@NXNE - - Let's Do It Again in 2015‏

NXNE

20 Years Ain't Enough

Let's Do It Again in 2015

The 20^th year of NXNE (North by Northeast) was the largest, most exciting and widespread festival yet, with five successful streams - Music, Film, Interactive, Comedy and Art - taking over the city of Toronto from Pearson Airport to Toronto Islands.

"The bottom line is that this was the best run year of NXNE, top to bottom." - The National Post

During the 10-day festival, June 13-22, 2014, 800 artists performed at over 50 venues across the city, including a combined audience of 160,000 at Yonge-Dundas Square (YDS) over four days with performances by Sleigh Bells, St. Vincent, Spoon and Juicy J. NXNE Music also presented three nights of shows at Massey Hall, a new stage at Ryerson on Gould Street, parties and performances at the Edward Day Gallery, the first-ever venue on a streetcar with the MiO Squirtcar, and an all-day concert at the VICE Island stage on Toronto Island.

"I love Toronto. I wanna move to Toronto." said Juicy J during his Yonge-Dundas Square performance at NXNE.

The 14^th NXNE Film Festival, in partnership with Hot Docs, expanded the scope of its acclaimed programming from just music-themed movies to the best films across all genres for the first time ever. The Canadian premiere of Richard Linklater's Boyhood at NXNE Film smashed the single screening attendance record for the festival. NXNE Film presented 10 World or Canadian premieres, with an increase in artist attendance for Q&A's and industry opportunities.

NXNE Interactive presented 74 speakers over four days for the fifth and strongest year yet, with sold-out sessions featuring Actor, Comedian, Writer and Podcaster Marc Maron, VICE co-founder Suroosh Alvi interviewed by Reggie Watts, and the first public talk by OVO founder and Drake’s co-manager Oliver El-Khatib.

This year’s NXNE Comedy included 53 shows with 160 comics at 12 venues. Highlights included sold-out shows by Reggie Watts and Macaulay Culkin's The Pizza Underground at The Great Hall, as well as the Canadian premieres of Simon Amstell and Luisa Omiela (What Would Beyonce Do) at the British Invasion showcases.

For the first time ever NXNE Art, in partnership with Hermann and Audrey, hosted an Art Lounge where art installations and programming provoked new ideas for a future Toronto. In the vein of pushing bold ideas forward, NXNE Art invited world-class art talent from the North East to animate a number of public spaces with new murals and art pieces including bringing to life O'Keefe Lane Overpass, 49 Niagara and 19 new murals in Graffiti Alley.

"This year's NXNE was a benchmark in the festival's history. We not only celebrated the past 20 years, but enhanced the streams that put us on the map in the first place. We look forward to the next 20 years and beyond!" said Christopher Roberts, the Festival Director of NXNE.

NXNE and Right to Play also presented The 2^nd Annual Backyard Concert in a Rosedale home, raising over $200,000 for the charity featuring unforgettable intimate acoustic performances by Gord Downie, Matthew Good and Serena Ryder.

The 8^th annual NXNE Put The Boot In charity soccer match, also in support of the festival’s charitable partner Right to Play, raised over $12,000 to help to improve the lives of children around the world through the power of sport. Musicians, media, and celebrities competed for the coveted Queen and Beaver Cup – won this year by a 5-1 result for the Rockers over the Rollers.

NXNE would like to thank the Government of Ontario, FACTOR, and the Government of Canada for their generous support of the 2014 festival.

"North By Northeast has crowned itself Toronto’s premier music event.” - The Guardian

NXNE 2015 runs June 12-21. Submissions open in September 2014. Visit NXNE year-round at http://www.nxne.com.

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