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    AFI to co-sponsor 2nd annual White House Student Film Festival

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments859 Views
    LOS ANGELES --

    The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today its collaboration with the White House on the second annual White House Student Film Festival to be held in the spring of 2015. Open to K-12 student filmmakers, the theme of this year’s festival is “The Impact of Giving Back”–public service on local and national levels.

    “The American Film Institute was born of an ideal in the White House Rose Garden nearly 50 years ago,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI’s president and CEO. “Since that day, new technologies have allowed the art form to encourage voices from a new generation, and we are proud and honored to partner with the White House in encouraging the young people of America to tell their inspiring tales.”

    The first White House Student Film Festival received thousands of submissions on the theme of technology and its role in education. Sixteen young filmmakers were welcomed by President Obama and screened their films in the East Room of the White House to an audience that included leaders of the education and entertainment communities.

    The White House Student Film Festival highlights both the Administration’s commitment to public service and AFI’s ongoing mission to nurture the next generation of filmmakers.

    Complete rules and submission guidelines are available here. Entries are being accepted now through January 20, 2015.

    Tags:AFIAmerican Film InstituteWhite House Student Film Festival



    DirecTV calls off acquisition of rival Dish, possibly ending a yearslong pursuit

    Friday, November 22, 2024
    Dish Network satellite dishes are shown at an apartment complex in Palo Alto, Calif., Feb. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

    DirecTV is calling off its planned acquisition of rival Dish after the offer was rejected by bond holders at that company.

    The deal was reliant on Dish bond holders agreeing to trade in the debt they held for debt in the new company, a swap that would have cost them about $1.6 billion, collectively.

    The retreat by DirecTV this week may end a years-long effort by the company to acquire both Dish and Sling after it announced the bid in September.

    DirecTV was looking to acquire Dish TV and Sling TV from its owner EchoStar in a debt exchange transaction that included a payment of $1, plus the assumption of approximately $9.8 billion in debt. The deal was contingent on several factors, including regulatory approvals and bondholders writing off debt related to Dish.

    "While we believed a combination of DirecTV and Dish would have benefited all stakeholders, we have terminated the transaction because the proposed exchange terms were necessary to protect DirecTV's balance sheet and our operational flexibility," DirecTV CEO Bill Morrow said in a statement.

    The prospect of a DirecTV-Dish combo has long been rumored, and reported talks resurfaced over the years. And the two almost merged more than two decades ago — but the Federal Communications Commission blocked the deal valued at the time at $18.5 billion deal, citing antitrust concerns.

    The pay-for-TV market has shifted significantly since. As more and more consumers tune into online streaming platforms, demand for more traditional satellite entertainment continues to shrink.

    DirecTV says that it will continue to invest in next-generation streaming platforms and offer new packaging options while integrating content from live TV alongside direct-to-consumer... Read More

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