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The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills has announced additional attractions for its 2026-2027 season, and that includes Passing the Crown: Celebrating the Queens of Hip-Hop, a live orchestral mixtape and dance experience.The production makes its Los Angeles premiere on January 29, 2027, and will feature the groundbreaking and influential MC Lyte. Besides being the first female MC to release a solo hip-hop album, and the first hip-hop artist to perform at the White House, her claims to fame include 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, two-time GRAMMY Award nominee, and multiple Gold and Platinum recording artist. See thewallis.org/show-details/passing-the-crown-celebrating-the-queens-of-hip-hop for more information.
It’s a big day for any community when it launches a new film-music festival, and this one has a special focus on films in which music drives the story. The inaugural Niagara International Music Film Festival, “founded on the belief that when sound and image truly unite, cinema evolves into a deeper and more transformative artistic experience,” will be held September 17-20 at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in Canada. With film screenings, industry programs and live performances, the event aims to unite artists, filmmakers and audiences from around the world. Filmmakers and composers will be recognized for their work, with categories including Best Director, Original Score, Documentary, Short Film, Student Film, and more. Learn more about the experience and contact its organizers at nimff.org.
After three years held in Brooklyn, the fourth annual Caribbean Music Awards (CMA)—a yearly celebration of Caribbean music, dance and culture—is making history this year by bringing the event to Trinidad and Tobago for the very first time in an effort to highlight the diversity and global influence of Caribbean music. The awards ceremony is set for September 19 at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain. Among the awards categories is Video of the Year, with subcategories in both soca and dancehall—two distinct genres in Caribbean music. Attendees can expect a weekend of dance and live performances, and while it’s too late to vote, see the 250+ nominees and get the details at caribmusicawards.com.
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The final deadline is September 27 to submit your work to the Munich Music Video Awards, an international music video festival celebrating creativity, visual storytelling and new talent from around the world. With every submission, you get access to festival screenings and live events, network opportunities with industry professionals and creators, the chance to have your video screened and international exposure. Learn more and submit at mmvawards.com/submit-your-video.
Got a music video you want to see in the 2027 SXSW Film & TV Festival, Austin’s world-renowned annual conference held in March? You’ve got until September 15 to meet the second deadline ($70 submission fee) and October 1 to meet the final deadline ($90 submission fee). For rules and submission guidelines, visit cart.sxsw.com/products/musicvideoapp.
Applications are open for Steps Beyond Foundation’s fall choreography lab, which is slated for November 15. Choreographers have until October 5 to apply. The lab focuses on building community among emerging and established choreographers and welcomes completed dance pieces in ballet, commercial, contemporary, fusion, hip hop, indigenous/ceremonial dance, jazz, modern, performance art, tap, theater dance, urban and world dance. Visit stepsbeyond.org for details.
