IEM’s 2023 Academy Awards Issue is themed “Elvis is Oscar,” featuring a front cover and photo essay celebrating the King of Rock ‘n Roll, starring Jonathan Baker and Dustin Quick. with photographs by Eric Minh Swenson and Tshombe Sampson. The issue also features an interview with Oscar nominee Cate Blanchett by Lena Basse; interviews by yours truly with nominees Kim Magnusson (Ivalu), Cyrus Neshvad (The Red Suitcase), and EO producer Eileen Tasca; a special tribute to iconic actor Paul Sorvino, an editorial by Claude Brickell titled ‘My Policeman: Linear vs. Non-Linear Storytelling’; and a spotlight on legendary fashion designer Sue Wong’s recent party to unveil her Palazzo Marrakesh. We hope you enjoy!
Oscar is alive and well, and this year…. she’s a woman! IEM’s awards issue showcases the “Oscar is a Woman”-themed cover photo shoot featuring Hollywood director/producer Jonathan Baker and international model Erika Stasiuleviciute. Baker has opened his mansion doors once again this year for his annual viewing soirée, collaborating with IEM and French Riviera Film Festival. Also in the issue is an exclusive interview with Danish director Martin Strange-Hansen, nominated for his live action short film “On My Mind,” a sneak peek at artist’s Eva Lanska’s new installation “The Existential Choice,” and a feature by Claude Brickell on architect to the stars Paul R. Williams. The issue also highlights the Women Filmmakers Showcase event taking place on the afternoon before the big day. The event features Morgan Dameron, Anna Fishbeyn, Peggy McCartha, Tracy Vicory-Rosenquest and Dee Wallace, with award-winning filmmaker Sue Vicory as moderator.
Friends, I’m delighted to unveil our annual Park City festival edition of Indie Entertainment Media. The issue honors some of those talented individuals we sadly lost recently, including a bittersweet article by Lena Basse about her friend Jean-Marc Vallée, exclusive interviews with NY-based artist Cindy Shaoul and Vietnamese-American director Mai Thu Huyen, a photo essay spotlighting Las Vegas by Eric Minh Swenson, a feature on the new film Cyrano by Dr. Laura Wilhelm, Claude Brickell’s wisdom on scriptwriting, and of course, our annual Après-ski gift guide. Also featured are the wonderful participants of the 5th annual Indie Entertainment Showcase that will be held virtually on Saturday, January 22 at 11 am MT/ 10 am PT.
La main au collet, TO CATCH A THIEF, de AlfredHitchcock avec Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, 1955 (sur la Cote d'Azur, french riviera)
Swimsuit
Swimming shorts
Indie Entertainment Magazine is pleased to unveil its second annual special Cannes Film Festival Edition. Print edition to be distributed throughout Cannes. Here’s a sneak peek:
The Academy of Digital Art, Sciences, & Culture (ADASC) founding member Chris J. Snook and E! Entertainment Television founder Larry Namer recently announced the pre-eminent Web3 innovation awards show gala, The NFTYS. Today, the duo unveiled the striking NFTY Award that will be presented at the inaugural awards gala at The NIKO Theatre at Worre Studios in Las Vegas on June 14, 2023.
The NFTY award, designed by New Jersey-based artist Connor McLoughlin, known for his branding and design work for Master & Dynamic, Netflix, Peacock, Nike, Puma and Timberland, will be 3D printed in clear polymer that will be filled with lead and resin. The award manufacturing process is a blend of environmentally friendly and 3D printed methodologies, with each award costing thousands of dollars to produce standing over 12 inches tall and weighing approximately 6 pounds. The ribbons of the award design will be hand-painted, making each a one-of-a-kind, unique work of art. The 3D model design is by TurboSquid.com/Nn_Man.
Official Teaser:
“The NFTY is an iconic reflection on the historical depth that culture has always played in moving society into its next revolution or evolution,” comments Snook about the award design. “The award is a representation of the bold and bright future that lies ahead because of the creatives and innovators that earn her recognition.”
“Our goal with the presentation of the NFTY Award is to become a true career highlight for its winners, and a genuine keepsake befitting of the honor it bestows on its recipients,” adds Namer.
Each NFTY will be simultaneously minted as a digital twin when awarded to the recipient on the XRP Ledger as part of the support received from the Ripple Creator Fund, with an enhanced and vibrantly animated 3D digital twin and model of itself with each winner’s metadata. This will be stored on the Arweave PermaWeb to ensure an immutable historical record of the awards.
Additionally, the NFTY Award pays a special homage on its base to Satoshi Nakamoto the inventor of Bitcoin in 2009 which launched the world into web3. The inscription reads “With Gratitude from Us All Who Stand on Your Shoulders to Satoshi Nakamoto.”
The NFTYS is the first ever live global broadcast show of its kind recognizing the cultural innovators who are redefining fashion, art, music, entertainment, and technology across the Metaverse. Nominations for the 2023 NFTYS will remain open until midnight PST on April 15, 2023. Nominate A Project to a NFTY — NFTYS.org | Academy of Digital Art, Sciences, & Culture and the shortlist of finalists in each category will be announced on May 15, 2023.
ABOUT THE ACADEMY OF DIGITAL ART, SCIENCES, & CULTURE (ADASC) – ADASC is a social benefit diversified DAO advancing the benevolent use of breakthrough technology innovation across Art, Sciences, and Culture. Its membership includes a variety of invite-only and public tiers that form the decentralized and diverse nomination committee of awardees and grants at its annual public celebration and broadcast of The Annual NFTY Awards Gala. For more information about membership to the Academy and nominations for The NFTYS please visit https://nftys.org
For its second installment at The Grove, DIFF will feature an opening night VIP reception, live and in-person screenings, a closing night Leo Award celebration, panel programs, and exclusive festival events.
“We’re thrilled to be back in the heart of the entertainment industry at The Grove once again this year,” says Pelletier. “This year, DIFF will feature a robust program of screenings, panels, special events, and a few surprises.”
DIFF ’23 will showcase more than 100 creative projects, including 24 in-competition feature and short narrative, documentary and animation films, screenwriting finalists, and up to 80 ultra-shorts, which will compete for the festival’s Audience Award.
Leo Award categories include feature and short narrative, documentary (DIFFdocs), animation, and screenwriting (Storyline). Panel programs will be comprehensively announced at a later date but will include Digital Hollywood, Film Canada, the newly added Creativity Conference, and the Writers’ Corner Program, to anchor the slate.
DIFF ’23 is set to introduce an all-new, free-to-enter Jr. Leo Program for burgeoning filmmakers, as well as a DaVinci Labs exhibition, honoring multidisciplinary creatives in architecture, sculpture, music, and invention.
Zurich, Switzerland based, award-winning illustrator/artist Silvan Borer returns as the collaborator and creator for the festival’s 2023 official poster, themed “POSSIBILITY.”
“Our theme for 2023 is ‘possibility’,” adds Pelletier. “At the core, creativity is subjective, beautiful, and is realized by visionaries who color outside the lines and invite us into brilliant, complicated worlds. At DaVinci, we set out to honor these creatives who explore new possibilities in delivering story — on paper and on screen. This is what makes our theme this year so very powerful.”
A graduate of the University of Arts in Zurich, Borer’s previous work included the DIFF’s third annual Vitruvian Man-themed poster artwork. His wide range of international clients includes renowned brands like Saint Laurent, Tiffany & co., Harper’s Bazaar, Hugo Boss, Nick Knight SHOWstudio Estée Lauder, and Caran D’ache.
About DaVinci International Film Festival (DIFF) – DaVinci International Film Festival (DIFF) is produced by 501(c)3 non-profit DaVinci Film Foundation Inc., as a premier boutique awards platform celebrating independent cinema from around the world with its Vitruvian Selections and Leo Awards. The festival hosts four signature programs, including its award-winning screenwriting series, Storyline, DIFFdocs, GENiUS – an ultra-short category, and animation. DIFF ’23 is set to introduce an all-new, free-to-enter Jr. Leo Program for burgeoning filmmakers, as well as a DaVinci Labs exhibition, honoring multidisciplinary creatives in architecture, sculpture, music, and invention. Founded in 2017, DIFF is a top best reviewed film festival, hosting annual events at The Grove in Los Angeles, California. Learn more at davincifilmfestival.com.
Make a high-impact impression on an audience of U.S. and global filmmakers, film community professionals, and film enthusiasts through DIFF 2023 sponsorship. For details and opportunities, please contact Laurie@davincifilmfestival.com.
Despite the rain on Friday, March 10 and Saturday, March 11, the parade of Oscar nominees, presenters, past winners, and other top talent came out to celebrate the 95th Academy Awards at GBK Brand Bar’s annual Pre-Oscars Celebrity Luxury Lounge at the Kimpton La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood. Over $70k in gifts and luxury vacations went to this year’s Oscar nominees, past winners, and other top talent.
This year’s impressive list of celebrity guests included Oscar winner Viola Davis, Kevin Pollack, Adina Porter, Shea Whigham, Stephen Root, Anna Sophia Robb, Harry Shum, Jr., Nika King, Matthew Von Der Ahe, Emily Swallow, Meta World Peace, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Tom Hollander, Violet and Madeleine McGraw, Jesse Metcalf, Drag Race stars Bob the Drag Queen and Monet Exchange, Keith David, Hailie Sahar, Tony winner Anika Noni Rose, current Oscar nominees SON LUX, Anne Alvergue, Sara Dosa, Ruben Östlund, Christian Minkler, and many more Oscar nominees, who preferred not to be mentioned.
Viola Davis Receives Netvue Bird Feeder/Camera Photo Credit: Will Roberts
Anna Sophia Robb visits The Artisan Group Photo Credit: Ben Cruz
The guests were excited to receive gifts such as elevated entertainment and gaming lighting by GE Lighting, a Savant company, MY AVANA hair strand analysis kit, Netvue bird feeder cam, custom Higher Calling Bracelets, El Cristiano delicious, additive-free tequila and handcrafted gifts by The Artisan Group. Some of the other amazing gifts offered to the celebrities in attendance included food and beverage items by Albanese World’s Best Gummies, CORE® Foods, California Caviar Company, Don’t Be Salty, Ike’s Love & Sandwiches, Hibachi House LA, Lorenzi Estate Vineyards & Winery, Debate Wine, AXR Napa Valley, SOULTOX and Cardinal de Four Armagnac, 21 Rebellion; amazing apparel, accessories & jewelry, such as BADAZZ GLAZZ sunglasses by Joe Pesci, The Almighty Pineapple gold & agate pendants, Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry, and Rear Ended “Frame the Booty”; homegood and personal care gifts were a hit and included Schwank Grills, Remington® personal care items, RENPHO USA massage and care items, POWER XL air fryer, Emeril Lagasse’s cookware set and Kahuna massage chair. Other highlights included Jeff Nishinaka Paper Sculptures, Kalmado aromasound therapy candles, Krame Bodywork sessions, V1CE personalized smart business cards and ADM Entertainment DJ/MC services. World-class international vacations by Lush Africa Safaris, Rosewood Baha Mar and Sailrock Resort were also featured.
Cardinal du Four’s Christophe Namer, Paul Ben-Victor
Directors Ross White (L) and Tom Berkeley (Photo by Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for GBK Brand Bar)
Tom Hollander with IEM‘s Nicole Muj
Philanthropy is important to GBK Brand Bar and at each event they partner with a variety of charities to help raise awareness, create celebrity partnerships, and give back to the community. This year was no exception with the inclusion of Childhelp, Educating Young Minds, and Rastegar Family Foundation onsite. GBK was also able to raise over $60,000 for these causes.
Featured photo: Euphoria starNika King receives El Cristiano Tequila. Photo Credit: Bella Sky Photography
Luxury Experience & Co and Indie Entertainment Media presented a luxury gifting lounge honoring nominees and presenters during Oscars Weekend at the exclusive Valerie Beverly Hills located in the “Golden Triangle” in the heart of Beverly Hills, California. With quality and luxury in mind, LE & Co gifted celebrities an unparalleled level of style and sophistication in beauty, health, home, travel, and wellness.
Melissa McAvoy, with IEM’s Nicole Goesseringer Muj and Gotham Chandna
Attendees included Tony Vinciquerra (CEO & Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment), Cindy Cowan (Oscar & Emmy Award-winning Producer), Cas Anvar (Actor, “The Expanse”), Larry Namer (Founder, E! Network), Caroline Lagerfelt (Actress, Netflix “Sweet Magnolias”, “Gossip Girl”), Dee Dee Sorvino, Carolyn Hennesy (Actress, “General Hospital”), Rich Ting (Actor, Netflix “Warrior”), Emelia Hartford (Actor, “Upon Walking), Emelia Hartford ( Actor, he CW’s All-American: Homecoming), Amber Friendly (Actor, Apple TV’s “The Morning Show”), Alyssa de Boisblanc (Actor, ABC’s Modern Family), Jermelle Simon ( Actor, “The Upshaws”), Adam Croasdell ( Actor, “Monarch”), Misa D’Angelo (Actor, Netflix “Hache”), and many others.
Nicole Goesseringer Muj, Caroline Lagerfelt
Rich Ting
The LE & Co experience combined the ultimate customized celebrity experience that featured gifts from Style Sameyha, Estate X, Dax Haircare, MadeMan, Cut Above Gin, Aminia, Nu Estestics Spa, Lucas & Bols, Pallini Limoncello, Tequila Partida, Biomerica, Styles by Ameyha, Be You Beauty, Valerie Beverly Hills, CLE Cosmetics, Cinema Secrets Pro Cosmetic, HIGH Beauty, EO Essential Oils, Passion Roses, WHIMZY TEES, Susie’s Cakes, and money more.
Dee Dee Sorvino and Sameyha Rawjee
Luxury Experience & Co Founder, Melissa McAvoy toasted the success of talent walking away from the event with incredible gifts, valuable new connections, and a sense of celebration for the amazing past year in entertainment. “We couldn’t have asked for a better media partner to host such a successful event with,” McAvoy said of Indie Entertainment Media.
Follow @luxuryexperiencecollc on social media.
Featured image: Melissa McAvoy with Chairman & CEO Sony Pictures Entertainment Tony Vinciquerra with daughter
Jonathan Baker’s Annual Oscar Viewing Party, presented in collaboration with French Riviera Film Festival andIndie Entertainment Media (IEM), was held on the eve of March 12 at Baker Manor in Beverly Hills, at the stunning estate that was once home to Warren Beatty. Elvis is Oscar was the theme of the evening and the cover feature of IEM.
Jonathan and Jenny Baker
Joining hosts Jonathan and Jenny Baker, and FRFF co-founders Nicole Goesseringer Muj and Gotham Chandna, were Oscar-winner George Chakiris, E! founder Larry Namer, Dee Dee Sorvino (wife of late Paul Sorvino), Consul General of Croatia in Los Angeles Renee Pea, Caroline Lagerfelt (Sweet Magnolias, Gossip Girl) and Anneliese Judge (Sweet Magnolias), Kat Kramer, Vincent de Paul, Carolyn Hennesy, Frederico Lapenda, fashion designer Sue Wong, founder Pure Flix David A.R. White, Celeste Thorson, Josie Goldberg, Kash Hovey, Dustin Quick and Medi eM, Shalini Vadhera-Potts and Tony Potts, designer Sameyha Rawjee, and many others.
Kat Kramer, George Chakiris
Anneliese Judge, Caroline Lagerfelt
Celeste Thorson, Nicola Geretti
Also on the eve, fellow Brooklynite Larry Namer presented the 2023 FRFF Icon Award to Dee Dee Sorvino, in honor of her late husband, legendary actor Paul Sorvino. The presentation was made prior to Sunday’s live telecast that sadly overlooked the famous actor in its “in memoriam” segment.
Gotham Chandna, Dee Dee Sorvino, Larry Namer, Nicole Goesseringer Muj
Mammoth Film Festival 2023 - Best Picture - Feature - Dreamer
Dreamer Receives Top Honors At 5th Annual Mammoth Film Festival™, Taking Home Best Picture and Best Actor Awards
An unprecedented five days in Mammoth Lakes, California, the 2023 Mammoth Film Festival™, held from March 2-6, celebrated talented filmmakers and actors in over 30 feet of snow, resulting from several back to back blizzards in the area. Despite the weather, the festival offered a successful and exciting experience for its dedicated filmmakers, talent and supporters. The fifth installment of the rapidly growing event certainly did not disappoint with an impressive film slate of over 84 projects, inclusive of daily world premieres, and featuring 22 international films and 13 world premiere features.
To close out the festival, the inaugural MammothFF Awards Luncheon was held at The Fort and presented by Saldo Wines. The awards were hosted by festival founders Tanner Beard and Tomik Mansoori, along with Theo Dumont and Alex Chando.
Alex Chando, Tanner Beard, Tomik Mansoori, Theo Dumont
The 2023 festival boasted an incredible list of well deserved winners, including Beach House, Rise to The Engineer, The Duel, Bad Hombres, American Badass: A Michael Madsen Retrospective, and The Many Worlds of George Goodman. The big winner, however, was Dreamer, which brought home both Best Picture and Best Actor awards. The film features Golden Globe nominee Diego Calva (Babylon), Jason Patric, Paulina Gaitan, Alfredo Castro, Renata Vaca, and newcomer Ari Lopez, and was inspired by a powerful and true story from the Golden Globe winning producers of Argentina 1985, and executive producer Yalitza Aparicio.
The 2023 Mammoth Film Festival Awards were presented in the following categories:
Achievement in Filmmaking – Justin Matthews and Luke Spencer Roberts for The Duel
Achievement in Filmmaking, International – Beach House by Hèctor Hernández Vicens
Tanner Beard, Hèctor Hernández Vicens
Achievement in Filmmaking, Music – The Engineer by Danny A. Abeckaser, scored by Lionel Cohen
Achievement in Filmmaking, Cinematography – Alessandro Abate for Padre Pio
Achievement in Filmmaking, Writer – Rex New and Nick Turner, story by John Stalberg for Bad Hombres
Achievement in Filmmaking, Director – Hèctor Hernández Vicens for Beach House
The 2023 Mammoth Gold Award Plates were presented to:
Best Action Sports – Citizen Athlete by Brandt Willie, written and produced by Ryan March
Best Episodic – The Many Worlds of George Goodman, starring and produced by Blair Redford, written and directed by Gregg Bishop
Best Genre Film, Short – Lucas Needs AnAgent, starring, written and directed by Lucas Grabeel
Best Documentary, Short – Somos by Rafael Pense
Best Genre Film, Feature – Night Shift, written and directed by Paul and Benjamin China
Best Documentary, Feature – American Badass: A Michael Madsen Retrospective, starring and produced by Michael Madsen, directed by Dominique Milano
Fabrice Sopoglian, Michael Madsen, Dominique Milano
Audience Award, Short – The Traveler, directed by DL Guerra
Audience Award, Feature – Two Winners – Rise by Mariette Lee Go, produced by Maurice Fadida, starring Jimmy Jean-Louis, Joy Sunday, Chike Okonkwo, Peter Mensah;
The Duel, directed by first-time directors Justin Matthews and Luke Spencer Roberts, starring Dylan Sprouse, Patrick Warburton, Hart Denton, Denny Love, and Callan McAuliffe
Grand Jury Award, Short – The Last Bell, written and directed by Via Lubeck
Grand Jury Award, Feature – Bad Hombres, starring Thomas Jane, Nick Cassavetes, Paul Johansson, Hemky Madera, Tyrese Gibson, Diego Tinoco, and Luke Hemsworth, produced by David Frigerio, written and directed by John Stalberg, EP Kyle Smithson
Best Actress, Short – Dana Melanie, Ten Year
Best Actress, Feature – Sasha Morfaw, Rise
Best Actor, Short or Episodic – Blair Redford, The Many Worlds of George Goodman
Best Actor, Feature – Ari Lopez, Dreamer
Best Picture, Short – El Portafolio, starring Albert Hammond Jr., directed and written by Scottie Cameron
Best Picture, Feature – Dreamer, starring Ari Lopez, Renata Vaca, Diego Calva, and Jason Patric
Best Picture Feature, Dreamer
The festival could not happen without its sponsors and supporters, with the 2023 partners inclusive of Wild7Films, Sierra Nevada Resort, Saldo Wines, White Claw, El Cristiano Ultra Premium Tequila, Advanced Air, Peak IV Hydration & Therapy, Reign Energy, Honey Drop beverages, TAVI Apparel, The Westin Monache Resort, RAK The Planet, E-Tech Rentals, and PATH Water, as well as global photo agency and photo marketplace, Shutterstock and VisitMammoth.com
Mammoth Film Festival™ aims to lead the charge for an ever-changing landscape of film and media. Founded by seasoned filmmakers Tanner Beard and Tomik Mansoori, the international festival first premiered in 2018 and is specialized as an all-media platform, celebrating varieties of filmmakers, actors, directors, writers, producers and their respective work. Mammoth Film Festival™ is a 501c-3 non-profit festival benefiting the Mammoth Media Institute and Mammoth Film Summit programs. Regal with the wonderful town of Mammoth Lakes, California as its beautiful backdrop, MammothFF is held annually each February at the Minaret Cinemas along with a variety of establishments throughout town, with The Village serving as the festival hub. The festival includes red carpet world premieres and special screenings, an annual celebrity bowling tournament, a slate of educational and interactive panel discussions with top film industry leaders, q&a’s, press conferences, and a large array of experiential elements, closing out with an awards ceremony to acknowledge the excellence of its participating filmmakers and a vastly growing marketplace.
Duo Aims to Reconceptualize The Awards Show Format To Celebrate Web3 Innovators With True Inclusion and Diversity and an Immersive Global Experience
As we’re deep into the 2022/2023 awards season, E! Entertainment Television founder Larry Namer and The Academy of Digital Art, Sciences, & Culture (ADASC) founding member Chris J. Snook have joined forces to revolutionize the awards show concept with the foundation of the NFTY Annual Awards (NFTYS).
The pre-eminent Web3 innovation awards gala, the NFTYS is the first ever live global broadcast show of its kind recognizing the cultural innovators who are redefining fashion, art, music, entertainment, and technology across the Metaverse. The inaugural, star-studded NFTYS, to be co-executive produced by Namer and Snook, will be held inside The NIKO Theatre at Worre Studios in Las Vegas, Nevada at 8 p.m. EST on June 14, 2023. The show will be directed by Emmy and Tony-nominated director/producer/writer Ben DeJesus, who co-founded NGL Studios with John Leguizamo. Celebrity hosts, presenters and performers will be announced soon.
The NFTYS broadcast will be simultaneously translated with zero latency in dozens of countries and leverage the state-of-the-art technical capabilities of the NIKO Theatre at Worre Studios to wrap every ticket in a commemorative NFT version that unlocks a variety of in-studio and virtual utility, engagement, and gifting opportunities.
“I think it has become abundantly clear that the old ways of recognizing achievements via awards ceremonies no longer captivates the audience. Not only have most of them proved to be boring and tedious, but they also don’t incorporate the latest in presentation technologies,” comments Namer.
“We’re trying to make awards and recognition of talent and creativity more relevant to today’s audiences by bringing in the technological advances that can make the entire presentation more immersive. The NFTYS will be a game-changer and forever put the Awards show format out of its 20th Century misery and elevate viewer and fan engagement and reward the communities of nominees in unparalleled ways,” adds Snook.
The NFTY Awards shortlist of nominees and final winners are governed by The Academy of Digital Art, Sciences, & Culture (ADASC) -a Diversified Decentralized Autonomous Organization (dDAO) Membership. However, anyone in the public can nominate a project for consideration during the month of February through April 15th, 2023. ADASC members will participate in the organization’s decision-making processes and earn rewards for their contributions to the community. The NFTYS production company will designate 50% of the show’s profits back to ADASC and the community to create a sustainable pool of funds that can be designated for grants across the web3 ecosystem of early stage creatives, technologists, and rising stars.
“With this model, a lesser known candidate doing excellent work in the space can be nominated alongside the likes of a Starbucks, Steve Aoki, or a Gary Vee, and compete on a level playing field in their respective categories.,” says Snook.
“Most awards shows try to present themselves as being diverse and inclusive but they often think that the solutions to past problems are cured by blatant and overt attempts to show themselves as now being what they should have been in the first place,” comments Namer. “The academy organizations behind current award shows need an overhaul to truly be diverse and inclusive, and not just keep shouting from the rooftops that they are. Today’s audiences are far too smart for that.”
The NFTY is a physical trophy award that has a digital twin NFTY that will be minted in real time on the XRPLedger this year when issued to the winners, with awardee metadata permanently stored on the Arweave protocol creating an immutable record for the next 200 years of the show’s history and provenance.
The show will feature awards in categories such as Artistic Excellence, Technical Innovation, Cross-Collaborative I.P. Drops, Social Good, Most Impactful Community, AI/VR/AR Integration Excellence, and more. Nominations are now open at www.nftys.org. The most coveted NFTY “The Haber-Stornetta Innovator of the Year” is named after and has the support of the Godfather’s of the entire blockchain industry Stuart Haber and W. Scott Stornetta and features an engraved representation of their seminal research paper and patent from 1997 on the first every mention of the term NFT.
Larry Namer and Chris J. Snook at CES 2023
Namer and Snook are joined by a prestigious list of notable founding dDAO members with voting and nomination rights. At launch. members include Stuart Haber and W. Scott Stornetta, co-inventors of the blockchain; Martin Pompadur, former General Manager, ABC, former Chairman of News Corporation Europe; Lawrence Kasanoff, Chairman/CEO, Threshold Entertainment Group (executive producer Mortal Kombat, Terminator 2); Ninon Aprea, actress and former Screen Actors Guild board member; Gerard Dache, Executive Director, Government Blockchain Association; Amy James, Executive Director, Web3 Working Group and co-inventor of Open Index Protocol; Rachel Pether CFA, Executive Board, Haqq Network and Fintech.TV anchor; Vince Molinari, CEO, Fintech.TV; Gavin Gillas, CEO, Project Venkman; Kyle Wiley, Founder, Connector Labs; Dr. Greg Reid, award-winning author and film producer; Ben DeJesus, Partner at NGL Collective; Winston Ma, Co-founder, Cloudtree Ventures; Marina Worre, CEO, Worre Studios; Travis Wright of Web3 Media Group; IP3; Donald Lim, Blockchain Council of the Philippines, Seth Shapiro, Amanda Russell, Dr. Jennifer Lee, and others. Over the next five years, a total of 150 top-tier memberships will be distributed via nomination and referral from this foundational membership.
ABOUT THE ACADEMY OF DIGITAL ART, SCIENCES, & CULTURE (ADASC) – ADASC is a social benefit diversified DAO advancing the benevolent use of breakthrough technology innovation across Art, Sciences, and Culture. Its membership includes a variety of invite-only and public tiers that form the decentralized and diverse nomination committee of awardees and grants at its annual public celebration and broadcast of The Annual NFTY Awards Gala. For more information about membership to the Academy and nominations for The NFTYS please visit https://nftys.org
ABOUT LARRY NAMER – An entertainment industry veteran with close to 50 years professional experience in cable television, live events and new media, Larry Namer is a founding partner of Metan Global Entertainment Group, a venture created to develop and distribute entertainment content and media specifically for Chinese speaking audiences in China and abroad. In 2018, the company launched the MGEG Film Fund I and serves as managing partner. He is also the executive producer on the recently announced series “EMPRESS,” a new travel series for the China audience titled “Explore The World,” and an executive producer of the crime series “Nova Vita.” He recently served as an Advisor and Chief Operating Officer of FanVestor. He is co-founder of the new lifestyle platform BTYKWN.com, along with Richie Rich and Mister D. Namer is the co-founder of E! Entertainment Television, a company now valued at over five billion USD, and the creator of several successful companies in the United States and overseas. Among those companies are Comspan Communications that pioneered Western forms of entertainment in the former Soviet Union and Steeplechase Media that served as the primary consultant to Microsoft’s MiTV for developing interactive TV applications.
ABOUT CHRIS J. SNOOK – Chris J. Snook is a multi-exit technology and web3 entrepreneur, global business and investment strategist, co-host of the Web3 Show on Fintech.TV, and is the international bestselling co-author with Travis Wright of Digital Sense (Wiley 2017). He is the Managing Partner at 9LEVEL9– A digital asset venture studio and production company. He also manages a portfolio of deep tech, AI, media, and web3 companies, and advises family offices and sovereign wealth fund managers around the world. Snook is the visionary creator of The NFTYS.
Photo Credit (award): The NFTY Award concept prototype provided by 9LEVEL9
With Mammoth Film Festival 2023 less than days away, the festival continues to reveal incredible work being showcased in this year’s lineup, revealing their opening night premiere announcement and new exciting slate additions. This year is also a truebuyers market, with previous festivals resulting in a variety of sales across all genres from features to episodic to documentaries.Mammoth Film Festival’s international status is also growing exponentially, with this year’s array of 80+ film projects representing 21 countries, founded by Tanner Beard and Tomik Mansoori.
The Mammoth Film Festival is excited to announce its opening night film, Padre Pio, starring Shia LeBeouf, a film by Abel Ferrara, marking its North American festival premiere debut. The 1h44m drama follows Roman Catholic Saint Padre Pio in his early years. Co-stars include Asia Argento, Marco Leonardi, Christina Chiriac, and many more incredible Italian actors. The legendary director will be doing a post-film Q&A on Thursday, March 2nd to kick off the festival at Minaret Cinemas, in Mammoth Lakes, CA. The film was written by Maurizio Braucci and Abel Ferrara.
Shai LeBeouf in Padre Pio
Abel Ferrara, born in the Bronx, started making amateur films on Super 8 in his teens, before making his debut with violent exploitation films such as Driller Killer and Ms. 45. He developed a cult reputation following these projects, leading to larger budget studio films starring Christopher Walken, Harvey Keitel, Willem Dafoe, and many other iconic actors. Ferrara loves the grit of filmmaking, continuously shooting directly in the streets of Rome as Tommaso and Zeroes and Ones attest.”
The festival’s closing night film will officially be Dreamer, starring Diego Calva, Ari Lopez, Renata Vaca, Afredo Castro, Paulina Gaitan and Jason Patric, inspired by a true story from the Golden Globe-winning producers of Argentina 1985, and executive producer Yalitza Aparicio.
Another exciting announcement and world premiere to the features slate is the horror thriller Night Shift, starring Phoebe Tonkin, Lamorne Morris and Patrick Fischler, directed and written by Benjamin China and Paul China and produced by Maurice Fadida.
Phoebe Tonkin in Night Shift
Also newly added to the lineup is The Mental State, the Bryan Greenberg, Carly Pope, Alyssa Sutherland and Alison Thornton starring-feature drama, directed by James Camali. This will mark its 2023 festival debut, with the film having already built nice buzz.
Bryan Greenberg in The Mental State
The documentary, Citizen Athlete, leads with anticipation in the Actions Sports category, written by Ryan March, directed by Brandt Wille, and starring Olympians and pro athletes Elana Meyers, Hunter Church and Kaillie Humphries of the U.S. Olympic Women’s Bobsled Competition.
The documentary category is also highlighted by the world premiere of Michael Madsen’s American Badass: A Michael Madsen Retrospective, from director Dominique Milano, featuring Quentin Tarantino, John Travolta, Ron Perlman, Paul Sorvino, Mario Kassar, Angie Everhart, Donald Gladstein, William Baldwin, Chuck Zito, Mike Starr, Robert Forster, Daryl Hannah, Virginia Madsen, Charlie Sheen and many more.
The festival will also showcase a sneak peak of Mammoth Media Institute’s first feature, the psycho thriller FLUXX, currently shooting, starring Shelley Henning and Shiloh Fernandez, written and directed by Brendan Murphy. This is a result of funding raised by The Institute to support independent filmmakers. Festival goers will be the first to see this project, which is still in production.
Short Films are stealing the show at this year’s festival. El Portafolio written and directed by Scottie Cameron, starring Albert Hammond Jr. (The Strokes), Alma Martinez and Juan Carlos Cantu; The Last Bell with Mia Challis, Nancy Berggren, Amanda Melby, Akiko Morrison; Tree of Life with Markie Farnsley, Ashley Newbrough, Ryan Pinkston, Alex Oliver; Lucas Needs An Agent with Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Katie Leclerc, Sherra Lasley, Sasha Clements; The Traveler with Herman Gambhir, Ana Marte;, and 10 Year with Dana Melanie, Michelle DeShon, Reina Hardesty, Brett Pierce; plus Better Daze starring Antje Utgaard and Kyle Stefanski, directed by Jon Carlo and produced by Kyle Stefanski and Antoine Robinson.
These films join the already announced stellar opening slate with highly anticipated films such as the crime drama The Engineer, based on a factual Israeli story directed by Danny A. Abeckaser, starring Abeckaser and Emile Hirsch, alongside Robert Davi, Omer Hazan, Angel Bonanni, and Kyle Stefanski; Joel David Moore’s Some Other Woman which he directed starring Amanda Crew, Ashley Greene and Tom Felton; the Peter Facinelli starring and directed film On Fire; Rise from Maritte Lee Go and producer Maurice Fadida starring Jimmy Akingbola, Joy Sunday, Peter Mensah, Sasha Morfaw, Sufe Bradshaw and Chike Okonkwo; with MammothFF’s First Time Filmmaker Spotlight is set to highlight actors turned directors Luke Roberts and Justin Matthews who will premiere The Duel, starring Dylan Sprouse, Hart Denton and Patrick Warburton.
This year, Mammoth Film Festival is being presented by Wild7Films, a Los Angeles based film and television production company driven to make elevated content with streamlined budgets, for a focused production model. They take on a wide array of stories through a collective of hand-picked Hollywood talent. Founded by Kyle Stefanski, Mike Hermosa, Ryan Moore and Gustavo Nascimento. Wild7 provides content creation services from concept to execution, encompassing financing, production, post-production and delivery to distribution. Key highlights include involvement in the feature films I Love Us from director Danny A. Abeckaser and starring Abeckaser, Katie Cassidy, Harlow Jane, Jasper Polish, Robert Davi, and the upcoming The Gemini Lounge from Abeckaser, starring Emile Hirsch alongside Abeckaser, Lucy Hale, Ashley Greene, Jake Cannavalle, and Robert Davi. They also are behind the award-winning Manny Paquiao documentary.
Sierra Nevada Resort will also serve as a 2023 Mammoth Film Festival partner, debuting a completely redone property. Occupying a historic 1967 building that was once a preferred getaway for Hollywood elite, the newly reimagined Sierra Nevada Resort will welcome festival guests to a western classic reborn as a modern mountain retreat in the heart of Mammoth Lakes, California. A gallery wall pays homage to the original resort’s early Hollywood patronage with black-and-white photographs of former guests including John Wayne, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Opened in 1967 by legendary real estate developer and former Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss, Sierra Nevada Resort has been a beloved fixture on Old Mammoth Road and a go-to for travelers spending time in the mountain town, overnighting en route to Yosemite National Park or beyond in the Sierra Nevada. A favorite getaway among Hollywood stars, the original resort hosted big names back in the day, too, like the Rat Pack and Jerry Lewis, among others. A baby grand piano once owned by Clark Gable, which sat in the lobby for years and was featured in the 1944 movie To Have and Have Not, is still there, along with the original hand-carved wooden bar
The festival could not happen without its sponsors and supporters, with the 2023 partners inclusive of Wild7Films, Sierra Nevada Resort, Saldo Wines, El Cristiano Ultra Premium Tequila, Advanced Air, Peak IV Hydration & Therapy, Reign Energy, Honey Drop beverages, TAVI Apparel, The Westin Monache Resort, RAK The Planet, E-Tech Rentals, White Claw and PATH Water, as well as global photo agency and photo marketplace, Shutterstock and VisitMammoth.com.
Mammoth Media Institute’s Celebrity Charity Bowling Tournament 2023 also makes its long-awaited return with an already star studded roster of teams. In the past, this charity event which benefits the 501(c)3 Mammoth Media Institute has hosted everyone from Tony Hawk, Dennis Rodman, Rebel Wilson, Tom Welling, Nina Dobrev and Josh Duhamel in these knock down, drag out, epic bowling matches. We encourage festival attendees and local cinephiles to come witness exciting celebrity names that will light up the lanes this year on Sunday, March 5th at Mammoth Bowl. This will be the headlining event on March 5th, following the festival’s final night feature premiere screenings, with the final shorts block and awards luncheon to take place March 6th. All award nominees will be announced during the festival and winners of the competition will be announced at the inaugural Awards Luncheon, presented by Saldo.
For more information, the full 2023 lineup and continued festival updates please visit: mammothfilmfestival.org and download the fest’s IOS App to follow along for scheduling updates and real time festival news.
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 15: (L-R) Honorees Jeremy Pope, Austin Butler, Jeremy Strong, Stephanie Hsu, Nina Hoss, Danielle Deadwyler, Kerry Condon, and Ke Huy Quan
pose with their Virtuosos Awards during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre on February 15, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)
On Wednesday, February 15th, the stars came out to receive their coveted Virtuosos Award at the 38th annual Santa Barbara Film Festival.
Jane Lynch presented awards to Austin Butler (Elvis), Kerry Condon (The Banshees Of Inisherin), Danielle Deadwyler (Till), Nina Hoss (Tár), Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All At Once), Jeremy Pope (The Inspection), Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All At Once) and Jeremy Strong (Armageddon Time).
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 15: Jane Lynch presents the Virtuosos Awards onstage at the Virtuosos Award Ceremony during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre on February 15, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for SBIFF)
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 15: (L-R) Kerry Condon, Danielle Deadwyler, Nina Hoss, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jeremy Pope, Austin Butler, and Jeremy Strong receive the Virtuosos Award at the Virtuosos Awards Ceremony during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 15, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for SBIFF)
