World News
R. Kelly ordered to pay $309,000 in restitution to sex trafficking victims
A federal judge signaled on Wednesday that she plans to order disgraced R&B superstar R Kelly to pay more than $300,000 to one of his victims in a decades-long scheme to use his fame to sexually abuse young fans.
A restitution order by US district judge Ann Donnelly that was still being finalized is meant to cover the cost of treatment for herpes and psychotherapy. The victim, referred to only by a pseudonym, has accused the jailed Kelly of giving her the sexually transmitted disease during one of their encounters.
Kelly could be on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars more to pay for herpes treatment and counseling for a second victim once the final tally is calculated. The judge rejected a third claim by another accuser.
The Grammy-winning, multiplatinum-selling songwriter appeared at the hearing in federal court in Brooklyn via video from a lockup in Chicago, and only spoke to exchange greetings with the judge and to turn down an offer to say more. None of the victims were in attendance.
READ ALSO: Court document shows that R.Kelly is engaged to alleged sex victim, Joycelyn Savage
Earlier this year, Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison following a trial in New York in which the jury found him guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking. A second trial in Chicago ended on 14 September with his conviction on charges of producing child pornography and enticing girls for sex.
The question now in the New York case becomes when and how Kelly will pay the restitution. Prosecutors claim he has access to as much as $5m to go along with about $28,000 seized from his inmate commissary account that defense attorney Jennifer Bonjean said was made up of small donations from fans.
Bonjean told the judge that Kelly has no access to any other funds because of judgments in civil cases brought against him. She also insisted that her client has always been clueless about his finances.
“He’s not the best source of that information,” she said.
Kelly achieved superstar status for work including the 1996 hit I Believe I Can Fly and the cult classic Trapped in the Closet, a multipart tale of sexual betrayal and intrigue.
SOURCE: Guardian
World News
Soho Garden Dubai and Amnesia Ibiza announce strategic international partnership
World News
Attack Your Godzilla Favorites on Crackle for FREE!
With the recent Oscar win of the hit film Godzilla Minus One and ahead of the Easter weekend release of the much-awaited Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire your friends from Crackle wanted to let you know about the monster library of Godzilla classics you can tear into for FREE!
DOWNLOAD THE FREE CRACKLE APP FOR YOUR MOBILE, TABLET, LAPTOP, OR CONNECTED TV AT YOUR FAVORITE APP STORE and watch all of these titles and MORE this month!
Godzilla (1954)
Feature Film
The one that started it all! American nuclear weapons testing results in the creation of a seemingly unstoppable, dinosaur-like beast.
Cast: Takashi Shimura (Rashomon), Akihiko Hirata (Sanjuro), Akira Takarada (Ironfinger)
Available: 3/15/24
Godzilla Raids Again
Feature Film
Scout pilots for a fishing fleet are startled to discover a new monster named Anguirus alongside a second Godzilla. The monsters make their way toward Osaka as Japan can only brace for tragedy and relive the horror of Godzilla once more.
Cast: Hiroshi Koizumi (Mothra), Setsuko Wakayama (Gigantis, the Fire Monster), Minoru Chiaki (Rashomon)
Available: 3/15/24
Godzilla Vs. Gigan
Feature Film
A manga artist becomes suspicious of his employers when a garbled message is discovered on tape. As he forms a team to investigate, Godzilla and Anguirus begin their own plan of action.
Cast: Yuriko Hishimi (Ultraseven), Minoru Takashima (Kamen Raider), Toshiaki Nishizawa (Space Sheriff Gavan)
Available: 3/15/24
Godzilla Vs. Hedorah
Feature Film
An ever evolving alien life-form from the Dark Gaseous Nebula arrives to consume rampant pollution. Spewing mists of sulfuric acid and corrosive sludge, neither humanity or Godzilla may be able to defeat this toxic menace.
Cast: Akira Yamanouchi (Bullet Train), Toshie Kimura (Sword of the Beast), Hiroyuki Kawase (Godzilla Vs. Megalon)
Available: 3/15/24
Godzilla Vs. Megalon
Feature Film
An inventor creates a humanoid robot named Jet Jaguar that is seized by the undersea nation of Seatopia. Using Jet Jaguar as a guide, the Seatopians send Megalon as vengeance for the nuclear tests that have devastated their society.
Cast: Katsuhiko Sasaki (Terror of Mechagodzilla), Hiroyuki Kawase (Return of Ultraman), Yutaka Hayashi (Bullet Train)
Available: 3/15/24
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Feature Film
A 400-foot dinosaur-like beast, awoken from undersea hibernation off the Japanese coast by atomic-bomb testing, attacks Tokyo.
Cast: Raymond Burr (Ironside), Takashi Shimura (Seven Samurai), Momoko Kôchi (Godzilla Vs. Destroyah)
Available: 3/15/24
Mothra Vs. Godzilla
Feature Film
Mothra’s egg washes ashore and is claimed by greedy entrepreneurs who refuse to return it to her fairies. As Godzilla arises near Nagoya, the people of Infant Island must decide if they are willing to answer Japan’s own pleas for help.
Cast: Akira Takarada (Ebirah: Horror of the Deep), Yuriko Hoshi (Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster), Hiroshi Koizumi (Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.)
Available: 3/15/24
Son of Godzilla
Feature Film
A reporter stumbles upon weather experiments on a tropical island, discovering giant mantids, a cast away woman, and an infant monster that Godzilla must adopt and learn to raise as one of his own.
Cast: Tadao Takashima (King Kong Vs. Godzilla), Akira Kubo (Invasion of Astro-Monster), Bibari Maeda (Golden Eyes)
Available: 3/15/24
Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster
Feature Film
After a meteorite unleashes a three-headed beast upon Tokyo, Mothra tries to unite with Godzilla and Rodan to battle the extraterrestrial threat.
Cast: Yôsuke Natsuki (Yojimbo), Yuriko Hoshi (Mothra Vs. Godzilla), Hiroshi Koizumi (Mothra)
Available: 3/15/24
Destroy All Monsters
Feature Film
At the turn of the century, Earth’s monsters have been safely rounded up and studied on Monsterland. Chaos erupts when a race of she-aliens known as the Kilaaks unleashes the monsters across the world.
Cast: Akira Kubo (Throne of Blood), Jun Tazaki (Ran), Yukiko Kobayashi (Space Amoeba)
Available: 3/15/24
World News
SXSW Film & TV Festival Announces 2024 Audience Award Winners
The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals announced the Audience Award winners for the 31st SXSW Film & TV Festival today. The Audience Awards follow the previously announced 2024 SXSW Film & TV Festival Jury Awards. Audience Award Winners were certified by Maxwell Locke & Ritter LLP.
SXSW Film & TV Festival presented 118 features including 91 World Premieres, 4 International Premieres, 6 North American Premieres, 4 U.S. Premieres, 13 Texas Premieres + 80 Short Films including 19 Music Videos. The TV program included 7 TV Premieres, 5 TV Spotlight World Premieres, and 6 Independent TV Pilots. The XR Experience program included 36 projects.
“We are beyond grateful to all our filmmakers, audiences, and volunteers for creating one of the most exciting SXSW Film & TV Festivals ever,” said Claudette Godfrey, VP Film & TV. “We knew our audiences would flip for our program filled with explosive studio films, surprising indie dramas and comedies, riveting TV, powerful documentaries, gripping gems from around the world, and groundbreaking XR, and yet the reaction still exceeded our expectations. The sheer joy of the shared cinema experience was undeniable all week long, and we can’t wait for these films to find audiences after SXSW!”
SXSW draws thousands of fans, film and television creators, press, and industry leaders to discover the smartest, most innovative, and entertaining new films, TV and XR projects of the year, as well as giving access to hundreds of Conference Sessions, Music and Comedy Showcases, Creative Industry Exhibitions, Mentoring, Meetups, and Special Events that define the cross-industry event.
Feature films in the SXSW 2024 lineup screened in the following categories: Headliner, Narrative Feature Competition, Documentary Feature Competition, Narrative Spotlight, Documentary Spotlight, Midnighter, Visions, Global presented by MUBI, 24 Beats Per Second presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and Festival Favorite. The TV program consisted of TV Premiere, TV Spotlight, and the Independent TV Pilot Competition. The SXSW 2024 Short Film Programs presented by You42 held six competitive sections: Narrative Short Competition, Documentary Short Competition, Animated Short Competition, Midnight Short Competition, Texas Short Competition, and Music Video Competition. XR Experience Competition, XR Spotlight, and XR Special Event programming rounded out the Film & TV Festival program.
Select SXSW 2024 event content, including SXSW Film & TV Red Carpet interviews & Q&A’s is available on YouTube, with more being rolled out.
2024 SXSW Film & TV Festival Audience Award Winners:
HEADLINER
Audience Award Winner: Monkey Man
Director: Dev Patel, Producers: Dev Patel, Jomon Thomas, Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper, Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Christine Haebler, Sam Sahni, Antay Nagpal, Screenwriters: Dev Patel, Paul Angunawela, John Collee
NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION
Audience Award Winner: Bob Trevino Likes It
Director/Screenwriter: Tracie Laymon, Producers: Tracie Laymon, Sean Mullin, Edgar Rosa, Felipe Dieppa
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION
Audience Award Winner: Resynator
Director: Alison Tavel, Producers: Kathryn Robson, Jon Lullo, Brendan Walter, Sara Nesson, Barbara McDonough, Christopher Noviello
NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT
Audience Award Winner: My Dead Friend Zoe
Director: Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, Producers: Paul Scanlan, Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, Terri Lubaroff, Ray Maiello, Mike Field, Richard Silverman, Robert Paschall Jr., Screenwriters: Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, AJ Bermudez
DOCUMENTARY SPOTLIGHT
Audience Award Winner: Clemente
Director: David Altrogge, Producers: Mike Blizzard, Mary Sabol, Sarah Altrogge, Jocelyn Hartnett, Stephen Turselli, Keith Ayers, Andrew Calvetti, Steve Burman, John Bennett Scanlon
MIDNIGHTER
Audience Award Winner: Oddity
Director/Screenwriter: Damian McCarthy, Producers: Katie Holly, Laura Tunstall, Evan Horan, Mette-Marie Kongsved
VISIONS
Audience Award Winner: Songs From the Hole
Director: Contessa Gayles, Producers: Contessa Gayles, Richie Reseda, David Felix Sutcliffe, Screenwriters: James “JJ’88” Jacobs, Contessa Gayles
GLOBAL presented by MUBI
Audience Award Winner: Bionico’s Bachata
Director: Yoel Morales, Producer: Cristian Mojica, Screenwriters: Cristian Mojica, Yoel Morales
24 BEATS PER SECOND presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Audience Award Winner: Faders Up: The John Aielli Experience
Directors: David Hartstein, Sam Wainwright Douglas, Producer: Shelby Hadden
FESTIVAL FAVORITE
Audience Award Winner: Sing Sing
Director: Greg Kwedar, Producers: Monique Walton, Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Screenwriters: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar
Short Film Programs presented by You42
NARRATIVE SHORT COMPETITION
Audience Award Winner: Can
Director/Screenwriter: Kailee McGee, Producers: JP Bolles, Kailee McGee
DOCUMENTARY SHORT COMPETITION
Audience Award Winner: Frank
Director: David Gauvey Herbert, Producers: David Gauvey Herbert, Lance Oppenheim, Abigail Rowe, Nate Hurtsellers
ANIMATED SHORT COMPETITION
Audience Award Winner: A Crab in the Pool
Directors/Screenwriters/
MIDNIGHT SHORT COMPETITION
Audience Award Winner: Meat Puppet
Director/Screenwriter: Eros V, Producers: Leah Draws, Masha Thorpe
TEXAS SHORT COMPETITION
Audience Award Winner: Sangre Violenta / Sangre Violeta
Directors: Edna Diaz, Arturo R. Jiménez, Producers: Maggie M. Bailey, Edna Diaz, Arturo R. Jiménez
MUSIC VIDEO COMPETITION
Audience Award Winner: Dillon Francis – ‘LA on Acid’
Director/Screenwriter: Parker Seaman, Producers: Melissa Langaas, Parker Seaman
TV Program
TV PREMIERE
Audience Award Winner: STAX: Soulsville, U.S.A.
Director: Jamila Wignot, Producers: Jamila Wignot, Kara Elverson
TV SPOTLIGHT
Audience Award Winner: Hacks Season 3 Premiere
Showrunners: Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky, Director: Lucia Aniello, Producers: Jen Statsky, Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, Michael Schur, David Miner, Morgan Sackett
INDEPENDENT TV PILOT COMPETITION
Audience Award Winner: Neo-Dome
Director: Bonnie Discepolo, Screenwriter: Matt Pfeffer, Producers: Anna Camp, Michael Johnson, Matt Pfeffer, Mark Pfeffer, Valerie Steinberg
XR Experience
XR EXPERIENCE COMPETITION
Audience Award Winner: Last We Left Off
Directors: Connor Illsley, Jon Riera, Grayson Moore, Aidan Shipley, Producers: Cameron MacLaren, Peter Fisher, Connor Illsley, Jon Riera, Screenwriter: Grayson Moore
XR EXPERIENCE SPOTLIGHT
Audience Award Winner: Emperor
Directors: Marion Burger, Ilan J. Cohen, Producers: Oriane Hurard, Katharina Weser, Jeanne Marchalot, Screenwriters: Marion Burger, Ilan J. Cohen
XR EXPERIENCE SPECIAL EVENT
Audience Award Winner: Kiss/Crash
Director: Adam Cole
SXSW is proud to be an official qualifying festival for the Academy Awards® Short Film competition. Winners of our Best Animated, Best Narrative and Best Documentary Short Film categories become eligible for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards (Oscars). Any British Short Film or British Short Animation that screens at SXSW is eligible for BAFTA nomination. Films are also eligible for the Independent Spirit Awards, more information on eligibility here.
Press Links:
Project Stills can be found at: https://filmmaker.sxsw.com/
Publicists for projects in program: Publicist List
(If you are unfamiliar with Airtable, you can click on the three dots above the category column to export into CSV.)
About SXSW Film & TV Festival
Now in its 31st year, SXSW Film & TV Festival brings together creatives of all stripes over nine days to experience a diverse lineup and access to the SXSW Music and Comedy Festivals plus SXSW Conference sessions with visionaries from all corners of the entertainment, media, and technology industries.
About SXSW
SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of tech, film and television, music, education, and culture. An essential destination for global professionals, the annual March event features sessions, music, and comedy showcases, film and television screenings, exhibitions, professional development, and a variety of networking opportunities. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together. SXSW 2024 took place March 8–16 in Austin. Learn more at sxsw.com. To register for the 2025 event, please visit sxsw.com/attend.
SXSW 2024 is sponsored by Volkswagen, C4 Energy, Delta and The Austin Chronicle.
World News
Jazz in the Gardens Grows in Attendance from the Previous Year, With 41K at Hard Rock Stadium
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World News
AC MILAN MAKES DEBUT APPEARANCE AT SXSW 2024 BRIDGING FOOTBALL WITH ENTERTAINMENT
Yesterday, AC Milan – the globally renowned soccer club headquartered in Milan, Italy – made its debut appearance at South by Southwest (SXSW), the internationally renowned festival held annually in Austin, Texas.
AC Milan took center stage at the event, with Chief Marketing Officer Tania Moreno participating in the panel “From Goals to Touchdowns: Cultivating Brands Across Continents,” alongside the Chief Marketing Officer of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Moderated by Sportico journalist Asli Pelit, the panel offered valuable insights into AC Milan’s strategies for enhancing its international presence and expanding its fanbase.
AC Milan’s participation at SXSW 2024 reflects the Club’s strategic positioning as a sports entertainment icon, capable of transcending the playing field, captivating the passions, especially of younger generations, living at the intersection of different worlds such as music, fashion, and lifestyle. A journey that is experiencing a phase of rapid acceleration thanks to the vision, skills, and expertise of RedBird Capital Partners – which acquired the Club in 2022 – in sports business, media, the ability to develop global brands, and create virtuous synergies.
Created in 1987, SXSW has evolved into a global showcase, annually hosting over 300,000 attendees, featuring thousands of artists and speakers from across the globe and serving as a meeting point for diverse industries such as technology, film, television, music, education, and sports. Through conferences, festivals, showcases, exhibitions, and screenings, SXSW brings together a diverse global audience, reflecting a dynamic convergence of ideas and perspectives. This unique environment serves as a catalyst for innovation and collaboration, making it an ideal platform for AC Milan to showcase its brand and engage with a global audience.
Some of the key topics addressed during AC Milan’s participation at SXSW below:
Tania Moreno on maintaining brand consintency and leveraging AC Milan’s platform to spread positive messages
“Maintaining consistency in brand representation while adapting to various platforms is paramount. With over 500 million fans globally and nearing our 125th Anniversary, AC Milan holds a fortunate position in the football world. We ensure brand guidelines are upheld across all platforms, yet tailor strategies to each. Cultural nuances are key when connecting with our international fanbase.
As a brand with a significant platform, it’s important to us to leverage it beyond engagement and revenue. We have a responsibility to convey the right messages and actively contribute to positive change. Whether it’s advocating against racism in football or promoting social causes, we recognize the power of our platform in effecting meaningful change and shaping a better future for the global community.”
Tania Moreno on AC Milan’s key markets
“Outside of Italy, some of our key markets are the US, and the Middle East, each offering unique opportunities. In the US, we are super proud to have a player like Christian Pulisic to expand the reach of what we do, but he is not our strategy. Our main strategy involves targeting a significantly younger audience compared to other markets. We leverage existing brand equity from brands and categories that are important to this demographic, allowing us to cultivate authentic relationships and authentically engage them. In the Middle East, we opened an office at the end of last year and we also have some fantastic partners like Emirates that allow us to expand our reach.”
Tania Moreno on leveraging cultural trends
“Cultural trends play into our expansion strategy. From entertainment to fashion, our approach extends beyond football to be able to catch the attention of a new audience, who might not necessarily follow the sport. Our most recent Fourth kit launch was a perfect example of that, with over 60% of the audience engaging with our Instagram posts comprised non-followers, which demonstrated our ability to attract new demos beyond the realm of AC Milan fans.”
Tania Moreno on AC Milan and technology
“We leverage technology to address our business challenges and enhancing fan experiences. As an example, in tackling issues like racism in football, we utilize AI to sift through social media comments, swiftly identifying and removing hate speech. Additionally, we will harness technology to personalize content on our website, providing tailored experiences for our audience. We have also experimented with AR-powered filters, such as our recent Fourth kit filter, offering fans unique interactive experiences in our stadium . Leveraging our extensive archive of over 100 years of content, we are exploring AI solutions to tag players and streamline content creation processes, ensuring we deliver compelling highlights and videos efficiently. Our focus remains on solving real-world business problems through technology, rather than solely prioritizing engagement metrics.”
AC Milan’s presence at SXSW 2024 underscores the Club’s strong connection with the US market. With 43 million fans in the US and recognition as the most-followed Serie A club in
the country as well as the best-regarded Italian soccer Club according to international market research YouGov, AC Milan is deeply rooted in the American sports landscape.
The Club’s partnerships with the New York Yankees and YES Network, the recent Fourth kit launch with its partner PUMA and Los Angeles streetwear brand PLEASURES – AC Milan’s most successful kit launch – as well as last summer’s Pre-Season Tour in the West Coast, represent some key highlights that testify its presence and influence in the USA.
World News
Alex Cooper & Friends Present The UNWELL House at SXSW
Hosted by the dynamic Alex Cooper, the #1 female podcaster in the world and host/creator of the award-winning podcast Call Her Daddy, and her mega-viral UNWELL friends, Alix Earle, Harry Jowsey and Madeline Argy. The 3-day activation took place from Saturday, March 9 to Monday, March 11 at 1102 East in Austin, TX. Aside from the hosts, many other recognizable faces stopped by including Mark Cuban, Mario Carbone, Blake Griffin, Cole Sprouse, Tommy Dorfman, Corey Fogelmanis, Thomas Doherty, Gashi, Braxton Berrios, Remi Bader, Owen Thiele, Tefi Pessoa, Kennedy Eurich, among many others.
The events were presented by Saint James Tea, who kept guests hydrated at the “Spill the Tea Lounge” with their certified organic, sustainably packaged line of ready-to-drink iced teas, as well as Lobos 1707 Tequila, who curated a special cocktail menu and bar, including a branded ice luge, and Carbone Fine Food who brought their famous Spicy Rigatoni from Chef Mario Carbone.
On Saturday night, Alex Cooper introduced the UNWELL House with “Big Al’s Grand Opening,” where SXSW participants and fans in Austin lined up for blocks, hoping to get in. There was a live performance from singer-songwriter Gashi where he played new, unreleased music off his forthcoming album BROOKLYN COWBOY. Alongside his live band, they also surprised Unwell guests with some of their favorite throwback tracks. Acclaimed chef and restauranteur Mario Carbone did a cooking demonstration with Alix Earle and Madeline Argy using his famous Spicy Rigatoni from Carbone Fine Food.
On Sunday, fans and invitees continued to flock to the UNWELL house for an array of activities throughout the day. That evening, UNWELL’s newest talent, Harry Jowsey, hosted “Harry’s Honkey Tonk” filled with line dancing. Attendees danced the night away listening to music by a local Austin band.
On Monday, the UNWELL House presented a panel for Ace Entertainment’s, I Wish You All The Best, which premieres at SXSW this week. The panel featured director/screenwriter Tommy Dorfman, lead actor Corey Fogelmanis, and was moderated by Kennedy Eurich. Later that evening, the UNWELL House welcomed cast and crew members from the film for a private, family dinner presented by Chef Mario Carbone and the Carbone Dallas team. In addition to the panel participants, the dinner also included actor Cole Sprouse, producer Matt Kaplan, among others.
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