1. FILM FESTIVALS STRIVE FOR GENDER EQUALITY IN POST-WEINSTEIN ERA: In the aftermath of Hollywood’s sexual assault scandals—with many incidents occurring at high-profile film festivals—national and international film festivals this year have been aiming to spotlight more female filmmakers. Associated Press: “When the curtain goes up on the 17th annual Tribeca Film Festival on Wednesday, the festival will boast more female filmmakers than ever before. After last year accounting for a third of the slate, films directed by women make up 46 percent at this year’s festival. Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of the festival and chief executive of Tribeca Enterprises, particularly wanted to launch this year’s festival with the premiere of a film directed by a woman, about a woman. Lisa Dapolito’s ‘Love Gilda,’ about the comedienne Gilda Radner, will kick things off Wednesday at New York’s Beacon Theatre. The first episode of Liz Garbus’ Showtime documentary series “The Fourth Estate,” about the New York Times covering the first year of the Trump administration, will close the festival. On April 28, the festival will hold a day’s worth of conversations with Time’s Up, including Ashley Judd and Julianne Moore, to benefit the legal defense fund and gender equality initiative. … The Hot Docs Festival , a well-regarded documentary festival held annually in Toronto, reached gender parity for the first time this year. A year after a program featuring 48 percent of female-directed projects, this year’s 246 films and 16 interdisciplinary projects are 50/50 on gender. The festival on Tuesday also added the premiere of Barry Avrich’s Weinstein documentary ‘The Reckoning: Hollywood’s Worst Kept Secret.’ Shane Smith, director of programming at Hot Docs, which begins April 26, said reflecting the diversity and the demands of the audience is imperative for ‘cultural gatekeepers’ like film festivals. The Cannes Film Festival, which opens May 8, has applied a different strategy. Its artistic director, Thierry Fremaux, has regularly responded to complaints about the number of female filmmakers selected for its prestigious Palme d’Or competition by saying it’s not a festival’s place to consider anything but a submission’s merit—that progress can only come further up the pipeline at studios and production companies.” https://bit.ly/2H83Pxj
2. V.M.A.S WILL RETURN TO NEW YORK THIS YEAR: The 2018 MTV Video Music Awards will air live from New York’s Radio City Music Hall August 20. The ceremony was last held in New York in 2009. Billboard: “As a crowd gathered behind the white carpet, wearing t-shirts with VMA graphics on them, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Commissioner Julie Menin announced the location. She was joined by the ‘VMA Moon Person,’ Bruce Gillmer, the Global Head of Music/Talent, Co-Brand Lead at MTV International, and by Darren Pfeffer, Executive Vice President of Madison Square Garden Live. ‘We are so pleased that the MTV VMAs will be returning to their roots in New York City for this year’s celebration of music, and entertainment,’ Menin said. ‘Prestigious awards shows like the VMAs and the Grammys not only reconfirm New York City’s status as the music capital of the country, but they bring tremendous economic benefits to their host city, an estimated $50 million in the case of the VMAs. I thank MTV and Viacom for their partnership, and we look forward to rolling out the red carpet for one of the music industry’s most entertaining nights,’ she continued. Radio City Music Hall was the location of the first VMAs in 1984. This year’s return will mark the 12th year (and first since 2009) that the awards have been held at the venue. In previous years, the ceremony has also been held in Los Angeles, Miami, and Las Vegas. The location reveal ceremony was commemorated with a ceremonial street renaming: Manhattan’s Avenue of the Americas has symbolically been renamed VMA Way at its Radio City intersection, at 6th Avenue & W. 50th Street. ” https://bit.ly/2HvvNGJ
3. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER ENTERTAINER MOCKS TRUMP FOR SKIPPING EVENT: Comedian Michelle Wolf—the featured entertainer of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner April 28—called out Donald Trump for once again planning to skip the event during an interview with Jimmy Kimmel. Vanity Fair: “When she first found out that Trump would be skipping the annual event this year—just as he did when her former Daily Show colleague Hasan Minhaj hosted in 2017—Wolf admitted she was relieved. But not because she was afraid to make fun of the president to his face: ‘The first thing I thought was, ‘Oh, thank God. I don't have to hear Trump eat,’’ Wolf told Jimmy Kimmel during his Monday broadcast. ‘You know he doesn’t chew with his mouth closed. He’s probably a real smacky eater—like a mouth breather at the same time.’ If the president does decide to show up, however, “It would be real fun,” Wolf said with a grin. ‘I’d like to look him in the eye; I like making fun of people when they’re there.’ The best way to get Trump to do anything, Kimmel suggested, is to dare him. And so, Wolf issued a challenge: ‘I dare you, you poor little man! I’ll give you five dollars if you come.’ By the end of the broadcast, the offer rose to $10. Last year, Minhaj delivered a scorching speech—also without the president in attendance. On the same night, Samantha Bee held her own event, the Not the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, as counter-programming. Given Wolf’s knack for delivering fiery segments of her own during her time on The Daily Show as a correspondent, her selection this year makes perfect sense—especially as both she and Minhaj prepare new late-night programs with Netflix.” https://bit.ly/2ESszaZ
* LOCAL NEWS *
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND: Hilton Garden Inn Annapolis Downtown has appointed Joy Wemmer director of sales.
CHICAGO: The seventh annual BTN Big 10K and 5K will take place August 12 at the lakefront along Soldier Field. The event is produced by Chicago Event Management.
LOS ANGELES: Thirst Project, a nonprofit that aims to bring safe drinking water to communities in need, will host its ninth annual Thirst Gala fund-raising event April 21 at the Beverly Hilton.
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The sixth annual Wynwood Life festival will take place April 20-22. The lifestyle festival, which is produced by events company Swarm, highlights local art, music, fashion and food. Events and activations will include the Bloomie’s Style Lounge from Bloomingdale’s, fitness classes from the Vixen Workout, the 22nd Lane Art Gallery, and the Kitchen Lab, highlighting local chefs and restaurants.
NEW YORK: Food Allergy Research & Education’s 19th annual spring luncheon will take place April 25 at Cipriani 42nd Street. The event will benefit FARE, a nonprofit that aims to improve the quality of life and health of people with food allergies.
The National Mother’s Day Committee’s 40th annual Outstanding Mother Awards will take place May 11 at the Pierre. The event will honor Chelsea Clinton, Jessica Simpson, Jan Singer, and Artemis Patrick.
The eighth annual Creative Kitchen Kids Food Festival will take place May 12-13 at Westfield World Trade Center. The event, held in partnership with the James Beard Foundation, will have a food pavilion with cooking classes, live demos and family programming, and a scavenger hunt. Participating restaurants at the pavilion will include Épicerie Boulud, Bouchon Bakery, Eataly, and the Meatball Shop.
Governors Ball music festival has announced that Shawn Mendes will perform. The event takes place June 1-3 at Randall’s Island Park.
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
WASHINGTON, D.C.: D.C. Health Link’s third annual PowerUp D.C. Small Business Forum will take place May 1 at the Fairmont Hotel. The event, which celebrates National Small Business Week, will be themed around the idea “Movin’ Your Business Forward: Start, Grow, and Prosper.”
The Capital Pride Concert will take place June 10 at Pennsylvania Avenue at Third Street. Alessia Cara and Troye Sivan will headline the event, which will take place simultaneously with the Capital Pride Festival.
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With contributions from Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, and Ian Zelaya in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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