Victoria Venantini has joined global entertainment company Alkemy X as VP of business development. She will oversee business development for Alkemy X’s expanding animation and design work, building upon the growth in 2020 spurred by the hire of award-winning creative director Rupert Cresswell, formerly of MPC. In addition to continuing to grow Alkemy X’s agency work, Vanantini will further the company’s offerings in the brand-direct and gaming spaces. Venantini is based in Los Angeles, but will cover national business development, drawing from her extensive experience in both the East and West Coast markets. Alkemy X maintains offices in Philadelphia, L.A., NY and Amsterdam. Prior to joining Alkemy X, Venantini was a business development exec at Two Fresh Creative. Earlier she helped lead the expansion of Mill+ to the West Coast. She has handled business development both in-house and as an independent rep for top industry shops including Beast Editorial, RSA Films, Smoke & Mirrors and Moxie Pictures. Coming from a family steeped in the film and television industries, Venantini was drawn to the production business from a young age. Learning the ropes of production hands-on, she immersed herself in the process of creating commercials, music videos and longer form content while working as a director’s assistant. She organically shifted to the business development side of the industry, playing an instrumental role in the launch of PS260, handling sales and marketing strategies. She expanded to the independent sales representation space with CAM MGMT and Holbrook MGMT before spending four years with RSA Films handling the production company’s East Coast sales. She joined Free Agents in 2016 as an executive sales agent focusing on live action and content-driven opportunities across all media platforms. After parting ways with Free Agents, she reconnected with former client The Mill, relocating to Los Angeles to lead brand strategy, business development and direct-to-brand partnerships for Mill+….
Timothée Chalamet To Receive Arlington Artist of the Year Award At Santa Barbara Film Fest
Timothée Chalamet will be honored with the Arlington Artist of the Year Award at the 40th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF). Chalamet will receive the award during an in-person tribute and career retrospective on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. The evening will highlight his performances in three highly acclaimed films: A Complete Unknown (dir. James Mangold), Dune: Part Two (dir. Denis Villeneuve) and Wonka (dir. Paul King). This honor recognizes Chalamet’s unparalleled talent and his enduring impact on the cinematic landscape.
“I’m a big fan of Bob Dylan, and I was blown away by Chalamet’s transformation in A Complete Unknown. His performance is galvanizing and electrifying, especially coming on the heels of the major box office triumph earlier this year with Dune: Part Two. Truly, this is the age of Chalamet,” said SBIFF executive director Roger Durling.
Chalamet was the youngest Best Actor Oscar nominee since 1939 for his breakout role in Call Me By Your Name. He has starred in five Best Picture Oscar nominees: Call Me By Your Name, Lady Bird, Little Women, Dune and Don’t Look Up. Additional credits include Bones and All, The French Disptach, Beautiful Boy, The King and Interstellar. He is currently in production on A24 and Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme, inspired by the late American table tennis legend Martin “Marty” Reisman.
The 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival will take place February 4-15, 2025. Official events including screenings, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, and celebrity tributes, will be held at SBIFF’s Riviera Theatre and its new Film Center, plus the historic Arlington... Read More