiled extensive renovations which include kiosks for self-check-in and self-check-out, redesigned rooms, an expanded Oyster Bar, a new Signature Bar, and upgrades to Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill and Harrah's Race & Sports Book.
Tivoli Village will host dining event Cork & Soul on October 15, benefitting the local chapter of nonprofit JDRF, which works to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes. The event will take place in the Piazza and be catered by Echo & Rig.
LOS ANGELES: Diffa's first-ever Picnic By Design Los Angeles is slated for the WestEdge Design Fair on November 5.
On April 16, 2017, USA Network will televise Beverly Hills Dog Show Presented by Purina for the the first time. The event, which will take place at Fairplex in Pomona, will be hosted by former Westminster Dog Show host David Frei and actor John O’Hurley, who also co-host NBC’s The National Dog Show Presented by Purina.
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The dual-branded Hilton Garden Inn Miami Dolphin Mall and Homewood Suites by Hilton Miami Dolphin Mall has opened in Doral. The hotel has two distinct lobbies and dining areas, while sharing a 1,100-square-foot fitness center, outdoor pool, and putting green. The hotel also offers 5,500 square feet of conference and meeting space, including the divisible Flamingo Ballroom, which can seat as many as 180 guests. The Sandpiper meeting room can accommodate receptions for as many as 225 people, and offers a 1,200-square-foot private terrace.
Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Coral Gables has moved to 45 Alhambra Plaza. The studio celebrated its five-year anniversary and the relocation with a party on Wednesday that was attended by Coral Gables mayor Jim Cason.
NEW YORK: Squares—a NoMad nightclub that has more than 25,000 Japanese glazed tiles and serves small bites in cube-like presentations—has opened at 360 Park Avenue South. The 2,000-square-foot nightspot can accommodate 80 seated or 150 for receptions. A private area in the club has seating capacity for 20 or standing capacity for 50.
The International Live Events Association Metro NY Chapter's Back to Basics breakfast series will kick off October 11 at Alpine Creative Studios. The series, which is presented by past ILEA presidents and founding members, will also take place November 1, December 1, January 17, February 7, March 7, April 13, May 9, and June 13.
This year's FearNYC horror film festival will take place October 21-27 at Cinema Village. The event will have more than 65 screenings of new and classic horror films, as well as cast appearances and a tribute to the late Wes Craven.
SmartSource Computer & Audio Visual Rentals, based in Hauppauge, has appointed Brandon Otto and Amy Zaczkowski as account executives of event solutions. Zaczkowski is based in Austin.
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA: Highball & Harvest at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, is now serving Sunday brunch.
PITTSBURGH: Omni Bedford Springs Resort has appointed Bill Liedholm as general manager and Michael McDonald as spa director.
TORONTO: Streetcar Developments and Dream have announced that the Broadview Hotel will open in 2017. Located on the northwest corner of Queen Street East and Broadview Avenue, the 58-room hotel will have a ground-floor restaurant, a rooftop patio, and around 4,000 square feet of event space.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The National Tax Lien Association is hosting its annual fall symposium October 13-14 at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel.
The Little Beet Table, a New York-based market-fresh restaurant, has signed a lease for a 5,000-square-foot space at the Collection, a shopping and dining destination in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The nearly 20-acre Collection will commence building in late 2016, and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2017.
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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin and Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Carla Hay, Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, and Ian Zelaya in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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