The TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) global conferences, owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, was founded in 1984 to disseminate "ideas worth spreading". It has licensed a new initiative called TEDx - a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers form the program to foster substantive discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = an independently organized TED event. At the April 7 TEDxCoimbatore, in Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, slated speakers include: Melinda Gates, Co-chair Bill-Melinda Gates Foundation, ranked #40 in Forbes magazine list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in 2008. Jayen Varma, Indian Slap

AFM is the anticipated, annual film event that's not quite festival, not quite conference, but mostly business opportunity — the business of independent motion picture production and distribution — set oceanside against Santa Monica beach. Generally, 8,000 industry leaders converge in Santa Monica for eight days of deal-making, screenings, seminars, networking and parties, right up till November 9. Participants come from over 70 countries and include acquisition and development executives, agents, attorneys, directors, distributors, festival directors, financiers, film commissioners, producers, writers, the world's press, and all those who provide services to the motion picture industry. Separate from the conference schedule, the AFM Industry Conversations are interactive and

It's an event which is held twice annually -- once in Colorado and again in Santa Barbara, California wine country. The Durango Songwriter's Expo gives artists and songwriters the opportunity to network with music supervisors, record labels, music publishers, and have music critiqued in listening sessions, sit in on industry panels and perform musical creations during the evening showcases. At this year's expo in Broomfield, October 6-8, each attendee gets three listening sessions, showcase or open mic opportunities, and full access to workshops and panels. The "Write With The Hitmaker" song contest will run again this year. Sticking with custom, registration is always limited to 200 attedees.

The Chicago International Film Festival, which will be staged October 6-20, is now in

A Meeting of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) will happen during the World Copyright Summit in Brussels, June 7-8. The occasion is an international and cross-industry event addressing the future of the creative community and the entertainment business in the digital economy. Some of the slated agenda addresses: legislation and dissemination of intellectual property and creative content, creation, licensing, usage, collective management, the value of creative works, the future of authors' rights, the role of creators and their collective management organizations.

Sheffield's DocFest is a documentary film industry event hosting an industry session program and marketplace, pitching opportunities, discussion panels and filmmaker masterclasses,

In Brooklyn, the 2011 Summer Series will feature more than 200 new films, all screened outdoors, in front of big audiences in the parks, on boats, and on rooftops. The festival screens comedies, dramas, experimental shorts, animation, videos, short and feature documentaries, political films, and home movies and found footage, as well as many of the  new independent narrative feature films. Live bands at free music events are scheduled during the series which runs until September 30.

The Festival of Animated Film in Stuttgart hosts directors, production companies, distributors and international sales companies to present their animated films in this competitive festival, now in its 18th year. Artistic animation films and the support of budding talents represent the core of

At this year’s Chicago International Film Festival, October 7-21, ‘Stone’, directed by John Curran, with Robert De Niro and Edward Norton, will be screened, and following the screening VIP ticket holders will be treated to a reception with a full bar and appetizers at theWit Hotel. The Awards Night on October 16, features cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and an awards presentation honoring this year’s winning filmmakers in the Main Competition, New Directors Competition, Docufest, Short Films, and Intercom competitions, set in the Pump Room of the Ambassador East Hotel.

In 2008, the Registry of Official World Records (Record Holders Republic) USA & UK, declared Bass guitarist Jayen Varma (www.facebook.com/jayenvarma) of Cochin, India, the world’s fastest for