Returning to New York City for the first time in 20 years, the World Chess Championship celebrated the competition with a splashy Opening Ceremony at the iconic Plaza Hotel.

Hosted by actor, director, producer, and chess fan Adrian Grenier, the reception was decked out in a classic black and white theme, a subtle nod to Truman Capote’s famed Black & White Ball held in the same venue 50 years ago.

The highlight of the evening was the introduction of the competitors, Magnus Carlsen of Norway and Sergey Karjakin of Russia. The guests were thrilled to meet the youngest competitors in tournament history, at 25 and 26 respectively, and were privy to the official Draw Ceremony, granting Magnus Carlsen the first move at the next day’s game.

Joining the players on stage were the President of World Chess, Ilya Merenzon, FIDE Vice President, Israel Gelfer, as well as sponsor representatives Michael Stanton (EG Capital Advisors; Member of the Supervisory Board), Andrey Guryev (CEO and Chairman of the Management Board PJSC Phosagro); and Megha Malagatti (Global Communications Director of S.T. Dupont); all of whom enjoyed an intimate VIP reception in a Penthouse Suite immediately prior to the stage program.

Guests were also treated to unique musical performances by Russian pianist Nikola Melnikov and Norwegian violinist Isa Caroline Holmesland (of the Oslo Strings), both of whom came to New York City specifically for the event to symbolically represent the battle between the two players' home countries.

The stage program concluded with one final iconic New York City element, a surprise performance by the world: the famous Harlem Gospel Choir decked out in black and white robes inspired by chess pieces, extending the festive theme of the evening. Guests enjoyed the performance while sipping custom cocktails made with Beluga Vodka, a sponsor of the event.

This year’s World Chess Championship took place at the Fulton Market Building in Manhattan, where after almost three weeks of play, 12 games, and a day of tie breaks, Magnus Carlsen retained his title as the World Chess Champion which he has held since 2013.

For those not in New York City but who still wanted to experience the event, the championship was the first sporting event broadcast in VR.

Additional information about the tournament and upcoming events can at https://worldchess.com/nyc2016/.

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To celebrate the opening of the New Balance flagship store in Harajuku, Tokyo, Empire brought vertical dance pioneer group BANDALOOP.

The perspective-changing dance company presented a graceful and dynamic performance, choreographed for an awe-inspiring activation on the exterior walls of the store. Two dancers presented various performances during the day, the first in the morning before the official opening of the doors as the immersive act stopped busy Harajuku crowds in their tracks for a social media-worthy photo. More exciting Empire-produced performances are soon to come from this boundless and innovative group.​

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Forbes Japan, one of the world's most authoritative business news authorities, celebrated entrepreneurs and startups at their Annual "Japan's Startup of the Year" Award Ceremony. Empire was called upon to produce this special celebration.

Held at the beautiful Tokyo Palace Hotel, this event hosted around 300 managers, investors, and entrepreneurs from 19 different companies across Japan. The Award Ceremony celebrated startups that are pushing the Japanese economy into the future through innovation and entrepreneurial efforts. Finalists were selected by the Forbes Japan editorial team with input from online readers.

The Award Ceremony included awards for the “Japan Entrepreneurs 2017 BEST 10”, “The Rising Star Award”, and the “Most Influential Venture BEST 3”. Ranking first for Japan Entrepreneurs 2017 was Shintaro Yamada, Founder and CEO of Mercari Inc. For The Rising Star Award, the winner was David Uze, CEO of Trillium. And ranked first among the Most Influential Ventures was Soichi Kariyazono of Globis Capital Partners.

The winning startups were featured in the magazine's January 2017 edition.

Empire is the premier producer of some of the most prestigious award ceremonies throughout the world.

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To continuously grow their entrepreneurial spirit and become a dominant global player in various cloud-based products and platforms, Uhuru, one of Salesforce.com's largest system integrators in Japan, asked Empire to design their newest office and produce an Opening Party for over 100 of their top clients.

Empire used its vast knowledge of event production and communication strategy to create a beautifully unique space.

Based on the given theme of “Future x Nature”, Empire worked closely with the office's real estate team, creating four distinct spaces: the reception area, meeting room, seminar space, and the working space.

The final design incorporated combinations of organic materials (plants & wood) and the use of contemporary designed furniture from IROCO Design including astroturf carpeting, ceiling plants, and molo paper seating.

Empire Entertainment continues to be a leading producer in all areas of event production.

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For the second year in a row, Empire produced ContextMedia: Health’s Fall Agency Party at the IAC Building in New York City. Completed in 2007 by architect Frank Gehry, the IAC Building featured the world’s largest HD screen at the time in its lobby, where the event was held. Guests mingled and danced while engaging with ContextMedia’s digital platforms throughout the space.

ContextMedia is a health information services company which builds digital media technologies to deliver lifestyle education to patients to improve health outcomes. The company empowers healthcare professionals to engage patients while curating content personalized for each member office. It is the fastest-growing company in the industry, offering sector-leading technology to their customers.

Upon arrival, guests were welcomed by the IAC’s massive 120 feet video wall, which displayed digital context throughout the night. They were also greeted by an interactive media column that allowed guests to use the technology first-hand and customize their experience.

Among these installations was a seated photo booth, digital graffiti wall, and customized Snapchat filter. Once guests took photos, they could share them in real-time to their social media accounts with #CreatewithCMH via the interactive custom-designed sharing station. Guests could also draw images on the digital graffiti wall that appeared on the media wall that spanned the entire lobby.

Entertainment for the night was provided by DJ PS1, a native New Yorker with a passion for DJing and music production. DJ PS1 has spun at some of New York City’s top night clubs including Cain, Pink Elephant, Marquee, and Avenue. At 18, he embarked on a nationwide tour and hasn’t stopped since.

Empire is proud to produce conferences and events for some of the world's leading healthcare and technology companies.

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This fall, Empire delivered the B-52s to perform as closing entertainment for a corporate conference’s awards show at a hotel in Los Angeles, CA.

Empire worked closely with the client’s production company to select, negotiate for and ultimately contract the 1980’s dance artists. Any mystery concerning the band’s longevity and ongoing appeal is immediately solved when exposed to a B-52s concert experience. From groundbreaking songs like “Rock Lobster”, “Dance This Mess Around”, and “Private Idaho“, to chart-topping hits like “Love Shack” and “Roam", the B-52s’ unforgettable dance-rock tunes start resonate with audiences that came of age in the 1980’s whenever their music begins.

After thirty-five years and over twenty million albums into their career, the B-52s remain one of rock music’s most beloved and enduring bands.The band still features most of its original lineup including principals Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, and Cindy Wilson.

The B-52s delivered a high energy show of their greatest hits, keeping guests on their feet throughout the performance.

Empire continues to be a leading provider of top tier musical entertainment and talent for corporate clients, production companies and private interests, and was proud to partner again with the B-52’s on another successful event.

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Empire once again served as producer for Keep a Child Alive’s Black Ball at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. This year’s 13^th annual Black Ball honored music legend Clive Davis and featured extraordinary performances by Alicia Keys, A$APRocky, Chance the Rapper, Salt-N-Pepa, and Patti Smith.

The Black Ball was designed by Creative Director Earle Sebastian who chose to reignite the spirit of '80s activism for this year’s cocktails, dinner, and stage design theme. Design elements included fabric walls, geometric prints, and a live art installation piece by British visual artist Shantell Martin, best known for her stream-of-consciousness drawings and light projections. Grafitti-covered walls featuring AIDS activism posters covered the space while 13-year old DJ Fulano dropped old school beats, transporting the audience back in time.

Keep a Child Alive’s co-founder Alicia Keys and Keep a Child Alive CEO Peter Twyman took the stage to evoke the spirit of the '80s, when AIDS activists launched the movement to bring access to treatment for millions around the world. Their remarks underscored the courage and bravery of those early days of AIDS, and the need to empower the next generation of activists.

Then KCA honored innovator, creator, and humanitarian Clive Davis, who has impacted the lives of so many people though his tremendous contributions in music and philanthropic efforts.

A star-studded guest list of over 600 came out to support Keep a Child Alive’s mission with guests including Clive Davis, Padma Lakshmi, Mr. Brainwash, Alek Wek, Lupita Nyong’o, Baz Luhrmann, Omari Hardwick, and Russell Simmons.

Guests dined on a delicious dinner designed by guest chef Marcus Samuelsson and catered by Creative Edge.

This year’s Black Ball raised $2 million through table/ticket sales, sponsorships, donations, pledges, and a live auction hosted by CK Swett. The live auction featured a luxurious trip to the exclusive Sugar Beach resort, custom-made Christian Louboutin shoes, limited edition Louis XIII Cognac, plus a guided tour of their cellar in France, and his and hers Audemars Piguet watches. The Black Ball has raised over $30 million sinceits humble beginnings in 2004.

After the auction, Alicia Keys and her band put on an incredible concert performance that, true to Black Ball tradition, featured several amazing musical guests. For the first time ever, the concert was livestreamed on TIDAL, where people all over the world could witness the incredible performances in their living rooms.

Hip Hop Queens of the '80s and '90s, Salt-N-Pepa opened the concert with old school classics, “PushIt”, “Let’s Talk About Sex”, and “Whatta Man” — a tribute to honoree Clive Davis. Chance the Rapper came out to perform “Angels", “No Problems”, and a duet with Alicia Keys.

Grammy Award-nominated artist A$AP Rocky took the stage next, pumping up the crowd with “Fashion Killa”, “Yamborghini High”, “Flacko Jodye II”, and then followed with a duet with Keys on “Blended Family.”

Alicia Keys then sang classics and new song “Holy War” to a crowd high from the electrifying concert. Finally, legendary Patti Smith took the stage to sing “People Have the Power” and “Because the Night” with Keys.

Moments after the concert ended, Swizz Beatz and DJ Runna took to the stage to DJ the Afterglow party, keeping all the guests dancing into the early hours of the morning.

Empire has been proud to serve as the Producer of the Black Ball since its inception in 2004 and to partner with Keep a Child Alive and Alicia Keys to grow it into one of New York’s most anticipated, annual fundraising events. To learn more about Keep a Child Alive and support their mission, please visit www.keepachildalive.org#KCABlackBall

FilmStruck is a new streaming service for movie lovers from Turner Classic Movies and The Criterion Collection. FilmStruck delivers a constantly-refreshed, curated library of arthouse, independent, foreign, and cult films from critically-acclaimed studios around the world. Developed and managed by Turner Classic Movies in partnership with The Criterion Collection, FilmStruck is the exclusive streaming home to the world-renowned Criterion Collection of films.

Held at 404 @ Hudson Yards, a white space in New York City, the event hosted over 250 VIPs from the motion picture, television, digital and media worlds including Dawn of the Dead director George Romero, actress Rose McGowan, and musician Laurie Anderson.

To launch this unique service, FilmStruck called upon Empire to design and create a unique, experiential evening featuring immersive vignettes and experiences based on some of its iconic film titles, including Mad Max, Clerks, Moulin Rouge, and The Seventh Seal.

Guests were able to become a part of Mad Max (1979), as Empire created a green screen production set where once in costume, guests could take the wheel behind Max’s Interceptor, manically drive and create their own trailer for the film. Guests immediately received a completed scene of themselves as Mad Max, which they could post to social media.

For the motion picture Moulin Rouge (1952), Empire created a French boudoir backstage of the famed Parisian cabaret. Cancan girls seduced guests with Absinthe cocktails and a caricature artist offered guests portraits created in the style of French painter, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

To depict Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal (1957), Empire reimagined the film’s iconic “chess match with death”. The brooding black and white sea was the backdrop as two actors embodying death and the knight played an infinite chess match. Guests were able to participate in their own game with an oversized chess board directly parallel to the deadly match.

In the Clerks vignette, Empire replicated the film’s iconic “Quick Stop”. Complete with a cash register, live security camera, and an indifferent store clerk, everything behind the counter was up for grabs. A digital photo booth captured images as guests shoplifted and uploaded them to social media using the hashtag #FilmStruck.

Each vignette had its own custom cocktails and Turner, FilmStruck, and Criterion Collection executives delivered brief welcome remarks in front of a 20’ LED wall displaying footage from some of the FilmStruck titles. Guests also utilized a series of tablets to navigate and explore the FilmStruck app in comfortable living room furnishings, driving home the message that these films are now available in the home.

Empire worked closely with Turner and FilmStruck to design and execute all aspects of the event and engaged media partner Shore Fire to assist with press outreach.

The resulting event generated substantial influencer awareness and media coverage for the FilmStruck launch and the event was highly enjoyed by all attendees.

During the same week, Empire also executed a presence marketing sponsorship for FilmStruck at the Walter Reade Theater at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, where guests attending the New York Film Festival could relax in a living room set and explore the FilmStruck platform.

Empire is honored to work with FilmStruck, Turner Classic Movies, and The Criterion Collection to launch this extraordinary new streaming service. To learn more about FilmStruck visit http://www.filmstruck.com​

Empire delivered former Secretary of State, and retired General Colin Powell to speak at two separate engagements for an international financial investment firm in New York City.

At the early morning event, General Powell participated in an intimate fireside chat before an audience of 30 renowned hedge fund and private equity founders. Throughout the interview and open Q&A session, the General discussed and answered questions on a vast scale of topics – from cybersecurity to foreign policy; the state of the American economy; immigration; and, of course, the upcoming 2016 US Presidential Election.

General Powell provided valuable insights to all those in attendance, helping them gain new perspectives on how global markets and investing may shift according to the current geopolitical landscape. Following the Q&A, the General participated in a brief meet & greet with the guests and dispersed signed copies of his book In Life and Leadership.

For the second event, held directly after the morning session, General Powell delivered a keynote presentation before an audience of well over 300 guests. With everyone packed into the auditorium, the General riveted the audience with stories of his childhood, nostalgic memories of his experiences with the Reagan and Bush administrations, and shared his sentiments of continued optimism toward the United States and the direction the country is heading.

It was evident that both crowds were inspired by General Powell’s wisdom and insights; he was the perfect speaker for both events. Empire worked closely with longstanding partner, Washington Speakers Bureau, to contract and coordinate Colin Powell’s appearance.

Empire continues to be a leading resource in delivering keynote speakers, political experts, and speakers of all areas of expertise for a variety of organizations.

During September’s United Nations General Assembly week, Bloomberg Philanthropies presented an important thought leadership conference entitled the U.S. - Africa Business Forum.

Held at the storied Plaza Hotel in New York City, the forum included programming and remarks from President Barack Obama, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, various Heads of State, and C-Level executives from across the African continent.

For the closing performance of the forum, Bloomberg Philanthropies called on Empire to provide the right entertainment to end the conference on a high note and reflect Africa, U. S., and New York City culture.  

Empire and Bloomberg worked together to design and present an original collaboration featuring the African Children’s Choir from Uganda, the world-renowned Harlem Gospel Choir and rising star, Randall Haywood, a Juilliard-educated trumpeter.

The final product came together with an inspired rendition of ‘This Little Light of Mine’, a gospel classic performed in an African style with a New York City trumpet twist. The closing performance brought the audience to their feet and provided the perfect ending to this extraordinary gathering.

Empire is a leading supplier of creative talent and original performances for international organizations, philanthropies, corporations and private individuals.

To Learn more about the U.S. – Africa Business Forum visit http://usafricabusinessforum.bloomberg.org/#/

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