London, (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - The GSM Association (GSMA) today announced
that film actor, director and Sundance Institute Founder & President, Robert Redford will headline at Mobile Backstage, a special one day Mobile Entertainment conference on Wednesday 13th February at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the world's largest communications industry event.
Known as the primary force for 25 years in the nurturing of new cinematic voices and the emergence of independent film as a force in the entertainment industry, Redford and Sundance continue a tradition of exploration and promotion of content delivery on new platforms.
On stage at Barcelona's National Palace, Redford will participate in a keynote interview, which among other topics will explore the potential of mobile -- the '4th screen' -- as a medium for independent filmmakers to reach new audiences on a global basis. His appearance at the Congress follows the collaborative Sundance Film Festival: Global Short Film Project with the GSMA, showcased at last year's event, and follows on the heels of this year's Sundance Film Festival, which concluded last week in Park City, Utah. Redford's Sundance Channel will be represented this year in the Congress programme related to content being produced in association with Isabella Rossellini and which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.
"The energy and opportunity that this event presents, not just for business but for artists and their work, makes it particularly exciting for me," said Redford. "The GSMA continues to take seriously both the business of delivering content and the art of creating content, as they lead the exciting mobile sector into the future," he added.
"We are thrilled and honoured to announce this rare keynote appearance by a screen legend," said Bill Gajda, Chief Marketing Officer of the GSMA. "As a champion of independent artists and their work, and as an advocate of innovation and risk taking in the film world, we can expect some forthright, refreshing and somewhat unexpected insights for the mobile world, especially in terms of opportunities for cinematic quality film on the small screen."
Redford will also appear at the GSMA's Global Mobile Awards night on Wednesday 13th February, introducing the GSMA's Mobile Entertainment category.
Mobile Backstage is produced by the GSMA in collaboration with The Nielsen Company and its leading entertainment industry magazines Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter. Both Mobile Backstage and the Global Mobile Awards will take place at Barcelona's National Palace in Montjuic, above the Mobile World Congress complex.
Tickets for both events event are available on a strictly limited basis due to capacity restraints at the National Palace. The GSMA advises visitors to book early to avoid disappointment.
About the Mobile World Congress:
The GSMA's Mobile World Congress and Mobile Asia Congress are the world's leading mobile communications conference and exhibition events, where top executives from mobile operators, equipment vendors, IT companies and entertainment providers meet to do business. In 2007, more than 50,000 people attended the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The Mobile World Congress in 2008 will take place at the Fira de Barcelona, Spain, between 11th and 14th February 2008.
For more information please visit http://www.mobileworldcongress.com
About the GSMA:
The GSM Association (GSMA) is the global trade association representing more than 700 GSM mobile phone operators across 218 countries and territories of the world. In addition, more than 200 manufacturers and suppliers support The Association's initiatives as key partners. The primary goals of the GSMA are to ensure mobile phones and wireless services work globally and are easily accessible, enhancing their value to individual customers and national economies, while creating new business opportunities for operators and their suppliers. The Association's members serve more than 2.5 billion customers - 85% of the world's mobile phone users.
Sundance Channel
Under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel is the television destination for independent-minded viewers seeking something different. Bold, uncompromising and irreverent, Sundance Channel offers audiences a diverse and engaging selection of films, documentaries, shorts and original programs, all unedited and commercial free. Launched in 1996, Sundance Channel is a venture of NBC Universal, CBS and Robert Redford. Sundance Channel operates independently of the non-profit Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, but shares the overall Sundance mission of encouraging artistic freedom of expression. Sundance Channel's website address is http://www.sundancechannel.com.
Sundance Institute
Founded by Robert Redford in 1981, Sundance Institute is dedicated to the development of artists of independent vision and the exhibition of their new work. Since its inception, the Institute has grown into an internationally recognized resource for filmmakers and other artists. Sundance Institute conducts national and international labs for filmmakers, screenwriters, composers, writers and theatre artists. The annual Sundance Film Festival, a major program of Sundance Institute, is held each January and is considered the premier showcase for American and international independent film.
The Institute supports non-fiction filmmakers through the Documentary Film Program by providing year-round support through the Sundance Documentary Fund and a series of programs that nurture their growth, encourage the exploration of innovative nonfiction storytelling and promote the exhibition of documentary films to a broader audience. Through the Sundance Institute Theatre Program, the Institute is committed to invigorating the national theatre movement with original and creative work and to nurturing the diversity of artistic expression among theatre artists. The Institute also maintains The Sundance Collection at UCLA, a unique archive of independent film.
The Sundance Institute's website is: http://www.sundance.org
About The Nielsen Company
The Nielsen Company is a global information and media company with leading market positions and recognized brands in marketing information (ACNielsen), media information (Nielsen Media Research), business publications (Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Adweek) and trade shows. The privately held company is active in more than 100 countries, with headquarters in Haarlem, the Netherlands, and New York, USA. For more information, please visit, http://www.nielsen.com.
SOURCE The GSM Association (GSMA)
CONTACT: Mark Smith or David Pringle, both of GSM Association,
press@gsm.org
Web site: http://www.mobileworldcongress.com
http://www.sundancechannel.com
http://www.sundance.org
http://www.nielsen.com
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