Official Opening of Markham Museum’s New Collections Building

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-

The new building opens to the public during Applefest weekend

Markham ~ September 22, 2011 ~ On September 24, 2011, during Markham’s annual Applefest weekend, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Councillor Carolina Moretti, Members of Markham Council and Paul Calandra, M.P. for Oak Ridges-Markham will officially open to the public the Markham Museum’s new $9-milllion, 17,000 square foot LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold standard Collections Building. It is one of the first in Canada built to these standards and is a benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance “green” buildings.

This new facility was made possible with funding support from Markham and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage. It is a significant investment in culture in Markham and will strengthen the Museum’s role as a major regional attraction.

WHEN:           Saturday, September 24, 2011

                        1 p.m.

                        Photo Opportunity – 1:30 p.m. Ribbon Cutting & Toast

WHERE:         Markham Museum

New Collections Building

                        9350 Highway 48 (Markham Rd.)

Markham

WHO:              Mayor Frank Scarpitti

                        Councillor Carolina Moretti

Paul Calandra, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and M.P. Oak Ridges-Markham

                        Museum Board Members

                        Friends of the Markham Museum

RSVP:             media@markham.ca

Award winning September 11-themed documentary producer featured on Fox Network for 9/11 anniversary

Producer for award winning “The Cross and The Towers” documentary speaks on film’s controversy

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Sep 06, 2011 - Montreal, Canada – A legal battle  has taken center stage between New York city officials and atheist interest group American Atheists Inc. over  two charred metal beams in the form of a ‘cross’ which were rescued from the twin towers rubble at ground zero.  Scott Perkins, executive producer of “The Cross and The Towers” documentary shares his story with Megan Kelly at Fox and Fox and Friends, in anticipation of the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City . During critical rescue operations,  the contentious beams were alleged to have been a spontaneous source of inspiration to certain firefighters and first-responders at the scene, a position which has angered an atheist group seeking an injunction against the display of the “cross” during the highly anticipated memorial service at Ground Zero, to be attended by President Obama and other notable officials.

View trailer here:
http://411films.com/the-cross-and-the-towers-instant-str ...

“The proposed lawsuit appears to hinge on the frustration of an atheist interest group with regards to purported religious symbols like the steel cross being included in a memorial such as 9/11.  The film 'The Cross and Towers' in fact tells the story of how more than a few of  New York’s firemen and policemen drew strength for a few moments between moments of panic, from this unlikeliest of Christian symbols perched amid the wreckage of the twin towers. The pieces of metal have since been included in a range of memorials marking the tragedy. To be frank, as the international distributor of the film, I am happy to announce the controversy has attracted a lot of attention from worldwide TV and DVD outlets which we work with: says Dan Shannon, of ID Communications, the films international TV distributor.

“When we made this film it won prizes and was recognized at several international film festivals. Now on the eve of the 10th anniversary at ground zero, I think we have the only authoritative and complete re-telling of the story behind the cross at ground zero. Today if the lawsuit serves as a platform to allow the stories of these bravest of American men and women to be heard by a wider audience, we feel it will have served a noble purpose” says the film’s producer Scott Perkins of Crossing Hollow Films. We are pleased to be receiving this much attention on the eve of the 10th anniversary for our story.

The 54-minute documentary won Audience Choice Award at Palm Beach International Festival, Best Film at Gloria Film Festival, Crystal Heart at Heartland Film Festival and finalist in USA Film Festival.

To see the trailer or to view the entire film online at 411films.com
http://411films.com/the-cross-and-the-towers-instant-str ...

About the Executive Producer
Mr. Scott Perkins is an award winning executive producer with of quality feature films and documentaries for international audiences.

About 411Films.com
411films.com is an independent film distribution online destination for specialty independent documentaries and feature films.

Prita Chhabra to Perform in Milton, Ft. Lauderdale

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Fresh off a live performance on CBS Tampa's morning talk show "Studio 10" in Florida, recording artist Prita Chhabra will be back in Canada to perform at Milton's Low Key Fest on August 27th at Karlovac Park.

Prita will then return to Florida to perform at Florida's biggest annual South Asian festival, IndoPak Fest, taking place September 18 at Ft. Lauderdale beach.
Prita was also recently chosen "artist of the day" by the Tampa Bay Times newspaper, and was interviewed for “The Ron Seggi Show” at Universal Studios in Orlando. Known as the “Tonight Show” of radio with over 15,000 celebrity interviews to date, “The Ron Seggi Show” broadcasts to over 1,100 radio stations around the world, including Armed Forces Radio.

Pic by Projected Life Photography

Toronto author, KAREN LEFAVE, launches novel

Toronto author, KAREN LEFAVE, launches novel one in her debut PSI-fi series, Nemecene, The Epoch of Redress, at The Gladstone Hotel, on Wednesday, September 21st, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Please join author Karen Lefave as she introduces you to a new genre of science fiction she aptly names PSI-fi, where the physical, spiritual, and intellectual facets of humanity synergistically combine, as they do in everyday life, to create a dynamic, mysterious, and ingenious futuristic world in her debut series called Nemecene.  

Come to The Gladstone Hotel’s North Ballroom, at 1214 Queen St West, on Wednesday Sept 21st, 6:30-8:30 PM to enjoy a reading from Nemecene, The Epoch of Redress, entertainment, refreshments, and Karen’s personalized signature on your hot new copy ($15.95 + HST).

In Nemecene, The Epoch of Redress, Earth has been retaliating against her greatest nemesis, the human race, for centuries.  Since 2048, repeated geoengineering attempts have failed, and now the very soul of life, water, is compromised.  Twin siblings, Keeto and Elize, and a third mysterious presence, Nathruyu, open their minds to you as their adventures entwine under the oppressive regime of The Unification.  Will the twins find the answers that they seek in time to save Elize from suffering her mother’s fate?  Or will the questioning lead them down a dangerous path where treachery, lies, and deceit reside?

Christa Couture Returns With Two New EP's!

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Jul 09, 2011 – CHRISTA COUTURE: FEARLESS & QUIRKY GRACE ON LOVED and LOST + July Tour Dates

"... [With a] gorgeously intimate voice - somewhere between the tough vulnerability of Amy Rigby and the passionate, sophisticated folk of Joni Mitchell - Christa Couture sings with heart-on-sleeve intensity."  - PopMatters

If it feels like you’ve been bombarded with Vancouver based artists lately there’s a good reason for it: The City of Glass keeps cranking out quality musicians with diverse musical visions at an alarming rate. Take Christa Couture, for example. From the start she established herself as a fearless and razor-sharp songwriter comfortable enough in her own skin not to shy away from delivering brave lyrics with effortless, quirky grace and heart-on-sleeve intensity. Though Christa has been on a two year hiatus, luckily for us, she’s returning to work (and form) with the digital release of two brand spanking new EP’s this July: Loved and Lost.

Since her critically acclaimed debut Fell Out Of Oz (2005), and her sophomore effort, The Wedding Singer and the Undertaker (2008), Christa Couture has continued to sharpen her quill, along with her penchant for biting wit and an innate gauge for how deep to plumb the emotional seas of her personal experiences. These first two albums saw Couture developing as a multi-instrumentalist, stretching her limits as a songwriter and, guided by Vancouver producer Futcher, on her sophomore effort in particular, acquainting herself with dense production and orchestration that saw the inclusion of horns and strings. Not surprisingly, The Wedding Singer and the Undertaker hit the Top 10 on CBC Radio 3 and won "Best Folk Acoustic Album" and nominated for "Best Female Artist" at the 2008 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, including performing at the awards gala at Toronto’s Rogers Centre. In addition, she recently played at the 2011 JUNOFest in Toronto, "Brief Encounters 16" in Vancouver, and joined chamber-pop quartet E.S.L. and electro-cellist Cris Derksen on five B.C. tour dates in April.

To say we are pleased to have Couture back and composing is an understatement. Loved features five stunning fan favourites, while Lost is a delectable, eclectic mix of five unreleased songs from the same time period: an alternately arranged song, three tracks from a previously unreleased side project, and an early demo of one of Couture’s first songs. In other words, something for critics, fans and newbies alike.

Download Loved and Lost from http://christacouture.com for free (or by donation).

JULY DATES
July 8-10:Winnipeg, MB @ Winnipeg Folk Fest
July 16: Edmonton, AB @ The Haven Social Club, Edmonton
July 22-24: Brandon, MB @ Brandon Folk Fest
July 26: Vancouver, BC @ The Railway Club, Vancouver

http://christacouture.com
http://www.facebook.com/officialchristacouture
http://twitter.com/christacouture

Anchor Baby feature film premieres in Canada in Home Town debut

Immigration thriller "Anchor Baby" set for Canadian theatrical premiere in Toronto's Albion Cinema

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Jul 08, 2011 – Canadian produced feature film “Anchor Baby” an immigration thriller written directed and produced by  Lonzo Nzekwe is set to open in Toronto's Albion Cinema.

The plotline is as follows: Married, illegal immigrant couple Joyce (Omoni Oboli) and Paul Unanga (Sam Sarpong) are ordered to leave the U.S. but choose to go in hiding instead. They are waiting for Joyce who is five months pregnant, to deliver the baby to guarantee automatic U.S. citizenship for their child. When Paul is caught and deported by agent Mark Castello (Michael Scratch), Joyce is left to struggle on her own to accomplish their dream.

The film features Nollywood star Omoni Oboli (Figurine, Guilty Pleasures), Ghanaian-raised LA-based Sam Sarpong (Street Kings, The Dedd Brothers, Keeping Up with the Steins), Canadian actress/songwriter Terri Oliver and Canadian actor/model Michael Scratch (The Body Machine, Forensic Science). It grossed over 150,000 USD in Nigeria, making it the 3rd highest earning Nigerian movie in Nigeria cinemas after a 10 week run.

Speaking of his choice to cast lead actress Omoni Oboli, writer-director-producer Lonzo Nzekwe said, “That decision is one of the best decisions I made in the earlier stages of production. I wanted someone who could transform the script and bring it to life. When I watched a few of Omoni’s movies… that’s when I decided she was the one.”

“Anchor Baby” won Best Film and Best Actress at the Harlem Film Festival, the Emerging 20 award at the Reelworld Film Festival, the Award of Merit at the Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood and the official selection of the Africa International Film Festival.

"The film represents a new wave of emerging filmmakers with special appeal to the vast Nigerian diaspora audience, which blend Nigerian culture elements with a strong  North American cinematic style.  The films thus cater to a wide audience around the world." says Dan Shannon of ID Communications, the films international sales agent.