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Taiwan’s TCCF 2022 Drives $32 Million Growth in Asia Content Market

Taiwan Creative Content Agency

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Media OutReach - 16 November 2022 - A record-setting 60 thousand visits were recorded at the third edition of TCCF (Taiwan Creative Content Fest), exceeding the previous year’s footfall by twofold. The organizer, TAICCA (Taiwan Creative Content Agency) attributes this increase, in part, to the extension of TCCF’s program from 5 to 11 days, and to the expanded pitching program with greater participation from international buyers. Nearly 100 events were held throughout the 11-day festival, including exhibitions and performances that opened to the public throughout, attracting bumper crowds. PITCHING A total of 42 original projects were pitched at TCCF 2022, attracting online and offline buyers from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, Spain, France and Canada. Among the 42 pitches, 24 were paneled by a delegation from Series Mania, Europe’s largest festival, forum and school, dedicated to series. This followed an agreement, signed between TAICCA and Series Mania earlier this year, to facilitate co-production between Taiwan and Europe. They selected a series titled JUDOKA, which tells the true story of a washed-up judo athlete from Taiwan, who falls in love with a gold-medal judo athlete from North Korea. JUDOKA will be presented on the Taiwan pavilion at Series Mania 2023, which takes place from March 21 to 23. According to the producers, Y.C. Tom Lee and Jae Yang, their project is already backed by the South Korean production company, Hanmac Culture Group, and recently caught the attention of another production company based in Serbia. MARKET A key content marketplace in Asia, TCCF 2022 gathered 133 exhibitors from Taiwan and the surrounding region. More than 100 international online and offline buyers visited the Market, which featured 812 titles - mostly by Taiwanese creators. The organizer, TAICCA is optimistic about growth in the Asia content marketplace, estimating a projected value in excess of 1 billion TWD from leads generated at the TCCF 2022 Market. Taiwanese production company, Screenworks Asia exhibited some of its popular titles, including drama series The Making of An Ordinary Woman 2. The company’s Senior Planner in Content Production, Echo Ku saw great value in how TCCF 2022 brought together professionals from different areas of the entertainment industry in one place. Ku discovered valuable, cross-domain opportunities in music and gaming, plus she received practical feedback from international and domestic collaborators. INNOVATIONS Open to the public throughout all 11 days of TCCF 2022, Innovations aimed to inspire visitors with the future of content creation. It featured 26 exhibitors from USA, Japan, France and Taiwan, displaying 19 individual XR, interactive projection, and NFT works. Within the Innovations space, Stereo staged “future of music” performances from 42 groups, collaborating in 33 shows, across 3 main stages. Lighting technology, modern dance, contemporary circus performance, film projection, live podcast, and other performing arts were combined to create an avant-garde spectacle. Taiwanese indie rock band, Sorry Youth performed on a four-sided stage at the Stereo event, offering their audience a multitude of experiential perspectives. The band say they’ve noticed a resurgence of interest in live music, and highlighted their intention to bring new technologies into their live performances. FORUM The TCCF 2022 Forum featured an international lineup of 45 speakers. Asia Contents Producer in the Video Streaming Department at Japan's Rakuten TV, Kim Kyoung-eun joined a Spotlight event about BL (Boy’s Love) drama, addressing how Taiwanese BL content creators can find a niche in the global market. Kim was excited to share that the number of viewers of Taiwanese BL dramas in Japan has increased 25 times since 2018. She believes this trend can continue, so long as the production quality remains high. CEO of Singapore’s Star Ritz International Entertainment, Angie Chai joined an Industry Talk on Emerging Investment Opportunities in the Content Industry. She spoke about the paradigm shift from local television audiences to global OTT audiences. According to Chai, the biggest emerging investment opportunity is in content created for OTT. About TCCF TCCF (Taiwan Creative Content Fest) is a key content marketplace in Asia, gathering selected entertainment content from Taiwan, and bringing buyers and professionals from all over the world to Taipei. TCCF offers diverse events like pitching sessions, content and music showcases, forum panels, and immersive experiences to connect you with promising stories, fundings, and global partners. Stay tuned to the official website [www.tccf.tw] and social media for news about next year’s events. Contact Details DDG Daniel Cunningham +886 905 980 644 daniel.cunningham@ddg.com.tw TAICCA Maggie Yang +886 2 2745 8186 maggie.y@taicca.tw

November 16, 2022 05:18 AM Eastern Standard Time

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CO2oons! NEW WEB3 CLIMATE CHANGE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LAUNCHES at COP27: The UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE

CO2oons

November 15, 2022 - Co-Founder & CEO, David Villaseñor, and Co-Founder Matteo Petrelli, today announced the launch of CO2oons, a new company born with the goal of changing the way people think about, and engage, with the climate change conversation. CO2oons will partner and collaborate with the world’s top brands to create consumer products, educational initiatives, films, serial content and events all centered around the company’s original IP: a population of creatures living in Earth’s near future, that have evolved out of the effects of climate change and are now the only living things on the planet. David Villaseñor, Co-Founder & CEO said: “The core of our idea is this: we will use entertainment to build a mainstream, recognized global brand in the climate arena that will inspire and connect with audiences in a way that only beloved characters and stories are able to do. We must find new and innovative ways to attract people to become involved in the fight to save our planet, and we believe that making the conversation entertaining could be an important part of the solution.” CO2oons’ leadership team includes: Co-founder & CEO David Villaseñor, also serving as Director of Operations of Earth Uprising International, a global youth-led climate justice organization founded by his daughter, internationally recognized teenage climate activist Alexandria Villaseñor; Pete Johnson, Co-founder & Chief Creative and Marketing Officer, most recently Global Head of Creative at The LEGO Agency; Ahmet Can, Co-founder & COO, 20-year veteran of the start-up world having scaled several global organizations with three successful exits; and Matteo Petrelli, Co-founder and CEO of Exeest, a leading B2B platform for licensing/purchasing of film and TV rights. The announcement was made from the stage during the CO2oons hosted panel, “ Blockchain, Climate, Corporations and Regulations” at The Earth Day Pavillion during the COP27 conference. CO2oons brought together panelists Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr, CEO of Hip Hop Caucus and Senior Advisor of Bloomberg Philanthropies; AY Young, climate activist, producer, singer and entrepreneur; and Miles Austin, CEO of Hyphen Global AG, Managing Director of CPG Capital to discuss the intersections, the misconceptions, the upcoming regulations and the potential possibilities Web3 can bring to climate change. Panelists shared perspectives on the role of Fortune 500 companies and what they could be doing to help fight the climate crisis, the real impacts that Blockchains have and will have in the environmental space, and the role that entertainment and a more engaging way of communicating can have. CO2oons is hosting a second panel on November 17th at 11am GMT+2 at the Earth Day Pavillion: “CO2oons! Bringing the Youth Climate Movement to Web3”, featuring Steve Wallace, Official Institutions & Advocacy, Global Lead at Polygon Technology; Alexandria Villasenōr, Co-founder of U.S. Climate Strikes and Earth Uprising International; Seb Lindner, co-founder of Web3daily; and Matteo Petrelli, co-founder of Co2oons. Both panels can be viewed here. The idea behind CO2oons is to create an imaginary world that can attract and entertain global audiences, using many forms of storytelling, and help raise awareness about the status of our climate (in a fun and engaging way!) With CO2oons, we’ve created an IP that will first launch as an NFT collection and then evolve to become much more. We will partner and collaborate with the world’s top brands to create consumer products, educational initiatives, films, serial content, events and much more. We want our creatures everywhere, raising awareness and inspiring action not just from NGOs, activists and a small group of corporations, but from the largest audience possible. We believe that by making the conversation fun we will be able to reach a broader audience and to capture the interest of more people, in a more personal and active way. Contact Details CO2oons Lauren Hurvitz laurenhurvitz@gmail.com Company Website https://co2oons.com/

November 15, 2022 03:26 PM Eastern Standard Time

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2022 Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot Returns in Person with 15,000+ Registrants

Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation

The Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot, America’s largest Thanksgiving Day race, returns in person on this year’s Thanksgiving holiday. The Turkey Trot has donated more than $11 million to date in support of local charities. More than 15,000 registrants are expected to participate in person and virtually this year. This year’s Turkey Trot will feature thousands of entrants running, walking or jogging the course in person on Thanksgiving morning. There are several events to choose from with the 5K and 10K runs and walks, along with a Kids Fun Run and a costume contest. Elite runners, joggers, and walkers enjoy the downtown San Jose course, which is flat, fast, and flows through local neighborhoods and business areas. This year’s event will continue to offer the flexibility of a virtual race anytime between November 24-30. WHEN & WHERE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2022 Start Time: 8:30 AM Location: Downtown San Jose, W. Santa Clara Street and 1st Street Note: Media opportunities with Ahmad Thomas, CEO of SVLG and Executive Director of the SVLG Foundation, will be available upon request. Please email press@svlg.org to register and request an interview. “The Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot has become a beloved Thanksgiving tradition, raising millions to support our most vulnerable families in San Jose and across the region. I’m delighted to see the race return in person this year and can’t wait to see everyone in person on race day,” said San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo. “We are delighted that the 18th Annual Turkey Trot returns to an in-person event this year,” said Silicon Valley Leadership Foundation Chairwoman Sonu Ratra. “ We’re proud that we’ve raised more than $11 million over the history of the Turkey Trot. During this time of increasing economic uncertainty, it’s more important than ever that our Silicon Valley community – and our friends beyond the Bay Area – participate by walking, running, or supporting the event through their financial pledges.” "As a founder of the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot, Applied Materials couldn’t be more excited to see this important event bring people back together to support our community," said Joe Pon, Corporate Vice President, Applied Materials, Inc. “Through the hardest days of the pandemic, the race moved online to raise vitally needed funds for the community, and we’re very much looking forward to seeing everyone on the starting line on Thanksgiving morning to keep this tradition going strong.” Beneficiaries of the Turkey Trot include: Second Harvest Silicon Valley, The Health Trust, Healthier Kids Foundation, and Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County. For more information and to register, please visit: http://svturkeytrot.com/. About the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation The Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. The Foundation works to improve the quality of life in the region by raising and distributing funds for food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education and other needs. For more information, please visit: svlg.org/foundation. ### Contact Details Silicon Valley Leadership Group Laura Wilkinson - SVP, Head of Communications +1 669-319-2857 press@svlg.org

November 15, 2022 12:00 PM Pacific Standard Time

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Extreme Weather Puts Strain on Dairy Cows Across The Globe, Is Plant-Milk the Answer?

MarketJar

Extreme weather conditions across the globe are putting a strain on dairy cows, drying up milk production and withering crops that feed the cattle. Heat and drought in India, Australia and France are threatening long-term global dairy supply, including everything from butter to baby formula. Due to extreme weather brought on by climate change, some of the world's largest milk-producing regions are becoming less hospitable to these animals: Cows produce less milk when stressed by high temperatures, and arid conditions and storms exacerbate the problem by withering or destroying the grass and other crops they eat. In fact, some scientists predict that climate change will cost the dairy industry around $2.2 billion per year by the end of the century in the United States alone. According to another study, if greenhouse gas emissions remain high, the dairy and meat industries could lose $39.94 billion per year to heat stress by that same date. Fortunately, new and innovative alternative milk products are being developed for the market and consumers have been responding well. Plant-Based Milk Market Continues to Gain Steam Alternative dairy and plant-based milk are not new, but they have continued to rise in popularity over the years. In 2022, the plant-based milk market reached $38.9 billion after doubling in the previous five years. And over the next decade, the global market is expected to quadruple. As the market grows and evolves, new plant-based milk formulations are replacing old ones as consumer favorites. Soy milk was popular at first, but it gave way to almond milk. Now, oat milk is rapidly gaining popularity. Even as oat milk becomes more popular, a new plant-based milk trend is emerging: sesame milk. Some of the key factors behind the market's growth are the rising prevalence of dairy intolerance, as well as growing concern for the planet. Add to that increasing consumer awareness of the health of animals, and it’s easy to see why the plant-based milk industry is expected to continue rising in the coming years. Of course, alternatives like almond milk still take a toll on the planet due to high water usage and damage to bee populations. Luckily, there are new alternatives like sesame milk, which uses 95% less water compared to almond milk and thrives in arid climates around the globe, from South America to Africa to Asia. As consumers become more environmentally conscious, The Planting Hope Company Inc. (TSXV:MYLK) (OTCQB:MYLKF ) is gaining attention. The Planting Hope Company Inc. (TSXV:MYLK) (OTCQB:MYLKF) creates, introduces, and grows distinctively innovative plant-based and environmentally responsible food and beverage brands. Planting Hope 's innovative and award-winning products meet critical needs in the exploding plant-based food and beverage market. This rapidly growing company is focused on producing plant-based milk made from sustainable and highly nutritious sesame. The company's Sesame Milk has received numerous awards and nominations. Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk is just one of four fast-growing food and beverage brands owned by this company. The Planting Hope brand family includes RightRice® Veggie Rice, Mozaics(™) Real Veggie Chips, and Veggicopia® Veggie Snacks in addition to Hope and Sesame® (Sesamemilk and Barista Blend Sesamemilk). Planting Hope is a women-managed and women-led business with a focus on nutrition, sustainability, and diversity, founded by seasoned food industry entrepreneurs. Planting Hope Launches RightRice in Walmart Stores Across Canada The Planting Hope Company has already established and is expanding its relationships with major North American retailers and distributors, with products available in 8,500+ grocery stores and 50,000+ distribution points, including Whole Foods, Kroger, Sprouts Farmers Market, and others. The company has continued to execute its business plan since the beginning of 2022, expanding its core products in key channels as well as setting up new products and distribution that will reach scale in 2023. Earlier today, Planting Hope announced that its RightRice® Veggie Rice brand is launching in 180 Walmart stores across Canada, representing 720 new total distribution points (TDP). This marks the second major product launch in the Canadian market in the fourth quarter. “Walmart is an exciting place to launch RightRice in dual-language packaging to Canadian customers,” said Matt LeBeau, founder and CEO of LeBeau Excel Ltd., the company’s retail broker of record in Canada. “Walmart is increasing its focus on delivering plant-based and sustainable products to its shoppers, given increasing demand from Canadians for more nutritious and delicious food and beverages, and RightRice is a strong fit for that mission.” Planting Hope also recently announced the addition of RightRice® Veggie Rice and Hope and Sesame® Sesamemilk to Dot Foods, Inc.'s product line. The biggest foodservice re-distributor in North America, Dot, will soon stock award-winning Hope and Sesame® Barista Blend Sesamemilk in 32 oz shelf-stable cartons and Original RightRice® Veggie Rice in bulk 20lb bags. Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk Now Available in 382 Loblaw Stores in Canada in Dual-Language Packaging On November 8, Planting Hope launched its Hope and Sesame® Sesamemilk line in Canada with Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada's top grocery retailer. Hope and Sesame® Sesamemilk will be available in 382 Loblaw stores across Canada in November 2022 in Canadian-compliant dual-language packaging under multiple banners, including Loblaws, Fortinos, and Provigo. Packaged in shelf-stable 946ml (32oz) cartons in three flavors (Barista Blend Sesamemilk, Original Sesamemilk, and Unsweetened Original Sesamemilk), Hope and Sesame® Sesamemilk is now available in the plant milk section of Loblaw stores. Hope and Sesame® Sesamemilk offers Canadians delicious plant-based milk with vitamin, mineral, and protein content comparable to dairy milk. For more information on The Planting Hope Company (TSXV:MYLK) (OTCQB:MYLKF), please visit this link or their website at https://plantinghopecompany.com. Disclaimer 1) The author of the Article, or members of the author’s immediate household or family, do not own any securities of the companies set forth in this Article. The author determined which companies would be included in this article based on research and understanding of the sector. 2) The Article was issued on behalf of and sponsored by, The Planting Hope Company Inc. Market Jar Media Inc. has or expects to receive from The Planting Hope Company Inc.’s Digital Marketing Agency of Record (Native Ads Inc.) eighty eight thousand and seven hundred and eighty USD for 25 days (19 business days). 3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not Market Jar Media Inc., its directors or officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Market Jar Media Inc. for this Article. Market Jar Media Inc. was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this Article. Market Jar has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of Market Jar or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Market Jar Media Inc. requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Market Jar Media Inc. relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Market Jar Media Inc. has no means of verifying its accuracy. Market Jar Media Inc.’s terms of use and full legal disclaimer as set forth here. This Article is not a solicitation for investment. Market Jar Media Inc. does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on PressReach.com should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Market Jar Media Inc. does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on PressReach.com. 5) Market Jar Media Inc. and its respective directors, officers and employees hold no shares for any company mentioned in the Article. 6) This document contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, (collectively, “forward-looking statements”), which reflect management’s expectations regarding The Planting Hope Company Inc.’s future growth, future business plans and opportunities, expected activities, and other statements about future events, results or performance. Wherever possible, words such as “predicts”, “projects”, “targets”, “plans”, “expects”, “does not expect”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “anticipate” or “does not anticipate”, “believe”, “intend” and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative or grammatical variation thereof or other variations thereof, or comparable terminology have been used to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to: (a) revenue generating potential with respect to The Planting Hope Company Inc.’s industry; (b) market opportunity; (c) The Planting Hope Company Inc.’s business plans and strategies; (d) services that The Planting Hope Company Inc. intends to offer; (e) The Planting Hope Company Inc.s milestone projections and targets; (f) The Planting Hope Company Inc.s expectations regarding receipt of approval for regulatory applications; (g) The Planting Hope Company Inc.s intentions to expand into other jurisdictions including the timeline expectations relating to those expansion plans; and (h) The Planting Hope Company Inc.s expectations with regarding its ability to deliver shareholder value. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management’s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this document including, without limitation, assumptions about: (a) the ability to raise any necessary additional capital on reasonable terms to execute The Planting Hope Company Inc.’s business plan; (b) that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; (c) The Planting Hope Company Inc.’s ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; (d) The Planting Hope Company Inc.s ability to enter into contractual arrangements with additional Pharmacies; (e) the accuracy of budgeted costs and expenditures; (f) The Planting Hope Company Inc.s ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; (g) political and regulatory stability; (h) the receipt of governmental, regulatory and third-party approvals, licenses and permits on favorable terms; (i) changes in applicable legislation; (j) stability in financial and capital markets; and (k) expectations regarding the level of disruption to as a result of CV-19. Such forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of The Planting Hope Company Inc.. to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: (a) The Planting Hope Company Inc.s operations could be adversely affected by possible future government legislation, policies and controls or by changes in applicable laws and regulations; (b) public health crises such as CV-19 may adversely impact PThe Planting Hope Company Inc.’s business; (c) the volatility of global capital markets; (d) political instability and changes to the regulations governing The Planting Hope Company Inc.’s business operations (e) The Planting Hope Company Inc. may be unable to implement its growth strategy; and (f) increased competition. Except as required by law, The Planting Hope Company Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future event or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Neither does The Planting Hope Company Inc. nor any of its representatives make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the information in this document. Neither The Planting Hope Company Inc. nor any of its representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust or otherwise, to you or any person resulting from the use of the information in this document by you or any of your representatives or for omissions from the information in this document. 7) Any graphs, tables or other information demonstrating the historical performance or current or historical attributes of The Planting Hope Company Inc. or any other entity contained in this document are intended only to illustrate historical performance or current or historical attributes of The Planting Hope Company Inc. or such entities and are not necessarily indicative of future performance of The Planting Hope Company Inc. or such entities. Contact Details James Young +1 800-340-9767 campaigns@pressreach.com Company Website https://pressreach.com

November 15, 2022 06:30 AM Pacific Standard Time

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World Champion Fantasy Signs First-Ever Strategic Esports Data and Streaming Partnership with Edgio

World Champion Fantasy

World Champion Fantasy (WCF), the world’s first online fantasy esports platform, announced a strategic esports partnership with Edgio to power the upcoming release of PlayerX. The exclusive partnership will leverage Edgio’s industry-leading Uplynk platform that enables World Champion Fantasy to go to market quickly with PlayerX and scale operations with a fraction of the resources. For the first time, streaming video will be synced with player data (e.g., kills, headshots) from esports tournaments. Player and team statistics will automatically be tagged, cataloged, and uploaded as searchable video clips -- allowing fans on World Champion Fantasy’s upcoming platform, PlayerX, to stream, promote, and share esports highlights as they happen. World Champion Fantasy’s PlayerX is an innovative platform combining elements of traditional fantasy sports with esports. PlayerX allows fans to assemble a dream team of esport athletes and then live stream games that simultaneously display insights and stats. PlayerX elevates the traditional fantasy sports experience by enabling fans to customize interactive avatars and theme music, providing expansive chat capabilities, and more. Another appealing feature is that PlayerX subscribers no longer have to search multiple platforms for the most up-to-date information and highlights of their favorite streamers and athletes. These features are available on one non-gambling platform suitable for all ages. “This is a big deal for the future of fantasy sports -- and Edgio understood this vision. This partnership puts the fantasy sports user experience front and center, utilizing data, engagement insights, and streaming capabilities to deliver dynamic and engaging fan experiences,” said Mike Vela, CEO of World Champion Fantasy. “The fantasy experience is one-dimensional, with users simply interacting with text and numbers. By incorporating real-time stats and video into our PlayerX platform, users can flex and troll their opponents, search and watch the best clips and share highlights with their friends and followers.” “Working with World Champion Fantasy, Edgio will provide our industry-leading technology and streaming solutions to one of the fastest growing and influential market segments - esports. This collaboration will help us better understand the needs and behaviors of our esports streaming customers and use those insights to improve our products and services,” said Bob Lyons, Edgio CEO. WCF’s PlayerX will officially launch fantasy games for Valorant and CSGO in Q1 2023, and later in 2023 will incorporate League of Legends and Call of Duty. For more information, please visit WorldChampionFantasy.com. About World Champion Fantasy World Champion Fantasy is the next generation of fantasy sports as the first platform of its kind pairing best-in-class technology and UX with the most exclusive content in esports. We are at the future of fantasy and at the forefront of the evolving esports industry creating an immersive real-time interactive competitive experience, live data and video feeds all on one platform. For more information on World Champion Fantasy, please visit: https://worldchampionfantasy.com Contact Details HPL Digital Sport for WCF Sterling Randle +1 801-319-6153 srandle@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://worldchampionfantasy.com/

November 15, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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ESA Names Aubrey Quinn as SVP, Communications & Public Affairs

The Entertainment Software Association

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) today announced that Aubrey Quinn has joined the ESA as Senior Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs, reporting to President and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis. Quinn will be responsible for leading the trade association’s integrated communications efforts to showcase the video game industry’s growing impact on people, culture and the economy. “We could not be more excited about harnessing Aubrey’s expertise, vision and energy to amplify the positive impact of video games in society and in our daily lives,” Pierre-Louis said. “Aubrey’s experience will be invaluable in helping consumers and policymakers alike understand the pivotal role video games play as the leading form of entertainment today.” Quinn joins the ESA with nearly 20 years of communications and public affairs experience. Most recently, she served as Partner & Chief Operating Officer at Clyde Group, during which she provided strategic counsel to the ESA as an agency partner. Her earlier career included roles at boutique agencies and at organizations such as Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, where she helped introduce the national campaign for Extra Life. She serves on the board of Generation Hope, a non-profit organization that seeks to ensure teen and student parents can experience economic mobility through educational opportunities. Quinn is also the recipient of several prominent industry awards, including the Ragan's Top Women in Communications award, the PRovoke Innovator 25 list, Washington Business Journal's 40 under 40 and PRNews’ Top Women in PR. “The video game industry is leading the world in innovative and interactive entertainment, while solidifying its role as a force for social good, economic growth and development,” Quinn said. “We will continue telling the stories of the creatives, designers, developers and others who — through their incredible work and new game experiences — are helping to elevate the role of play in the way we engage and interact with one another.” This news comes as the video game player community continues to expand. The ESA’s 2022 Essential Facts About the Video Game Industry report, released earlier this year, found that 97% of all Americans value the benefits of video games. More than 65% of Americans play video games — which translates to more than 215.5 million players from all walks of life. For more information on the ESA’s policy priorities and how the video game industry is driving economic opportunity, visit https://www.theesa.com/. About the ESA The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) serves as the voice and advocate for the U.S. video game industry. Its members are the innovators, creators, publishers and business leaders that are reimagining entertainment and transforming how we interact, learn, connect and play. The ESA works to expand and protect the dynamic marketplace for video games through innovative and engaging initiatives that showcase the positive impact of video games on people, culture and the economy. For more information, visit the ESA’s website or follow the ESA on Twitter @theESA. Contact Details Karen Elliott +1 202-223-2400 kelliott@theESA.com Company Website https://www.theesa.com/

November 15, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Hong Kong Baptist University Global University Film Awards 2022 presents Gold Award to France’s Le Fresnoy

Hong Kong Baptist University

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 14 November 2022 - Organised by the Academy of Film (AF) at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), the Global University Film Awards (GUFA) 2022 held its magnificent award presentation ceremony in virtual mode on 11 November. The entry from France's Le Fresnoy clinched the Gold Award. The full list of winners is attached in the Appendix. Dr Clement Chen shares the delights of seeing GUFA held for the third time in his opening remarks at the award presentation ceremony. This year's award presentation ceremony was broadcast live in online format in a wonderfully designed cinematic setting, using virtual sets and advanced technology to recreate classic scenes in blockbusters such as The Matrix, the Harry Potter film series and In the Mood for Love. In his opening remarks at the ceremony, Dr Clement Chen, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU, shared the delights of seeing GUFA held for the third time. "We hope to stand as a beacon of encouragement to emerging filmmakers, allowing them to create their art without commercial considerations and industry pressures. At university, they are free to let their imagination fly, share their concerns and explore creative ideas. We at HKBU embrace these ideals and, for over four decades, have been offering the finest teaching and training in the cinematic arts. We continue to celebrate this legacy today as we nurture tomorrow's filmmakers." In his speech, Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, said: "HKBU is the first institution in Hong Kong to offer film and video production programmes and we always have our eyes on the future. Filmmaking is a global community, and GUFA is a way for all of us to celebrate new young talents from all over the world. It gives me great delight to have a sneak peek at the future voices of filmmaking and to celebrate their progress." Widely known as the "University Oscars", this year GUFA received more than 2,300 submissions from about 100 countries and regions. Celebrated professionals in the film industry, including directors Ms Mabel Cheung, Mr Derek Tsang, Ms Jessey Tsang, Mr Ray Yeung, and actress/producer Ms Josie Ho presented 15 awards to the young film talents from all over the world, letting them shine on a glamorous virtual stage. To further showcase the exemplary works at GUFA 2022, a public screening of the winners will be held on 15 November at HKBU. Members of the public are welcome to attend. For more information, please refer to the GUFA website, GUFA Facebook page and GUFA YouTube channel. GUFA recognises the excellence of film productions by university students from across the world by connecting the global film community and its audiences with the outstanding works and groundbreaking ideas presented by the participants. The event not only showcases the students' talents but also fosters the exchange of ideas and enhances professional networks, building synergy between young regional talents and the international creative industry. Appendix: Award winners Contact Details Wong Suk-ling +852 3411 2119 hkbunews@hkbu.edu.hk

November 14, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Research Shows that Age Assurance Needs Clarity and Improvement

FOSI

The Family Online Safety Institute ( FOSI ) today released a new report, Making Sense of Age Assurance: Enabling Safer Online Experiences, which explores awareness and attitudes toward age assurance among parents and children in the United States, United Kingdom, and France. Age assurance ensures that users who do not meet age minimums cannot access online platforms, or must stay in age-appropriate environments. This new report found that age assurance methods are received with mixed perceptions, with respondents showing an openness to future solutions but also highlighting the need for education and transparency upon implementation. Key findings from the report captured levels of awareness among parents and children, outlooks on the use of biometric data, and cultural contrasts in parenting style. “Age assurance has long been a challenging area for the technology industry, as certain methods may also require the collection of more user data,” said Stephen Balkam, FOSI CEO. “This year’s report shows a clear opportunity to improve methods of age assurance, which must begin by helping people to understand it. This means providing clarity around the purpose of assuring age, how the process works, and how they benefit.” “At Google, we are committed to creating age-appropriate experiences to help kids and teens use technology in a safer and more privacy-protective environment,” said Markham Erickson, Vice President, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google. “This research highlights the complexities associated with establishing the age of users and the importance of including the perspectives of both parents and their children in the discussion. We are proud to partner with FOSI on this critical work and will continue to collaborate on how to help kids and teens enjoy the benefits that technology has to offer when it comes to learning, staying connected and having fun.” Parents and responsibility Despite growing concerns about younger children accessing platforms while underage, this study found that most parents (53% in the US, 57% in the UK, and 49% in France) are willing to make an exception or allow their child to bypass an age requirement, though they then often require direct oversight of the account or discussions about how to use an app safely. While the majority of parents (74% in the US, 80% in the UK, and 73% in France) see themselves as the primarily responsible party for ensuring that their children interact with age-appropriate content, more than half of parents in each country surveyed agree that industry and government should both be more involved in protecting children. Future solutions Despite hypotheses that the use of biometric components may cause concerns around data privacy, this report found that respondents are open to age assurance methods that include it. Over two-thirds of parents and children in the US and UK, and roughly half in France, indicate that they are open to age assurance methods that include a biometric component. Nearly two-thirds of parents across all three countries feel that biometrics are an effective tool for assessing age. If offered, parents report that their most ideal method for setting age assurance on apps and services would be on a per account basis, the point at which they are downloaded from an app store. Country differences The report also finds that different social and cultural factors impact parenting styles and child-parent relationships in each country. US parents reported the highest amount of time spent monitoring their children’s online usage at 11.8 hours per week, in contrast with UK parents at 7.6 hours per week, and French parents at 3.5 hours per week. French parents are also the least likely to use tech tools such as monitoring software or apps to oversee their children’s online activities. 87% of US parents and 82% of UK parents have used such tools, compared to 65% in France. This study was supported by Google, and conducted by Kantar. Topline findings will be presented at the FOSI 2022 Annual Conference, Trust and Assurance: Online Safety in an Uncertain World. Each year, FOSI convenes the premier event in online safety, bringing together leaders from across industry, government, academia, and the nonprofit sector. This year’s agenda includes topics such as content moderation, privacy policy, safety in the metaverse, digital wellbeing, and more. The conference will feature remarks by FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya, as well as the launch of the Global Online Safety Regulators Network, a new initiative seeking to encourage a collaborative approach to legislation globally. About FOSI The Family Online Safety Institute is an international, non-profit organization that works to make the online world safer for kids and their families. FOSI convenes leaders in industry, government and the non-profit sectors to collaborate and innovate new solutions and policies in the field of online safety. Through research, resources, events and special projects, FOSI promotes a culture of responsibility online and encourages a sense of digital citizenship for all. FOSI's membership includes many of the leading Internet and telecommunications companies around the world. Contact Details Curley Company for the Family Online Safety Institute Justin Siraj +1 202-505-0143 justin@curleycompany.com Company Website https://www.fosi.org/

November 14, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Tia Lee Returns in 2022 with the Premiere of "Falling in the Deep", First Episode of "Goodbye Princess" Animation Series

Redhill Asia

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 14 November 2022 - Tia Lee, Asian fashion icon, pop singer, film and television actress, has released a first-of-its-kind MV pre-release production that blends animation, music and fashion videography, to mark Tia's return. Upon release of the "Goodbye Princess" animation trailer and the first episode of the 6-part series, an unprecedented record of over 13.65 million views were achieved for this unique form of storytelling and music launch within the first 72 hours. The "Goodbye Princess" pre-release campaign kicks off with a 6-part animated animation series. Each 30-second episode has the spirit of a classic fictional "princess", reconstructing age-old stories to tell a whimsical tale inspired by Tia's own experiences and journey in entertainment industry. "Goodbye Princess" showcases Tia's determination to break free from stereotypes and shake off biases that have been placed on her, paving the way forward to take ownership over her own destiny. Today, Digital Cover themed " The Voice " and an in-depth interview of Tia Lee by Vogue Hong Kong was also released, allowing followers around the world to have a glimpse of Tia on her new refreshed journey towards female empowerment. The first animation episode, " Falling in the Deep ", premiered on 11 November, featured a carefree mermaid swimming happily in a calm ocean. By chance, she spots an old television set on the seabed, which is the entrance to a tunnel that transcends time and space. Captivated by the lights, she swims into the tunnel's kaleidoscope of imagination and temptation. Suddenly, the mermaid realises that her tail has transformed into legs. Unable to swim, she sinks deeper into the ocean as a beam of light surrounds her. Will this beam of light come to the rescue of the mermaid? Or is it a sign of troubles to follow? What will she encounter next? The answers will be revealed in episode 2, to be released on 15 November (tomorrow). Accompanying the premiere was a poster released on 12 November that explained the underlying messages of the animated short clip: The television set symbolises the start of Tia's journey into the entertainment and fashion scene; The kaleidoscope reflects imaginations and temptations. The kaleidoscope also hides different easter eggs of Tia's actual appearances and looks when she first joined the industry; The mermaid losing her tail calls out her helplessness upon realising the true nature of show business. Complementing the stunning series is a set of motion and still images of Tia based on the same theme of " Falling in the Deep ", curated by award-winning Creative Director, Tony C. Miller. The motion and still images portray a stunning Tia in an iconic green couture dress underwater. While the production took under the water, it also overcame a big challenge – Tia's fear of water. This first animation and fashion videography series represents a breakthrough in MV pre-release execution and also a personal breakthrough for Tia. Stay tuned for more exciting development of Tia's " GOODBYE PRINCESS " journey, which will be out soon! Episode 2 release schedule: Official press materials: Tia Lee Official Channels: Instagram @leeyufen: https://www.instagram.com/leeyufen/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tialeeofficial/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leeyufentialee/ Weibo: https://weibo.com/u/1396928042/ About Tia Lee: Tia Lee (李毓芬), born in Taipei, is an Asian pop singer, film and television actress, model, and former member of the girl band Dream Girls. In addition to her acting roles and musical career, Tia appears frequently at major fashion shows. As a fashion icon and trend-setter, Tia has graced the covers of fashion, beauty and lifestyle magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, and shares her beauty and fashion tips through a number of Vogue’s social media channels. Contact Details Media Contact +852 6077 7342 global@redhill.asia

November 14, 2022 07:09 AM Eastern Standard Time

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