World News
SXSW Comedy Festival Announces Initial 2022 Lineup
South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals (March 11-20, 2022) unveiled the initial SXSW Comedy Festival lineup as part of the 2022 SXSW Festival. A unique gathering of performers from all reaches of entertainment, SXSW is an environment where tomorrow’s most promising comedians can perform alongside and mingle with icons from the world of film and television. For the first time since 2019, the SXSW Comedy Festival is back in full swing with a slate of in-person stand-up showcases, podcast tapings, improv performances, conversations, and more. In honor of the comedic institutions that have persevered over the years, the festival has partnered with a handful of influential comedy venues and presenters to join us in Austin and celebrate the return to live comedy events.
All SXSW registrants (Platinum, Interactive, Music, and Film) are welcome to all SXSW Comedy showcases and conference sessions. Film wristband holders can attend SXSW Comedy showcases from Friday, March 11 through Saturday, March 19 and Music wristband holders, Monday, March 14 through Saturday, March 19.
2022 SXSW Comedy Festival Participants:
Alyssa Stonoha • Andy Haynes • Anthony Atamanuik • Blair Socci • Bonnie McFarlane • Bruce McCulloch • Byron Bowers • Camilla Cleese • Danielle Schneider • Doug Benson • Dulcé Sloan • Eddie Pepitone • Eleanor Kerrigan • Emma Willman • Ian Lara • Jessica Michelle Singleton • Jim Gaffigan • Joe DeRosa • John Cleese • John Gemberling • Jon Daly • Kiry Shabazz • Liza Treyger • Logan Guntzelman • Marina Franklin • Mary Lynn Rajskub • Matt Besser • Matthew Broussard • Mike Lawrence • Mike Yard • Mitra Jouhari • Nick Thune • Punkie Johnson • Rich Vos • Ricky Velez • Rosebud Baker • Sandy Honig • Scott Thompson • Sean Patton • Shane Torres • Stuart Goldsmith • Vanessa Gonzalez • Yamaneika Saunders
Plus surprise guests and more!
2022 SXSW Comedy Festival Special Programs Featuring:
Adult Swim Presents Three Busy Debras • ASSSSCAT • The Comedian’s Comedian • A Night at the Comedy Store • Comedy with the Cleeses • The Creek & The Cave • Doug Loves Movies • Find Your Beach • Gotham Comedy Club • improv4humans • Matt Besser’s 420 Show • Roast Battle • The Stand NYC • Wide World of Dougs • Would You Bang Him?
The festival will kick off on Friday, March 11th with a discussion led by legendary comedian John Cleese. As the most outspoken member of the vanguard Monty Python comedy troupe, John Cleese has been contributing his signature silliness tocomedy, film, and television for over 50 years. A panel of up-and-coming comedians join the comedy icon for an informal conversation to discuss his groundbreaking, often provocative career and working in comedy today.
The following night, Cleese and daughter Camilla take the stage for a variety hour of comedy and chat. Equal parts familial love and cantankerous banter, their onstage dynamic is a special blend that only a father-daughter duo can provide. Their show weaves in audience interaction to make every night truly unique and special.
Throughout the various challenges of the pandemic, comedy scenes around the country found ways to adapt and persist. Comedy venues proved to be the lifeblood of the community, and SXSW has again partnered with some of these institutions to reflect and celebrate their vital cultural importance. A renowned launching pad for New York’s funniest, Gotham Comedy Club will return to the festival with a killer lineup of comedians from their famous stage. The Stand NYC, a fixture of the local scene, will join the festival with Rich Vos and Bonnie McFarlane’s comedy game show Would You Bang Him? as well as their first in-person SXSW showcase. The Creek & The Cave fostered a massive wave of comedy and have recently relocated to Austin. In their first year as an official SXSW venue they’ll showcase a selection of their favorite NY standups.
SXSW is honored to host A Night at The Comedy Store, the kickoff celebration for the 50th anniversary of LA’s iconic venue. A roster of Comedy Store regulars will pay homage to the enduring legacy of the storied stage they call home. This year’s festival will feature a live recording of the Comedy Store Podcast, as well a weekend of the anything-goes battle of wits: Roast Battle. Host Brian Moses, DJ Coach Tea, and dynamic hype crew The Wave (Willie Hunter, Jamar Neighbors) will be joined by guest judges who will preside over three rowdy nights of unpredictable trash-talk.
Upright Citizen’s Brigade (UCB) cofounder, Matt Besser, returns with another slate of shows. He’ll lead UCB’s wildly popular ASSSSCAT, featuring true tales from celebrity guests and inspired scenes from some of today’s most skilled performers. UCB favorites Anthony Atamanuik (The President Show), John Gemberling (Broad City), and Danielle Schneider (Hacks, Bitch Sesh) will join in the fun.
Besser will also present perhaps the most star-studded show of the festival, Neil Young’s Covid Hootenanny. Neil Young (Besser) banters and bickers with a who’s who of “celebrity” guests invited to express their opinions on everything covid in this once-in-a-lifetime concert event. Another jam session of sorts, Nick Thune is back with Riffs and Riff-Raff, a mixed bag of weirdness, complete with outlandish characters, nonsensical lyrics, and improvised songs.
Adult Swim will debut a sneak peak of the second season of Three Busy Debras, the eccentric satire series created by Mitra Jouhari, Sandy Honig, and Alyssa Stonoha. The trio will perform live with friends of the show Anthony Atamanuik, Francesca D’Uva, and Ikechukwu Ufomadu.
The schedule also features a slate of live podcast recordings. Doug Benson will record his hit game-show, Doug Loves Movies, as well as his new show Wide World of Dougs with Doug Mellard. Stuart Goldsmith will return with live editions of his podcast, The Comedian’s Comedian. This time around he’ll talk with Jim Gaffigan, Dulce Sloan, and Eddie Pepitone. Matt Besser’s improv4humans, a stalwart of the improv comedy scene, will also return to the SXSW stage for multiple performances. The shows will feature a talented roster of improvisers, with one recording featuring musical guest ME REX. Rosebud Baker and Andy Haynes started their podcast Find Your Beach on the first day of quarantine and now the newlyweds bring it to SXSW for their first live recording.
SXSW Film Festival
Featured performers will also appear in an array of exciting new films debuting at the SXSW Film Festival. Sketch comedy pioneers Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson of The Kids in the Hall will be in attendance to debut the new documentary, The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks. They’ll also make another appearance at a featured discussion session about their film and enduring legacy. James Morosini’s debut feature I Love My Dad includes rising star Ricky Velez, comedy icon Jim Gaffigan stars in the buzzy new film Linoleum, and festival favorite Sean Patton can be seen in The Prank.
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, music, education, and culture. An essential destination for global professionals, the annual March event features sessions, music and comedy showcases, film 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 2022 will take place March 11 – 20, 2022. For more information, please visit sxsw.com. To register for the event, please visit sxsw.com/attend.
SXSW 2022 Comedy Festival is sponsored by Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Blockchain Creative Labs, Volkswagen, and The Austin Chronicle.
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Radio & TV
2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) to air LIVE on DStv
MTV has announced the 2024 “VMAs” will make its return to New York on Tuesday, September 10th at the UBS Arena. Airing LIVE on MTV, DStv Channel 130 on Wednesday, 11 September at 1:00am WAT and 2:00am CAT around the world in more than 150 countries. This year’s global fan-filled phenomenon will celebrate the best music videos of the past year with supersized performances, epic tributes, and unforgettable appearances from the world’s biggest celebrities.
“We’re excited to bring this year’s VMAs to UBS Arena, one of the country’s newest and most cutting edge venues,” said Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Talent, Programming & Events, Paramount and Chief Content Officer, Music, Paramount+. “Celebrating one of music’s biggest nights with the incredible, robust New York area fans is something we’ve been looking forward to since the moment last year’s show ended.”
“It’s an honor to host MTV and the VMAs at UBS Arena,” said Mark Shulman, Senior Vice President of Programming, UBS Arena. “This is the culmination of bringing a world class event to a venue that offers state of the art capabilities and the best in fan amenities. We look forward to welcoming this year’s top artists, fans, and viewers worldwide to experience our arena and campus at Belmont Park.”
“We are excited to welcome back the MTV Video Music Awards to New York State,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul. “From its origins at Radio City Music Hall in 1984 to this September’s event at the UBS Arena, the VMAs continue to captivate millions, showcasing the very best in music video artistry. As we prepare to host this 40th anniversary event, let’s embrace the spirit of creativity and innovation that defines our state’s cultural landscape.”
The “VMAs” will air across MTV’s global footprint of linear and digital platforms in more than 150 countries and territories, reaching over 319 million households.
Additional details will be announced closer to the show. Follow @MTV and @VMAs on social to keep up with all-things #VMAs.
World News
Major step in malaria prevention as three West African countries roll out vaccine
In a significant step forward for malaria prevention in Africa, three countries—Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone—today launched a large-scale rollout of the life-saving malaria vaccine targeting millions of children across the three West African nations. The vaccine rollout, announced on World Malaria Day, seeks to further scale up vaccine deployment in the African region.
Today’s launch brings to eight the number of countries on the continent to offer the malaria vaccine as part of the childhood immunization programmes, extending access to more comprehensive malaria prevention. Several of the more than 30 countries in the African region that have expressed interest in the vaccine are scheduled to roll it out in the next year through support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, as efforts continue to widen its deployment in the region in coordination with other prevention measures such as long-lasting insecticidal nets and seasonal malaria chemoprevention.
Benin, which received 215 900 doses, has added the malaria vaccine to its Expanded Programme on Immunization. The malaria vaccine should be provided in a schedule of 4 doses in children from around 5 months of age.
“The introduction of the malaria vaccine in the Expanded Programme on Immunization for our children is a major step forward in the fight against this scourge. I would like to reassure that the malaria vaccines are safe and effective and contribute to the protection of our children against this serious and fatal diseases,” said Prof Benjamin Hounkpatin, Minister of Health of Benin.
In Liberia, the vaccine was launched in the southern Rivercess County and will be rolled out afterwards in five other counties which have high malaria burden. At least 45 000 children are expected to benefit from the 112 000 doses of the available vaccine.
“For far too long, malaria has stolen the laughter and dreams of our children. But today, with this vaccine and the unwavering commitment of our communities, healthcare workers and our partners, including Gavi, UNICEF and WHO, we break the chain. We have a powerful tool that will protect them from this devastating illness and related deaths, ensuring their right to health and a brighter future. Let’s end malaria in Liberia and pave the way for a healthier, more just society,” said Dr Louise Kpoto, Liberia’s Minister of Health.
Two safe and effective vaccines — RTS,S and R21 — recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), are a breakthrough for child health and malaria control. A pilot malaria vaccine programme in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi reached over 2 million children from 2019 to 2023, showing a significant reduction in malaria illness and a 13% drop in overall child mortality and substantial reductions in hospitalizations.
In Sierra Leone, the first doses were administered to children at a health centre in Western Area Rural where the authorities kicked off the rollout of 550 000 vaccine doses. The vaccine will then be delivered in health facilities nationwide.
“With the new, safe and efficacious malaria vaccine, we now have an additional tool to fight this disease. In combination with insecticide-treated nets, effective diagnosis and treatment, and indoor spraying, no child should die from malaria infection,” said Dr Austin Demby, Minister of Health of Sierra Leone.
Malaria remains a huge health challenge in the African region, which is home to 11 countries that carry approximately 70% of the global burden of malaria. The region accounted for 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of all malaria deaths in 2022, according to the World Malaria Report.
“The African region is taking positive steps in scaling up the rollout of the malaria vaccine – a game-changer in our fight against this deadly disease,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Working with our partners, we’re committed to supporting the ongoing efforts to protect, save the lives of young children and lower the malaria burden in the region.”
Aurelia Nguyen, Chief Programme Officer at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, noted: “Today we celebrate more children gaining access to a new lifesaving tool to fight one of Africa’s deadliest diseases. This introduction of malaria vaccines into routine programmes in Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone alongside other proven interventions will help save lives and offer relief to families, communities and hard-pressed health systems.”
Progress against malaria has stalled in these high-burden African countries since 2017 due to factors including climate change, humanitarian crises, low access to and insufficient quality of health services, gender-related barriers, biological threats such as insecticide and drug resistance and global economic crises. Fragile health systems and critical gaps in data and surveillance have compounded the challenge.
To put malaria progress back on track, WHO recommends robust commitment to malaria responses at all levels, particularly in high-burden countries; greater domestic and international funding; science and data-driven malaria responses; urgent action on the health impacts of climate change; harnessing research and innovation; as well as strong partnerships for coordinated responses. WHO is also calling attention to addressing delays in malaria programme implementation.
World News
Kid Cudi cancels tour after breaking foot at Coachella
Kid Cudi has been forced to cancel his tour after breaking his foot at Coachella over the weekend. During the fest’s Weekend Two on Sunday night, the rapper went to the hospital with a broken foot after jumping off the stage at the Sahara Tent. (more…)
World News
The Un Certain Regard Jury of the 77th Festival de Cannes
The Canadian actor, director, screenwriter and producer Xavier Dolan will be the President of the Un Certain Regard Jury of the 77th Festival de Cannes. He will be joined by French-Senegalese screenwriter and director Maïmouna Doucouré, Moroccan director, screenwriter and producer Asmae El Moudir, German-Luxembourg actress Vicky Krieps, and American film critic, director, and writer Todd McCarthy. They will be in charge of awarding prizes for the Un Certain Regard section, which showcases art and discovery films by young auteurs.
This year, 18 films have been selected, including 8 first films. The 2023 Un Certain Regard top prize went to director Molly Manning Walker’s debut feature How to Have Sex.
When the light breaks by Rúnar Rúnarsson will open the Un Certain Regard section on Wednesday May 15, 2024.
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