VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES PARTICIPATION IN

2015 BAY AREA BOOK FESTIVAL

The Largest Manga Publisher In The U.S. Will Showcase A Wide Variety Of Manga, Art Books And Other Acclaimed Titles At Literary Festival Taking Place In Berkeley, CA Next Month

San Francisco, CA, May 28, 2015 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, proudly announces its support and participation in the first-ever Bay Area Book Festival, set to take place the weekend of June 6-7, 2015 in downtown Berkeley, CA.

VIZ Media will exhibit and offer for sale a wide selection of its published titles throughout the festival, including art books, graphic novels, manga and other noteworthy releases from the Perfect Square, Studio Ghibli and Haikasoru literary imprints, as well as contemporary titles from the VIZ Signature collection.

The Bay Area Book Festival is FREE to attend and will take place from 10:00AM to 6:00PM at Civic Center Park and 12 surrounding themed blocks in downtown Berkeley. Exhibitors will include publishers, indie bookstores, literary and literacy organizations, library services, writing programs, book artists, authors, and more. A variety of indoor and outdoor activities and exhibits aimed at adults, teens and children also will be offered. More than 150 local, national, and international authors will be reading, debating, and presenting in great spaces, both indoor and outside, throughout the Downtown Arts District as well as selected venues on the UC Berkeley campus. Full details on the Bay Area Book Festival are available at: http://www.baybookfest.org.

VIZ Media titles to be offered at the 2015 Bay Area Book Festival include:

THE ART OF PRINCESS MONONOKE · $35

This special hardcover edition features insightful interviews, concept sketches, character art and finished animation cels from the critically acclaimed fantasy action film by Oscar-winning director Hayao Miyazaki. Released in 1997, Princess Mononoke was the first Hayao Miyazaki film to break into the American mainstream. The journey from initial idea to the big screen is captured here in stunning detail and also includes a look at Miyazaki’s original concept art and the use of computer graphics technology in the film’s production.

PRINCESS MONONOKE: THE FIRST STORY, by Hayao Miyazaki · $35

An oversized, lavishly illustrated storybook featuring original watercolor art by legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, This is the original Princess Mononoke story created by Miyazaki in 1980 while he was first conceptualizing the landmark animated film that would later be released to universal acclaim seventeen years later. As an initial version of the tale, it offers a new and different perspective from the final version presented in the film. After a long, exhausting war, a samurai lost in a forest encounters a giant wildcat – a mononoke. The beast saves his life, but at the price of his daughter's hand in marriage... 

BATTLE ROYALE: REMASTERED, by Koushun Takami · $17

In a dystopian future Japan, forty-two junior high school students are outfitted with weapons and bid to kill one another until there is only one left standing! Koushun Takami's notorious high-octane thriller envisions a nightmare scenario: a class of junior high school students is taken to a deserted island where, as part of a ruthless authoritarian program, they are provided arms and forced to kill until only one survivor is left standing. Criticized as violent exploitation when it was first published in Japan – where it became a runaway best seller – Battle Royale is a Lord of the Flies for the 21^st century, a potent allegory of what it means to be young and (barely) alive in a dog-eat-dog world.

THE BATTLE ROYALE SLAM BOOK: Essays on the Cult Classic Novel by Koushun Takami · $16

The cult phenomenon Battle Royale has been lauded as a masterpiece and decried as exploitative gore, but it’s always remained in the public consciousness. This collection of essays by some of the best science fiction, horror, and thriller writers working today, including Brian Keene, John Skipp, and Catherynne M. Valente and more. Each essay explores the depth, details, and controversies surrounding BATTLE ROYALE in an intelligent, highly accessible fashion. 

HELLO KITTY, HELLO 40: A CELEBRATION IN 40 STORIES · $30

The hardcover full-color anthology features a notable line-up of some of Hello Kitty’s biggest fans paying tribute in the best way they know how: through their stories and art. Contributors include the award-winning creators of the Tiny Titans series, Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani; Brian Smith, co-creator of the New York Times bestselling series Stuff of Legend; Gene Luen Yang, award-winning author of American Born Chinese and Boxers and Saints, and Uglydoll co-creator David Horvath. Everyone has a tale to tell about the cute little girl who speaks from her heart. Matt and Jennifer L. Holm, award-winning creators of the Babymouse series also authored the introduction.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA A LINK TO THE PAST · $20

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: A LINK TO THE PAST is based on the beloved, internationally bestselling video game originally released for Nintendo’s Super Nintendo Entertainment System™. This comic book version by Shotaro Ishinomori (Cyborg 009, Kamen Rider) was first serialized in Nintendo Power magazine and later collected into a graphic novel. Long out-of-print, this stunning, full-color edition is available once again for the first time in more than two decades!

not simple · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · $15

Manga creator Natsume Ono’s not simple follows Ian, a young man with a fractured family history, as he travels from Australia to England and on to America in the hope of realizing his dreams and reuniting with his beloved sister. His story unfolds backwards through the framing narrative of Jim, a reporter driven to capture Ian's experiences in a novel titled not simple.

SUNNY, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · $15

What is SUNNY? Sunny is a car. Sunny is a car you take on a drive with your mind. It takes you to the place of your dreams. SUNNY is the story of beating the odds, in the ways that count. It’s the brand-new masterwork from Eisner Award-winner Taiyo Matsumoto, one of Japan’s most innovative and acclaimed manga artists. The new release is translated by noted visual effects artist and Tekkonkinkreet film producer Michael Arias (The Abyss, Princess Mononoke, The Animatrix). 

VAGABOND, VIZ Big Edition Vol. 1 · Rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers · $20

Shinmen Takezo is destined to become the legendary sword-saint, Miyamoto Musashi – perhaps the most renowned samurai of all time. For now, Takezo is a cold-hearted killer, who will take on anyone in mortal combat to make a name for himself. This is the journey of a wild young brute who strives to reach enlightenment by way of the sword--fighting on the edge of death.

For more information on these and other award winning manga titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

###

VAGABOND © 1998-2008 I.T. Planning, Inc.

ILLUSTRATOR RISES FROM THE ASHES WITH A NEW INDIE COMIC: METAZOA

May 28th 2016

Sandy Brion Spreitz once watched his life’s work burn to ash. Ten thousand pages of illustrations and paintings, countless musical compositions, his laptop, as well as a 700 page hand-written manuscript, went up in flames when his one bedroom cottage caught fire on the 3000 block of Canyon Road in Burlingame, CA.

"Ten thousand pages of original paintings - gone!" Sandy said. "Every painting is like a child, and I've just lost a whole country."

Sandy would have lost his life as well, if not for his orange and white tabby cat named Mo, who kept whining outside the cottage until Sandy woke up and escaped the blaze. That was nearly eight years ago. *

Today, Sandy has just released the first issue of a digital comic book that is two years in the making. He illustrated, colored and co-created the comic with his friend and former neighbor to that ill-fated cottage, Peter Marshall Smith. The comic is an allegorical piece of science fiction in the realm of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, an ideological critique of class inequity entitled: METAZOA. Animals have always inspired Sandy, but there’s a special place in his heart from Mo, the cat who saved his life, so he could live to draw again.

“Now, I work 7 days a week on METAZOA,“ says Sandy. “I wake up and get right to work.  At night, I dream of METAZOA. This project has been an act of love. And it has renewed my interest in all things.”

METAZOA #1 is an independent digital comic available for download at ComiXology Submit: http://bit.ly/1HkepJW

Boldly Swim with the Newest Convention Exclusive

 from Entertainment Earth!

 

LOS ANGELES, CA: May 27, 2015 Space might be the final frontier, but the sea is still just as fascinating. Now you'll be able to bobble with some beauties of the deep blue sea thanks to the Star Trek IV: Whales with Spock Bobble Head - Convention Exclusive from Bif Bang Pow!. The exceptionally detailed collectible features a miniature-sized Spock swimming with two humpback whales as depicted in the motion picture, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Unlike other bobble heads, the unique aspect of this collectible is the fact the tail of each whale bobbles instead of the head. And, making it a true collectible, the run will be limited to just 1,998 convention-exclusive pieces, each individually numbered. Available for the first time on July 8, 2015 at the Entertainment Earth booth #2343 at San Diego Comic-Con, fans will have the first opportunity to grab this individually numbered and limited edition exclusive! Not attending San Diego Comic-Con 2015?  *PRE-ORDER your Star Trek IV: Whales with Spock Bobble Head - Convention Exclusive at Entertainment Earth now! (*NOTE: Pre-orders made before San Diego Comic-Con 2015 are not guaranteed to be fulfilled based on limited supplies. Available units will ship after Comic-Con 2015 while supplies last.) Visit Entertainment Earth and all of our social media networks for the latest Entertainment Earth and San Diego Comic-Con news. Twitter: @entearth Facebook: entertainmentearth Google+: entertainmentearth Pinterest: entearth Instagram: entearth Tumblr: entertainmentearth

About Entertainment Earth^®, Inc.

Entertainment Earth® - entertainmentearth.com - is the preeminent pioneer and innovator in the worldwide online retail and wholesale toy, gift, and collectibles industry, offering unparalleled expertise and an ever-expanding selection of over 22,000 licensed products.  Founded in 1996 and based in Simi Valley, California, Entertainment Earth is renowned for its popular website and print catalog, and its groundbreaking best practices that include a Mint Condition Guarantee™, Risk Free Shopping, and Hassle Free 90-Day Returns.

This Just In! SNL "Weekend Update" Convention Exclusive Announced
 

LOS ANGELES, CA: May 27, 2015 Why just listen to the news when you get to play with it? That's what Bif Bang Pow! had in mind when they created the Saturday Night Live Weekend Update with Amy Poehler and Tina Fey 3 1/2-Inch Action Figures Set of 2. Showcasing the detailed likenesses of both Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, this 3 1/2-inch set of figures showcases the leading ladies of laughter in their professional news anchor attire. The two SNL alumni come ready to deliver the news with the included fold-out diorama of the iconic "Weekend Update" news desk. This Entertainment Earth Convention Exclusive is limited to just 2,400 pieces. Available for the first time on July 8, 2015 at the Entertainment Earth booth #2343 at San Diego Comic-Con, fans will have the first opportunity to grab this individually numbered and limited edition exclusive set before it disappears from the headlines for good! Not attending San Diego Comic-Con 2015?  *PRE-ORDER your Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Amy Poehler / Tina Fey 3 1/2-Inch Action Figures Set of 2 at Entertainment Earth now! (*NOTE: Pre-orders made before San Diego Comic-Con 2015 are not guaranteed to be fulfilled based on limited supplies. Available units will ship after Comic-Con 2015 while supplies last.) Visit Entertainment Earth and all of our social media networks for the latest EE and SDCC news. Twitter: @entearth Facebook: entertainmentearth Google+: entertainmentearth Pinterest: entearth Instagram: entearth Tumblr: entertainmentearth

About Entertainment Earth®, Inc. Entertainment Earth® - entertainmentearth.com - is the preeminent pioneer and innovator in the worldwide online retail and wholesale toy, gift, and collectibles industry, offering unparalleled expertise and an ever-expanding selection of over 22,000 licensed products.  Founded in 1996 and based in Simi Valley, California, Entertainment Earth is renowned for its popular website and print catalog, and its groundbreaking best practices that include a Mint Condition Guarantee™, Risk Free Shopping, and Hassle Free 90-Day Returns.

NBM PUBLISHING and The Creators of GHETTO BROTHER Appearing at BOOKCON

This weekend in New York City is BookCon, the ultimate celebration of books, where your favorite stories come to life.

Storytelling and pop culture collide as both consumers and brands experience the origin of the story in all its forms by interacting with the authors, publishers, celebrities and creators of content that influence everything we read, hear and see.

The show features interactive, forward thinking content including Q+A’s with the hottest talent, autographing sessions, storytelling podcasts, special screenings, literary quiz shows and so much more.

Appearing throughout the show is writer Julian Voloj who will be signing copies of his book, the powerful GHETTO BROTHER: WARRIOR TO PEACEMAKER along with the colorful subject of the book, Benjy Melendez.

An engrossing and counter view of one of the most dangerous elements of American urban history, this graphic novel tells the true story of Benjy Melendez, son of Puerto-Rican immigrants, who founded, at the end of the 1960s, the notorious Ghetto Brothers gang. From the seemingly bombed-out ravages of his neighborhood, wracked by drugs, poverty, and violence, he managed to extract an incredibly positive energy from this riot ridden era: his multiracial gang promoted peace rather than violence. After initiating a gang truce, the Ghetto Brothers held weekly concerts on the streets or in abandoned buildings, which fostered the emergence of hip-hop. Melendez also began to reclaim his Jewish roots after learning about his family’s dramatic crypto-Jewish background.

Signing Schedule, Booth 3065

Julian and Benjy will be appearing at the NBM Table throughout the weekend.

SATURDAY

11:00 – 12:00 Julian Voloj
2:00 – 3:00 Julian Voloj
4:00 – 5:00 Julian Voloj

SUNDAY

11:00-12:00 Julian Voloj and Benjy Melendez
1:00-2:00 Julian Voloj and Benjy Melendez
                                  

THE SIXTH GUN RPG KICKSTARTER SMASHES EXPECTATIONS AND FUNDING GOAL IN FIRST DAY

ONI PRESS CONGRATULATES BUNN, HURTT, PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP ON FIRST DAY SUCCESS OF THE SIXTH GUN RPG KICKSTARTER

PORTLAND, OR May 21, 2015 – Oni Press, Portland’s premier independent comic book publisher, congratulates Pinnacle Entertainment Group and The Sixth Gun creators Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt, on the smash success of THE SIXTH GUN RPG Kickstarter.

Oni Press editor in chief James Lucas Jones said, "We've been thrilled to spend time with Cullen and Brian in the world of The Sixth Gun for the last 5 years. Now thanks to Pinnacle Entertainment Group, we get the opportunity to explore even more of the epic world the boys created! It's been immensely satisfying to see the Kickstarter smash past its funding goal in no time and we can't wait to see how many stretch goals of cool stuff we can hit in the next month."

Funded inside the first hour and now racing past $27,000 in its first 24 hours, the Kickstarter for the RPG tabletop game based on the Eisner and Harvey Award nominated series exceeded expectations and now looks to cross its stretch goals, including a new game adventure by The Sixth Gun creative team of Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt and with RPG author Scott Woodard, which will include new original comics content.

The Sixth Gun artist and co-creator Brian Hurtt said, "Cullen and I have fantasized about a SIXTH GUN RPG for years and to finally have it become a reality is a dream come true. We're blown away by the amazing response from both Sixth Gun and Pinnacle fans who made this happen! Now we're looking forward to see if we can cross the final stretch goal and take the opportunity to expand the scope of the game—and build on the canon of this universe we created—in the form of a new exclusive adventure for the RPG. Cullen and I already have plans for new characters, stories, and events... and even new comic material exclusive to the RPG which we hope to share with fans of The Sixth Gun, both old and new!"

The Kickstarter will continue until its closing date of June 25th, during which time fans can pre-order The Sixth Gun RPG in both softcover and limited edition hardcover, the Savage Worlds core rulebook, and trade paperback collections of The Sixth Gun comics series, in both softcover, hardcover, and Limited Edition Gunslinger editions. Kickstarter exclusives and incentives consist of character miniatures in 32mm scale pewter from The Sixth Gun including Drake, Becky, Asher Cobb, General Hume, Brother Roberto, Gord, Billjohn, and Missy Hume, as well as other roleplaying game accessories such as “Bennie” tokens, custom dice, and a trifold game master screen with new exclusive artwork by Brian Hurtt and Bill Crabtree.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/545820095/the-sixth-gun-rpg-for-savage-worlds


About Oni Press

Oni Press has been revolutionizing comics since 1997. Home to a range of rad comics including Scott Pilgrim, The Sixth Gun, Letter 44, Stumptown, Princess Ugg and The Bunker, Oni Press strives to create comics for you.

About Pinnacle Entertainment Group

The award-winning Deadlands and Savage Worlds tabletop RPGs were created by Shane Lacy Hensley, owner of Pinnacle Entertainment Group. For more information, visit www.peginc.com or contact Jodi Black, COO and Managing Editor for Pinnacle, at PEGJodi@gmail.com.

GRUMPY CAT INKS DYNAMITE COMIC BOOK DEAL

POP CULTURE SENSATION TO DEBUT COMIC BOOKS,
COMIC STRIPS, AND GRAPHIC NOVELS THIS YEAR

May 27, 2015, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Dynamite is proud to announce a collaborative licensing partnership with Grumpy Cat Limited to develop print and digital comic books and graphic novels featuring "The World's Grumpiest Cat" and her brother, Pokey. Grumpy Cat will debut the first of her all-new misadventures in a three-issue miniseries, released in Fall 2015, and collected into a hardcover graphic novel in time for the holiday season. Dynamite also plans to launch a website this summer where new Grumpy Cat comic strips will go up online every week.  

 

"With her ever-present pout and sassy disposition, Grumpy Cat has won the hearts of people everywhere. I can tell you, we're thrilled, just absolutely thrilled, to bring this adorable curmudgeon's misadventures to the comic world!" says Keith Davidsen, Marketing Manager of Dynamite Entertainment. "One of the most important responsibilities for today's comic publishers is creating content that will attract fresh new audiences to experience the wonders of the medium, and Grumpy Cat is the perfect combination of unbearable cuteness, instant fan appeal, and established multimedia presence to make just such a thing happen. If you love the memes, the videos, and that irresistable scowl, then get ready for the wildly fun antics of Grumpy Cat and Pokey in Dynamite's all-new, all-sensational Grumpy Cat comics!"

 

Grumpy Cat's global following includes 7.6 million Facebook fans and over 31 million YouTube views. Since her photos first went viral in 2012, Grumpy Cat has gone from Internet star to real-life celebrity. She has two New York Time Best Selling Books, her own Lifetime movie Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever (voiced by actress Aubrey Plaza), has made numerous appearances including the MTV Movie Awards, American Idol, The Bachelorette, The Today Show, SXSW, Good Morning America, and even hosted WWE Monday Night Raw. Grumpy Cat is Friskies official "Spokescat", has filmed videos with Disney and Sesame Street, and appears in commercials for McDonald's and Honey Nut Cheerios. Licensed Grumpy Cat merchandise is currently available at retailers worldwide.

 

Dynamite Entertainment's Grumpy Cat comic books and graphic novels will be available to consumers through the comic book specialty market, and its graphic novels will be available at major bookstore chains, online booksellers, and independent bookstores courtesy of Diamond Book Distributors. Grumpy Cat comics will also be available for purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital. Fans and retailers are encouraged to follow Dynamite Entertainment and Grumpy Cat's official social media channel for the latest updates regarding creative teams and release dates.

Dynamite on Facebook:

http://facebook.com/dynamitecomics

Dynamite on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/DynamiteComics

For art and more information, please visit: 

http://dynamite.com

 

 

Grumpy Cat on Facebook:

http://facebook.com/TheOfficialGrumpyCat 

Grumpy Cat on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/RealGrumpyCat

Grumpy Cat's Site:

http://grumpycats.com

 

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook or visit http://comicshoplocator.com/.

About Dynamite Entertainment:

 

Dynamite was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling comic book titles and properties, including The Boys, The Shadow, Red Sonja, Warlord of Mars, Bionic Man, A Game of Thrones, and more.  Dynamite owns and controls an extensive library with over 3,000 characters (which includes the Harris Comics and Chaos Comics properties), such as Vampirella, Pantha, Evil Ernie, Smiley the Psychotic Button, Chastity, and Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt.  In addition to their critically-acclaimed titles and bestselling comics, Dynamite works with some of the most high profile creators in comics and entertainment, including Kevin Smith, Alex Ross, Neil Gaiman, Andy Diggle, John Cassaday, Garth Ennis, Jae Lee, Marc Guggenheim, Mike Carey, Jim Krueger, Greg Pak, Brett Matthews, Matt Wagner, Gail Simone, Steve Niles, James Robinson, and a host of up-and-coming new talent.  Dynamite is consistently ranked in the upper tiers of comic book publishers and several of their titles - including Alex Ross and Jim Krueger's Project Superpowers - have debuted in the Top Ten lists produced by Diamond Comics Distributors.  In 2005, Diamond awarded the company a GEM award for Best New Publisher and another GEM in 2006 for Comics Publisher of the Year (under 5%) and again in 2011.  The company has also been nominated for and won several industry awards, including the prestigious Harvey and Eisner Awards.

GET READY TO OPEN UP A DIGITAL ‘HEART IN A BOX’

KELLY THOMPSON AND MEREDITH MACLAREN’S OGN TO BE SERIALIZED ON DARK HORSE DIGITAL PRIOR TO RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MILWAUKIE, OR—Before fully opening Kelly Thompson and Meredith MacLaren’s Heart in a Box in September, become one of the first to get a FREE glimpse at the duo’s original graphic novel via Dark Horse Digital. As a special advance look, Dark Horse will serialize Heart in a Box in seven chapters over the next six weeks, with the first two chapters available now on Dark Horse Digital. The first chapter is FREE for all users, and all subsequent chapters will be priced at an affordable $0.99. In a moment of post-heartbreak weakness, Emma wishes her heart away, and a mysterious stranger—who may or may not be totally evil—obliges. But emptiness is even worse than grief, and when Emma learns that her heart can be regained piece by piece, she takes the strange bargain. But will the cost of her heart be her soul? A fresh, funny, and action-packed take on heartbreak, Heart in a Box is Thompson and McClaren’s first graphic novel collaboration and comes hot on the heels of Thompson’s novels, The Girl Who Would Be King and Storykiller; as well as her critically acclaimed work on Jem and the Holograms. “We couldn’t wait to share Heart in a Box with readers, so we’re very excited to get it out early through our digital platform,” said Dark Horse editor Brendan Wright. “Kelly and Meredith have created something truly special, and after fans read it digitally, they’re definitely going to want to have a copy for their shelf.” Heart in a Box chapter one and chapter two are available now on Dark Horse Digital. Heart in a Box Kelly Thompson (W), Meredith MacLaren (A/Cover) $14.99, 978-1616556945 On sale September 29 Preorder Now! Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Local comics shop ### About Dark Horse Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent, such as Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The Mask, Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, EVE Online, Halo, Serenity, Game of Thrones, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics material.

BBC AMERICA’S DOCTOR WHO SET FOR HALL H PANEL AT COMIC-CON

Peter Capaldi to make first Comic-Con appearance following his first season as the Doctor

BBC AMERICA’s Doctor Who returns to San Diego Comic-Con for a Hall H panel on Thursday, July 9. Following his record-breaking first season as the Doctor, Peter Capaldi will make his first ever appearance at Comic-Con with stars Jenna Coleman (Clara Oswald), Michelle Gomez (Missy), lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat and executive producer Brian Minchin. Doctor Who follows the adventures of the Doctor, the time traveler, who will continue to journey through all of space and time in epic adventures in the new season premiering this fall. Capaldi’s first season delivered BBC AMERICA its highest rated season ever and is available now on all digital platforms.

Peter Capaldi on making his first Comic-Con appearance: “Tales of San Diego Comic-Con are told in awe on every set around the known fantasy/sci-fi production world. It's become a fabled kingdom. One I am thrilled to find myself heading for. And to appear in the legendary Hall H, is a further twist to the cosplay and comic madness I may never recover from.”

The new season premieres this fall with a two-part episode, The Magician’s Apprentice and The Witch’s Familiar, written by Steven Moffat, produced by Peter Bennett and directed by Hettie Macdonald (Blink, the Hugo Award-winning Doctor Who episode).

Doctor Who is a BBC Cymru Wales production for BBC One and a BBC AMERICA co-production.

 

About BBC AMERICA

BBC AMERICA delivers U.S. audiences high-quality, innovative and intelligent programming. Established in 1998, it has been the launch pad for talent embraced by American mainstream pop culture, including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, Graham Norton, and successful programming formats including ground-breaking non-scripted television like Top Gear and top-rated science-fiction like Doctor Who. A joint venture between BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, and AMC Networks, BBC AMERICA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including four Emmy® Awards, five Golden Globes® and 12 Peabody Awards. The channel attracts one of cable’s most affluent and educated audiences and is available on cable and satellite TV in nearly 80 million homes. It broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, with content available On Demand across all major digital platforms. Online, www.BBCAmerica.com is the place to go to dig deeper into pop culture with a British twist. Find out more by visiting www.Press.BBCAmerica.com/ or follow us on www.twitter.com/BBCAMERICA.

2015 SOHO FILM FESTIVAL WRAPS UP WITH A BANG

Jury of Film Industry Heavyweights Selects Top Independent Films For Star Studded Awards Night At Webster Hall

 
*Photos by Champion Hamilton

New York, NY (May, 2015) - This past Thursday, May 21st the SOHO International Film Festival wrapped up with an Awards Night in The Marlin Room at Webster Hall. The all-star event Presented by NY based invitation-only Social Network CARBON kicked off with Red-Carpet arrivals and music by DJ VYBE Frank Morales, with the Awards Ceremony Emcee’d by Aussie talent Drew De Carvalho along with Presenters Robert Clohessy (The Avengers) and James McCaffrey (Rescue Me, Sam) among others.

Among the many awards presented to the winning filmmakers were that of Best Showcase Feature Film, Best World Short, NYC Audience Award Feature Film, and the SIFFNYC Special Jury Award. This year’s Jury encompassed  accomplished journalists, actors, actresses, directors, writers and educators like Ernabel Demillo (Emmy Award nominated TV journalist and educator), Marci Phillips (Head of Casting for ABC Network), David Zayas (Actor- “Dexter” and “Gotham”), Donna McKenna (Casting director and Award Winning film producer), Reeves Lehman (Dir., Writer, Actor and Chair of the Film, Video, and Animation Dept. at NY’s School of Visual Arts), Melissa Lummus (Programmer at the Nashville Film Festival), Arnold Vegafria (Talent Manager/producer/advertising guru), and Greg Freedman (Corporate counsel at Milstein Brothers Capital Partners, LLC).

*Photos by Champion Hamilton

Prior to AND following the Awards, attendee’s were regaled with LIVE music from musicians whose songs were featured in many of the festival’s films, including Julia Weldon w. Ted Limpert (Music from the Short Film “Chupacabra”), Charlie Whitten (Music from the Short Film “Lonely Planet”), the band Parade Grounds (with music from the Short Film “Claudette”) who’s new EP will be released July 10th, Mike Cali (Music from the Feature Film “Chasing Yesterday”), and Tom Ashton (Music from the Feature Film “Enchantments”).

 *Photos by Champion Hamilton

Major partners for this year include MongoMedia, HandHeld Films, Champion Eye Media and INRavio.com. Filmmaker Lounges thru the week were set up by Tiqo Beverage, Deryck Todd and Starbaby Enterprises with amazing desserts presented by Basket Treats by Alexis Streets. "We are extremely proud of this year's program and humbled by the pool of talent that surrounded the festival" said Sibyl Santiago, Executive Director and Head of Programming. "This festival would not be possible without these amazing filmmakers and the support of our partners and sponsors."  Other support were also provided by Myx, John Nacion Imaging, Balls Vodka, Caffe Palermo, Heidi's Health Kitchen, SpaMedics by Jennifer Liberty and Sitting Cat Productions.

 *Photos by Champion Hamilton

In a night which awarded the hard work and dedication of its filmmakers, showcased the stars and music talent of those whose songs helped craft the Directors’ visions, the Awards Night Presentation brought an end to what was an exciting 2015 SOHO Film Festival!

Here’s the Full List of Nominees and Awardees for the 2015 SOHO Film Festival:

BEST SHOWCASE FEATURE FILM:

"All In Time" by Marina Donohue & Christopher Fetchko

>>>> "ALL-STARS" by Lance Kinsey -- WINNER

"Frank vs. God" by Stewart Schill

"Leaving Circadia" by Evan Matthew Weinstein

"Stuck" by John Painz

"The David Dance" by April Winney

BEST WORLD SHOWCASE:

>>>>> "HIGHWAY TO DHAMPUS" (Nepal) by Rick McFarland -- WINNER

"Kauboji (Cowboys)" (Croatia) by Tomislav Mrsic

"Teenkahon" (India) by Bauddhayan Mukherji

"With Child" (Canada) by Titus Heckel

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST SHOWCASE SHORT FILM:

"A Policy of Truth" by Nick Demos

"August Heat" by Matthew James Thompson

"Chupacabra" by Jenny Joslin and Annette Mia Flores

"February" by Jessi Shuttleworth

"Grace" by Marisa Vitali

"Mother's Day" by Nico Raineau

>>>> "STEALTH" by Melissa Hoppe - WINNER

"The Bridge Partner" by Gabriel Olson

"The Little Violinist' by Yang Wang

"The Man From The City' by Elias Plagianos

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BEST WORLD SHORT:

>>>>> "HANGRY" (Australia) by Sophie O'Connor -- WINNER

"Lonely Panet" (US/Spain) by Alex Burunova

"Neonlichter" (Austria) by Barbara Muller

"Sick To My Bones" (UK) by Guy Davies & Matthew Leonhart

"The Crossing" (UK) by Nathalie Biancheri

"Trio" (South Korea) by Youn Jee Choi

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BEST DOCUMENTARY:

>>>>> "BECOMING BULLETPROOF" by Michael Barnett -- WINNER

"In An Ideal World" by Noel Schwerin

"Mount Lawrence" by Chandler Wild

"Trichster" by Jillian Corsie

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NYC AUDIENCE AWARD FEATURE FILM:

>>>>> "ALL IN TIME" (US) by Marina Donohue & Christopher Fetchko -- WINNER

"Kill Me Deadly" (US) by Darrett Sanders

"The Networker" (US) by John Gallagher

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NYC AUDIENCE AWARD SHORT FILM:

"Dirty Laundry Day" by Jamil Laham (US)

"Grace" by Chris Ordal (US)

>>>>> "NANDO" (Italy) by Marco Gozzo -- WINNER

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SIFFNYC SPECIAL JURY AWARD:

>>>>> "MUTED" by Rachel Goldberg -- WINNER

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SIFFNYC BEST ACTING PERFORMANCE FEATURE FILM:

>>>>> CHANDRA WILSON, "Muted" -- WINNER

John Painz, "Stuck" (US)

Nadine Nicole Heimann, "Lonely Planet" (US/Spain)

Nora Aunor, "Dementia" (Philippines)

...presented by Balls Vodka

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SIFFNYC RISING STAR AWARD:

>>>>> KRISTINA HERNANDEZ, "Stealth" -- WINNER

...presented by "The Cannoli King", Caffe Palermo

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CARBON AWARD FOR MOST CREATIVE FILMMAKER

US FEATURE FILM:

>> JOHN PAINZ, "Stuck" -- WINNER

For more information on the SOHO International Film Festival, please visit

www.SohoFilmFest.com or follow the festival on Twitter @SohoFilmFest or Facebook.com/SohoFilmFest

About the SOHO International Film Festival:

The SOHO International Film Festival, which proudly carries the “Made in NY” logo from the NYC Mayor’s Office of Film, Television and Broadcasting is a vehicle to help the economy of the city, enhancing the festival’s sense of pride while boosting filmmaking and tourism in the Big Apple. They are dedicated to celebrating the art of long and short form cinema created from the latest digital technology while still embracing the original goal ‐ incredible storytelling. Founded in the epicenter of New York's most artistic district, by Jorge Ballos in 2009, the festival is has provided a unique and powerful platform for filmmakers to gain exposure and potential distribution. SIFFNYC is committed to exhibiting domestic and international films, focusing on dynamic, visionary cinema that creates extraordinary experiences.