OTT.X ANNOUNCES SECOND ANNUAL IMPACT AWARDS

Streaming Video Industry trade association OTT.X seeks nominations for original online programming that inspires positive action and promotes acceptance and equality.

 

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OTT.X, the industry trade association supporting the OTT streaming ecosystem, has opened submissions for the second annual OTT.X Impact Awards. The OTT.X Impact Awards is a program created by and for the over-the-top streaming industry to recognize creators, producers, platforms and channels who are using the power of streaming video to make a positive impact. Submissions are being accepted from June 23 through September 30, 2021 for audio visual works that premiere and are distributed through OTT channels and platforms. Nominations will be announced on November 9 and winners will be announced at the Impact Awards Ceremony to be held on December 9, 2021.

“Our industry has the attention of millions of people globally,” said Mark Fisher, OTT.X President and CEO. “The stories we tell, messages we send and truths we reveal have the power to change the world. Using this power to promote understanding, acceptance, equality and to inspire positive action is a responsibility that OTT.X and our membership are committed to.” Paul Colichman, CEO of Here Media and OTT.X Impact Awards Steering Committee Chair commented, “As streaming transforms the entertainment landscape it also democratizes video content distribution. This allows for more programs that focus on social justice, equality, kindness and compassion.”

The inaugural OTT.X Impact Awards was held virtually on December 10, 2020 and recognized three winners including Here Media’s “Girls Voices Now - ‘Not Quite Here, Not Quite There’” for Impactful Short Title, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment’s “Going From Broke’ for Impactful Series, and Passion River’s “Intelligent Lives” for Impactful Full-Length Feature.

What: Second annual OTT.X Impact Awards – Recognizing content and innovation in the OTT streaming industry that inspires positive action and promotes acceptance of and equality for all people.

How to Apply: Visit https://www.entmerch.org/impact-awards/

Key Dates:

Submissions open – June 23
Submissions close – September 30
Nominations announced – November 9
Awards Ceremony / Winners Announced – December 9
Qualifications: Content must premiere on an OTT channel or platform, maintain exclusive availability via OTT distribution and be available in the US for at least 3 weeks. Qualifying period is the twelve-months ending September 30, 2021.

For more information as well as content submissions visit the OTT.X Impact Awards site; https://ottximpactawards.org/

About OTT.X

OTT.X is the not-for-profit international trade association dedicated to advancing the interests of the multi-billion home entertainment industry. OTT.X-member companies operate business that engage in or support the commercial OTT distribution of audiovisual entertainment. Membership comprises the full spectrum of the ecosystem, including digital retailers, MVPDs, AVOD and SVOD networks and channels, platforms, companies creating and/or distributing content for these channels of distribution, and companies providing services or technology for the use of others in this community. OTT.X (formerly EMA) was established in April 2006 through the merger of the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) and the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA).

To learn more, go to www.ottx.org.

MEDIA CONTACT

MILLENNIAL PR
Mitch Swan
323.378.6687
mitch@millennialpublicrelations.com

2022 List of Walk of Fame Honorees

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The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce's Walk of Fame Selection Panel have announced the 38 new honorees to the 2022 Hollywood Walk of Fame.

MOTION PICTURES:
Francis Ford Coppola, Macaulay Culkin, Willem Dafoe, Salma Hayek, James Hong, Helen Hunt, Michael B. Jordan, Regina King, Ray Liotta, Ewan McGregor, Adam McKay, Jason Momoa, Tessa Thompson and Carrie Fisher (posthumous)

TELEVISION:
Byron Allen, Greg Berlanti, Ricky Gervais, Peter Krause, Bob Odenkirk, Holly Robinson-Peete, Norman Reedus, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jean Smart, Ming-Na Wen and Kenan Thompson

RECORDING:
Black Eyed Peas, George E. Clinton Jr., Ashanti Douglas, DJ Khaled,
Avril Lavigne, Los Huracanes Del Norte, Martha Reeves and Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom (posthumous)

LIVE THEATRE/LIVE PERFORMANCE:
Patti LuPone, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. and Angelica Vale

RADIO:
Richard Blade

New category, Sports Entertainment:
Michael Strahan

About:
The man credited with the idea for creating a Walk of Fame, was E. M. Stuart, who served in 1953 as the volunteer president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. In that year, according to a Chamber press release he proposed the Walk as a means to “maintain the glory of a community whose name means glamour and excitement in the four corners of the world.” He appointed a committee to begin fleshing out the idea and the architectural firm of Periera and Luckman was employed to develop some specific proposals. Where the original idea came from is not certain; however, the ceiling of the dining room of the historic Hollywood Hotel once had stars painted on the ceiling with the names of celebrities and that may have been a precursor of the idea to place stars in the sidewalks.

Stronger For Life: Review

Stronger for life

Featuring: Ilaria Montagnani, Gabriella Montagnani, Elizabth Deluca, Omar Sandoval, Lorenzo Montagnani
Genre: Documentary
Language: English

Ilaria Montagnani spent her adult life as a karate black belt and weapons expert trained in the art of Iaido, Japanese sword training, where her professional career was focused on health and physical fitness, when she is given the devastating news that she had breast cancer.

Using the same determination that motivated her to come to the United States as a 19-year old, non-English speaker and pursue her grueling career path, helped Ilaria to face the challenge of living with cancer. Helping her were Standing by Ilaria and giving her the much needed emotional support Gabriella Montagnani (Ilaria's mother, a homemaker), Elizabth Deluca (Powerstrike Master Instructor), Omar Sandoval (Powerstrike Master Instructor), Lorenzo Montagnani (Ilaria's brother)

Ilaria Montagnani expressed her belief that “When you develop the discipline to train your body and find the determination to do it
even when it’s hard, when it’s uncomfortable, and you push past that, you develop the mental strength to face life’s challenges.
Exercise makes you stronger for life.”

Stronger For Life provided a great example of how no one is exempt from the disease of cancer, it doesn't matter how well you eat, how many hours you exercise each day but taking care of yourself the best you can is of tremendous importance is you are ever faced such a diagnosis.

Editor Corey Florin does a good job of weaving life on two continents in telling Ilaira's story. Ched Tolliver's score fits right in with the film the high energy.

Stronger for Life is a compelling story of a breast cancer survivor journey that is enlightening.

Follow Stronger For Life:
Website: www.strongerforlife.film
Instagram: @strongerforlife.film

Production Co.: Gravitas Ventures
Executive Producers: Ilaria Montagnani, Leslie Rankow
Producer: Dahlia Waingort Guigui
Editor: Corey Florin
Consulting Producer: Federico Rosenzvit
Director of Photography: Noriko Sugiura
Music: Ched Tolliver

The 30th Anniversary Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) “Call for Entries”

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The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) is gearing up to once again to take moviegoers on a cinematic world tour featuring U.S. and international film screenings with the announcement of its June 1, 2021 opening of its “Call for Entries.”

The 30th annual PAFF, the nation’s largest and most prestigious Black film festival will be held on February 8-21, 2022 in Los Angeles and virtually throughout the world. Over the years, it has showcased films from all parts of the world, representing such countries as Angola, Nigeria, Jamaica, New Zealand, Rwanda, Canada, Mozambique, Egypt, the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Brazil, Kenya, Fiji, Mexico, the U.K., South Africa, England, Japan, France and of course, the United States. With the pulse on the international film market, PAFF has opened its audiences' minds and transported them to far-away places and back home again. “Over the years, filmmakers the world over have become more sophisticated in telling their stories,” says Asantewa Olatunji, the director of programming for PAFF. “In our ever-shrinking world, it is so important to understand the experiences and points of views of diverse peoples and cultures.”

Due to the pandemic, PAFF2021 was held virtually and enjoyed a global audience. But remaining true to our roots, PAFF plans to present a hybrid festival (both physical and virtual) with the majority portion of physical activities and all live-audience screenings being held physically in Los Angeles. In years past, PAFF has hosted live festivals with more than 40,000 people attended the film festival, which has long been a highly anticipated event in Los Angeles attended by local, national, and international guests.

PAFF accepts only online applications and submissions. Filmmakers wanting to submit to PAFF2022 can apply by going to the PAFF website www.paff.org and clicking on “Submit Film.” Filmmakers can also submit to The Pan African Film Festival directly through FilmFreeway.com or Festhome.com.

ELIGIBILITY: PAFF accepts applications for films and videos made by and/or about people of African descent. (Please note: the filmmaker need not be of African descent.) Preferably, films should depict positive and realistic images and can be of any genre — drama, comedy, horror, action/adventure, animation, romance, science fiction, experimental, historical/epic, etc. PAFF accepts features and shorts, both narrative and documentary.

COMPETITION:

The PAFF competition categories are: Best Narrative Feature, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary (Short or Feature), Best Director — First Feature, Best Web Series, plus a variety of Audience Favorite Awards. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, submitted films must be copyrighted no earlier than 2019. With the exception of Audience Favorite Awards, films are judged by industry professionals. In addition to competition awards, other programming and festival special prizes will be awarded.

SUBMISSION PERIODS:

Early Submissions: June 1 through July 5, 2021.

Regular Submissions: July 6-September 20, 2021.

Late Submissions: September 21- October 31, 2021.

Extended Late Submissions: November 1-December 1, depending on available space.

After December 2, the submitter must contact submissions@paff.org to obtain permission.

For submission instructions, information, fees, and registration kindly go to www.paff.org and click on “Submit a Film”; or email submissions@paff.org.

ABOUT THE PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL

Looking forward to its 30th Anniversary, the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF), is America’s largest and most prestigious Black film festival. Each year, it screens more than 200 films made by and/or about people of African descent from the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, South America, the South Pacific, Latin America, Europe and Canada and increasingly Asia. In conjunction with its simultaneous Art Showcase, PAFF holds the distinction of being the largest Black History Month event in the US.

PAFF was founded in 1992 by award-winning actor Danny Glover (“The Color Purple,” “Lethal Weapon”), the beloved Emmy Award-winning actress Ja’net DuBois (best known for her role as Willona in the TV series “Good Times”) and executive director, Ayuko Babu, an international legal, cultural and political consultant who specializes in African Affairs. PAFF is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the promotion of ethnic and racial respect and tolerance through the exhibit of films, art, and other creative expressions.

The goal of PAFF is to present and showcase the broad range of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive and images, help to destroy negative stereotypes, and depict an expanded, realistic vision of the Black experience. PAFF believes film and art can lead to better understandings and foster communications between people of diverse cultures, races, and lifestyles, while at the same time, serves as a vehicle to initiate dialogue on the important issues of our time.

For more information, please visit www.paff.org or email info@paff.org.

THE ACCIDENTAL PRESIDENT in Limited U.S. Theaters June 21

The Accidental President key art

Director: James Fletcher
Featuring: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Kellyanne Conway,
Piers Morgan, Mary Katharine Ham, Aaron Sorkin, Anthony Scaramucci,
David Pakman, Molly Ball, April Ryan, Steve Schmidt, and Van Jones
Runtime: 1 hour 46 minutes
Rating: Not Yet Rated
Genre: Documentary

As America began to try and come to terms with the surprising (and for many voters, horrifying) results of the presidential race of 2016, the subsequent rapid-fire speed of events and jam-packed news cycles meant that nobody would ever have the opportunity to truly and properly reflect on what exactly just happened -- and how did it?

Directed and produced by British filmmaker/journalist James Fletcher, THE ACCIDENTAL PRESIDENT uncovers a detailed play-by-play from all angles on how it all went down, the state of America that led to the results, what the electorate was really motivated by, and how a former reality show host with an elevated understanding of the media and entertainment was able to connect with voters from all walks of life and stage a takeover of Washington D.C. -- whether he meant to or not.

Featuring an impressively diverse and balanced set of fascinating interviews from both sides of the aisle, THE ACCIDENTAL PRESIDENT is an educated examination of the most controversial election in modern history, and one that every future campaign - most notably the one currently in play - should study with an electron microscope.

THE ACCIDENTAL PRESIDENT will be screening in limited U.S. theaters beginning Monday, June 21, 2021, and will be coming soon to Starz.

Follow THE ACCIDENTAL PRESIDENT:
IMDb: www.imdb.com/title/tt12920934/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/theaccidentalpresident
Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheAccidental45

View Trailer Below!