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Yum! Brands Annual Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report Showcases Company's Commitment to Socially Responsible Growth; Highlights Progress Around Priority Areas of People, Food, Planet

Yum! Brands

LOUISVILLE, Ky., July 27, 2021 /3BL Media/ – Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) today released its annual Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report, highlighting the Company’s strategic investments in socially responsible growth, risk management and sustainable stewardship of its people, food and impact on the planet. Yum! and its KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and The Habit Burger Grill brands made progress in critical areas including climate action, food safety and creating greater equity and opportunity across its system. “2020 marked a turning point for communities and businesses around the world, as the pandemic deepened existing societal issues and inequalities,” said David Gibbs, CEO, Yum! Brands, Inc. “Across our global system, we plan to be a meaningful part of the solution to the world’s most pressing issues—inequality and the lack of opportunity that goes with it along with climate change and the impact to our lives and the planet. Our Recipe for Growth & Good shows the steps we are taking to make even greater impacts for our people, franchisees, customers and communities.” Yum! Brands continued to advance its global citizenship and sustainability agenda, called its Recipe for Good, which focuses on the priority areas of people, food and planet. On people, Yum! began to execute the Unlocking Opportunity Initiative, a five-year commitment to invest $100 million inside and outside its business to tackle inequality. Unlocking Opportunity Grants are being made to invest in equity and inclusion, education and entrepreneurship for employees, front-line restaurant teams and communities around the world. On the planet, Yum! also set science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 46% below 2019 levels by 2030 across its restaurants and supply chain and pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. In addition, Yum! continued its unwavering focus on food safety and expanded investments in plant-based and vegetarian options. “We’ve sharpened our strategic focus as the growing intersection of business and corporate purpose has become clearer,” said Jerilan Greene, Global Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer of Yum! Brands, Inc. and Chairman and CEO of the Yum! Foundation. “Our global scale gives us a big opportunity and a responsibility to make a material impact on the issues facing our people, communities and the planet and our brands are taking action to do that with ever greater ambition.” Yum! has a long history of investing in programs that advance priority environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and participating in regular disclosure to show progress and transparency through key reports including the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, CDP and Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America, in addition to publishing its annual Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report. The report reflects key initiatives and areas of work announced since Yum! Brands published its last report in 2020, showcases progress against its existing public commitments and covers the Company’s ESG strategy. The report is prepared according to Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, the most widely recognized framework for sustainability reporting. Highlights from Yum!’s new Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report include: Citizenship Completed a new materiality assessment to further align priority topics driving Yum!’s ESG agenda Conducted first-ever Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) assessment to understand climate risks and opportunities across its restaurants and supply chain Reported first-time data consistent with the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB) People Made initial grants through the $100 million global Unlocking Opportunity Initiative to launch, expand or advance programs that support front-line restaurant teams and communities around the world Launched the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence at the University of Louisville, a first-of-its-kind education and research center offering multiple levels of online education about franchising across industries and educating underrepresented people of color and women on the possibilities of franchising as a pathway to entrepreneurship Joined the OneTen coalition, uniting with other U.S. businesses to create career mobility and advancement opportunities for 1 million Black individuals in the U.S. over the next 10 years Joined the Publicis Media Once & For All Coalition, a multi-year, cross-industry collaboration to build a more equitable advertising ecosystem for ethnically diverse media suppliers, content creators and production partners, with an initial focus on Black and Hispanic platforms. Alongside the Coalition, Yum! Brands will establish a U.S. Multicultural Marketing Leadership Council to drive cross-brand implementation of the Company’s multicultural marketing strategies Increased the number of women in senior leadership globally to 47%, accelerating its target to achieve gender parity in leadership globally by 2025 Yum! and its brands donated $70 million to support brand efforts such as KFC’s Blessings in a Backpack partnership, Pizza Hut’s BOOK IT! Program and the Taco Bell Foundation’s Live Más Scholarship Strengthened supplier development and engagement around human rights in the supply chain by committing to have all suppliers globally on Sedex platform by 2023 Food Conducted more than 467,500 restaurant food safety audits since 2016 Expanded plant-forward innovation to meet growing demand for sustainable options and flexible diets through a new strategic partnership with Beyond Meat, Inc., in which each of Yum!’s major brands will introduce plant-based menu offerings Continued working to reduce sodium on menus globally, with Pizza Hut International using low-sodium cheeses in approximately 40% of its markets Planet Announced science-based targets to reduce GHG emissions 46% below 2019 levels by 2030 and pledged to reach net-zero by 2050 across restaurants and supply chains by working closely with brands, franchisees and suppliers Committed to move 1,000 restaurants to renewable energy by the end of 2021 and joined the Renewable Energy Business Alliance (REBA) Continued sustainable packaging efforts through strategic partnerships, with Taco Bell leading the way by collaborating with international recycling leader TerraCycle to explore the recyclability of its sauce packets For more information and to view Yum! Brands’ new Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report visit www.yum.com/citizenship. About Yum! Brands, Inc. Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, has over 50,000 restaurants in more than 150 countries and territories, operating the Company’s brands – KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell – global leaders of the chicken, pizza and Mexican-style food categories. The Company’s family of brands also includes The Habit Burger Grill, a fast-casual restaurant concept specializing in made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches and more. Yum! Brands was included on the 2021 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index. In 2020, Yum! Brands was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America and was ranked among the top 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Yum! Brands on 3blmedia.com

July 27, 2021 12:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Beneficial Bacteria and Soil: Hidden Helpers Below Ground

Bayer

Imagine losing twenty years of work in just a few days. In 2013, this happened to Australian farmer Robert Hinrichsen after a massive flood. Hinrichsen’s company, Kalfresh, is one of Australia’s leading vegetable producers: a year-round business producing 1,400 hectares annually in the Queensland area. Since Hinrichsen and his father started the company in 1992, production thrived. But in 2013, Tropical Cyclone Oswald led to eight days of regional flooding. Over one-third of Kalfresh’s farmland was “catastrophically degraded,” he remembers. Yet Kalfresh Farms managed to rebuild its farmland using microbiology and management. This outcome was crucial for Kalfresh to survive – and it provides an example of one way to save the world’s soils. "The right microorganisms are vital for soil to be viable over the long-term and for crops to flourish in a given area." Robert Hinrichsen Farmer & Owner, Kalfresh Farms, Queensland, Australia In 2013, the UN estimated that if soil continued to degrade at current rates, there were only 60 years left of enough fertile soil globally. Two years later, a 2015 FAO report confirmed the point, stating: “The world’s soils are rapidly deteriorating.” The causes include soil erosion, nutrient depletion, loss of soil organic carbon and soil sealing. But the FAO report also stated that the use of sustainable management and appropriate technologies can reverse this outcome. For many agricultural professionals, biological products can help save soils, allowing the crops within them to thrive. 500 is the minimum number of years it takes to form 2,54 cm of topsoil. Source: National Audubon Society Surviving a farming nightmare Kalfresh rebuilt its farmland based on soil biology. Soil itself contains three structures: the physical (the soil itself, composed of rock, sand, clay and/or silt), the chemical (mineral nutrients) and the biological (beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms). Hinrichsen transplanted physical soil to his land, then added fertilizers with chemical-based minerals. But soil biology must be developed and maintained, he explains: “The right microorganisms are vital for soil to be viable over the long-term and for crops to flourish in a given area.” Soils host a quarter of our planet’s biodiversity The "good bacteria" that exist in soil have many functions. Beneficial bacteria convert chemicals like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and iron into usable forms for crops. Farmers can also sustainably dispose of crop protection discharge by using such bacteria in a Phytobac biological system. In this system, farmers clean their spray equipment using collected rainwater. This water is then drained over a waterproof pit filled with a substrate of soil and straw, providing an ideal habitat for microbial "volunteers." Bit by bit, the microorganisms break down crop protection residues and start degrading them. Clean wash water eventually evaporates from the substrate, thus returning to the water cycle. And good bacteria can also suppress plant diseases, promote general plant growth and maintain a moisture balance so that soil doesn’t erode. To rebuild his fields, Hinrichsen started by adding chicken manure-based microorganisms and sowing grain crops, which are less demanding on soil since they require lower mineral levels. He also produced specific crops like chick peas, which would leave minerals in the soil around their roots, so it rebuilds the soil nicely. Chickpeas – and certain other legumes such as peanuts and soybeans – live in symbiosis with nodule bacteria, which improve nitrogen-poor soils and help maintain soil fertility. These bacteria also contribute to the synthesis of human and animal-important proteins in the plant without the need for expensive nitrogen fertilization. Finally, Hinrichsen was able to add biologic products with the bacteria genus Bacillus subtilis, which fixes nitrogen. “But no single process or product rebuilt the soil,” he adds. Instead, intensive management practices alongside the development of good bacteria strengthened the overall rhizosphere – the soil that is immediately next to and affected by plant growth and activity. Fortunately, Hinrichsen had developed knowledge of plant and soil interaction over the last decade by attending educational seminars. “I was studying this topic already. Then Bayer Australia brought in professionals to explain, scientifically, what’s happening in the soil and what farmers can do to support it.” Life below our feet Experts in soil and biologicals provide a crucial source of information and knowledge for farmers like Robert Hinrichsen, whether they face acute farming emergencies, such as flooding, or they simply need to grow crops more sustainably and effectively. Overall, farmers gain deeper understanding of how to produce stronger crops. Another expert in soil and biologicals is Dave Lanciault, the CEO of Agricen Sciences in Frisco, Texas. Like Hinrichsen, Lanciault is fascinated by how stronger soil leads to higher and more bountiful harvests. There is yet, he says, even more to learn about what’s happening below the ground: “The Dean at one of our ag colleges once told me that we know more about what’s happening at the bottom of the ocean than we do about the soils in our own backyards. For me, that means the potential for discoveries is almost unlimited.” 5000 different types of bacteria live in one gram of soil. Source: National Audubon Society He explains that healthy soil is teeming with lifeforms that sustain it. “One of the important ways that soil can remain viable involves gaining a deeper understanding of biologicals: the community structure of the microorganisms (like bacteria and fungi) that already exist in soil, and the microorganisms that can be added to augment those communities.” Biologicals in agriculture include two main categories: biological crop protection products and biostimulants. Both types of products come from natural sources, but Lanciault says the public may be more familiar with biological crop protection products, that generally mitigate pests that negatively impact crops. Biostimulants, in comparison, “aim at improving plant growth and health,” Lanciault adds. Agricen works with agricultural clients worldwide in a variety of soil and climate conditions. “Visibly weak soil – compacted soil or soil with poor water penetration – is fairly obvious,” Lanciault says. “But in many parts of the United States, Australia and elsewhere, the problems can be subtler. For example, increased salinity contributes to soil pH becoming more alkaline. There may be nutrients in these soils, but they are trapped. They’re not in a form that can be retained in the soil or are available to the plant, so the plant suffers.” Lanciault and his team develop biostimulant products that help farmers manage these conditions based on science fundamentals. For example, one of the most significant chemical processes on earth is nitrogen fixation: this process converts atmospheric nitrogen gas (N2) into a form usable by plants and other organisms. Lanciault explains that nitrogen fixation is conducted by a variety of bacteria, both as free-living organisms and in symbiotic relationships with plants. Biostimulant products, as well as practices aimed at promoting soil health, can enhance this process. “Managing soil health means we must influence a complex soil ecology, which requires integrated soil management practices.” Lanciault states that farmers, landowners and even governments need to make an ongoing investment to maintain soil: “For example, the US Department of Agriculture has incentive programs to improve nutrient management practices. These practices have to be economically sustainable to be adopted broadly. So there’s an upfront investment to analyze the soil, and the investment to maintain and improve it.” The outcome, he confirms, is worth it. “We are talking about taking a long-term approach to managing the soil environment so it can sustain itself – and produce stronger, healthier crops.” A broad perspective In 1995, she helped found AgraQuest, a biotech company that created some of the first commercial microbial soil solutions. In 2012, Bayer acquired AgraQuest, and today, Manker is an R&D fellow in biologics at Bayer. From her Sacramento, California office, she says that more attention is needed, holistically, to the matter of soil: “It needs to be normal that we think about soil health throughout the year.” "Self-sustaining soil, greater crop yields, healthier plants with more nutrients and even cleaner water and land. With biologicals, farmers, consumers and the environment benefit." Denise Manker R&D fellow in biologics at Bayer Manker explains that researchers have already identified individual biologicals with proven soil benefits. For example, scientists at Bayer recognized Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 as beneficial for colonization of plant roots and provides plants with increased access to nutrients and other soil resources. She also points out that multi-microbial solutions can combine tasks, such as dissolving phosphorus and providing better salinity tolerance. And there are also successful combinations of synthetic insecticides used with biologicals (such as Bacillus firmus) that improve productivity while protecting against nematodes in corn plants, for example. Bacillus firmus is a bacterium that multiplies in soil to ward off nematodes. The bacterium suppresses existing nematodes and prevents hatching. Manker is particularly excited by news from her Australian and Brazilian colleagues, who are seeing spectacular results by diversifying soil microorganisms: "It’s not just yield and general quality. These are healthier plants, born out of healthier soil." These crops also have a longer shelf life, she adds. "If you have produce that can naturally survive up to ten to 14 days, whereas in the past it might only survive for seven days, you’re reducing crop loss." And there’s additional good news: "We’re just beginning to see how these 'healthy crops' have higher levels of iron, calcium and other minerals." For Manker, working with biologicals means sustainable farming: "Self-sustaining soil, greater crop yields, healthier plants with more nutrients and even cleaner water and land. With biologicals, farmers, consumers and the environment benefit." She pauses. "We are really learning how to take care of the soil that is taking care of all of us." Allies for Biological Growth (Q&A with Keith Jones) Keith Jones is the Executive Director of the Biological Products Industry Alliance (BPIA). An environmental attorney by training, Jones previously worked for trade associations and environmental non-profit organizations as either general counsel or executive director. Why was BPIA founded? BPIA was started about a decade and half ago by just five member companies. Today, we represent more than 125 manufacturers of biological crop protection products as well as biostimulant manufacturers, marketers, distributors, service providers, growers and food processors. How do biologics generally benefit soil and agricultural soils particularly? Biological products can augment, reinforce or help revitalize the natural activities of the native soil microbiome. A healthy soil microbiome can more efficiently provide available nutrients for plant use, improve physical and chemical functioning of the soil, or help balance the microbial populations to better manage pathogen pressure. Are today’s soils prepared to increase their agricultural output to feed ten billion people by 2050? Resources such as land and soil are largely fixed. Incorporating biological products will help the system reach an ecological balance and reduce pest and fertility problems. A more sustainable production system to feed a growing population will be established. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Bayer on 3blmedia.com

July 27, 2021 09:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cell-based Meat - a Growing Industry ... Literally

CRB

It looks like a burger. It tastes like a burger. But no cows were harmed in the making. Sounds far-fetched? Scientists have cracked the code to produce real meat products from animal cells. But cell-based meat still has hurdles ahead to become a commercial reality. The challenge lies in producing enough cell-based meat at a reasonable price point. While the cost of producing one hamburger has gone from $278,000 in 2013 down to $100 today, that’s still a hefty price for the average consumer. Scale-up is a major challenge facing the industry. So is regulation. Is it food? Is it biotechnology? Who is responsible for a meat product that doesn’t come straight from the animal? But all these challenges are irrelevant to producers if consumers won’t even buy into this futuristic food. Here’s how this growing industry is shaping up and what it means for producers, consumers and the rest of the food industry. Consumers latch on to cell-based meat trend Cultured meat is produced from growing animal cells in-vitro rather than as part of a living animal. Since the first clean meat hamburger was unveiled in 2013, the science has expanded to growing chicken, duck, steak, pork and fish from cells. And there are more products in the works. This technology has the potential to address several of the major ethical, environmental and public health concerns associated with conventional meat production. But it does no good if there isn’t a market for cell-based meats. The Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK, and the University Studies, Portland State University, Portland, Ore., released a 2019 study about U.S. adults’ attitudes toward “cultured” or cell-based meats. The study revealed that 64.6% of participants were probably or definitely willing to try cultured meat, and only 18.4% were probably or definitely not willing to try cultured meat; 16.9% were unsure. Furthermore, the study positioned cultured meat with three different frames—“societal benefits,” “high tech” and “same meat”—meaning it tastes like conventional meat. Participants were much less likely to try cell-based meat when it was presented as “high-tech.” The implications of this study are important to the industry. Consumers are willing to try and buy meat grown from animal cells, but it must be marketed the right way. Societal benefits and a similar taste profile were more compelling reasons for participants. This demonstrates an opportunity to carve into the growing meat substitute market which is projected to reach $23 billion by 2023. Consumers choosing plant-based diets and meat alternatives for environmental and ethical reasons may be swayed by cell-based meat. “According to industry experts, classic vegan and vegetarian meat replacements as well as insect-based meat alternatives are less likely to grow beyond the current vegan and vegetarian trend, as they lack the sensory profile to convince average consumers,” another study says. Cell-based meat can tout similar benefits to plant-based meat when it comes to sustainability and environmental impact, while also not harming animals. But it has the added bonus of the same flavor and texture as conventional meat. Opening the door Finless Foods, Berkeley, Calif. and BlueNalu, San Diego, Calif., makers of cell-based/cultured seafood; Fork & Goode, Nutley, N.J., JUST, San Francisco, and Memphis Meats, San Francisco, suppliers of cell-based/cultured meat and poultry formed the Alliance for Meat, Poultry & Seafood Innovation (AMPS Innovation), a coalition focused on educating consumers about cell-based/cultured meat. “AMPS Innovation member companies are committed to this work because we believe that cell-based/cultured meat, poultry and seafood will be a critical and sustainable component, in partnership with the overall agriculture sector, to meeting increased demand for animal protein as the world’s population continues to grow,” according to its mission statement. This coalition may be the key to ensuring that there is a commercial market for this futuristic food. Challenges ahead for cell-based meat producers So the technology is rapidly evolving and a market for cell-based meat is developing—what stands in the way of commercial success? It all revolves around the production process. Companies have to find a way to scale production to make the cost of the products feasible for consumers. They also have to navigate an uncertain regulatory environment. And they need manufacturing facilities suited to address both of these concerns. Scaling up production Growing a full-fledged meat product from animal cells is a complex process, and every company takes a different approach. But the science boils down to a basic process where cells are harvested, multiplied through proliferation and made into the muscle, fat and connective tissue through profusion to create the meat. At lab scale, this is a costly and time-consuming process. But according to an analysis from the Good Food Institute’s Senior Scientist Dr. Liz Specht, cell-based meat produced at industrial scale will likely rival conventional meat costs. To get to commercial scale at a competitive price point, manufacturers need to look at these five component technologies. The type of starter cells matters for process scale and cost because some can grow more rapidly or have more flexibility in the type of cell they can become. Additionally, some are more stable for longer. Investing in a certain type of cell upfront has cost implications down the line. Cell culture medium The medium provides the fuel cells need to grow. This is also one of the most significant contributors to cell-based meat’s high cost. If manufacturers can find options—like a medium free of animal-derived components—production and the final product will be much cheaper. Scaffolding Scaffolding structures the cells into the final product, be it minced meat or a chicken breast. A cut of meat has a much more complex structure, requiring this scaffolding, where as ground meat doesn’t, making it cheaper to produce. Bioreactors Manufacturers can look to the biopharma industry for guidance—there are animal cell cultures growing in large-scale bioreactors there already. There are two basic types of bioreactors that will be most common in cell-based meat production. Stirred tank bioreactors are common in the biopharma industry for animal cell culture on a large scale. According to Dr. Specht, companies seeking to use tissue perfusion bioreactors to shape the cells into meat will need some engineering ingenuity to scale the perfusion step, as these bioreactors only exist at smaller scales. Supply chain and distribution A supply chain for cell-based meat at large scales does not exist. Commercial viability depends on building this and distribution channels or adapting from existing chains. Borrowing practices from the biotech industry may be the most viable path to achieving industrial production at competitive costs. Regulating cell-based meats Companies are making steady progress on scaling up production, but industry regulation is still slow to develop. The main question is: who has jurisdiction? Regulatory approval in Europe, for example, may be simpler. Cell-based meats fall under the Novel Food Regulation. Alternatively, in the United States, the snag is determining whether the USDA or FDA has oversite. The former regulates livestock and poultry; the latter is the authority on cell-culture technology. The two governing bodies agreed in 2018 to create a joint regulatory approach and in March 2019 established a joint agreement that outlines which agency has oversight of human food produced using animal cell culture technology. While the industry balances regulatory limbo, cell-based meat manufacturers in the U.S. have to plan their process and facility to both USDA and FDA standards. Often, this requires outside help from consultants who have expertise in both areas and can help producers determine which guidelines apply. Creating a cell-based meat facility for the future With myriad uncertainties facing this growing industry, anticipating facility needs down the road poses another challenge. Without a clear picture of the industrial-scale process or regulatory compliance, it’s increasingly difficult to create a facility that can accommodate a company in the future. Again, it helps to look to the biotech industry here. Seek outside expertise to understand what works elsewhere and how it can be applied to cell-based meat production. For example, biotech provides a good template for design, but it must be right-sized for cell-based meat production. In particular, the high-end finishes that are typical of biopharma facilities may not be necessary in a food facility. That’s one more area where engineers must seek creative solutions to bring down the cost of producing cell-based meats. It’s essential to design flexibility into these facilities so that equipment arrangements, processes and flows can change as the industry evolves. Despite the challenges—or maybe because of them—this is an exciting and rapidly changing time for cell-based meat. Manufacturers who solve these problems of scale and cost, while skirting regulatory ambiguity, stand to corner a market that has great potential. “While we think its potential benefits extend far beyond the business realm, cell-based products are positioned to offer major economic benefits over traditional meat,” says Kristopher Gasteratos, founder and president of the Cellular Agriculture Society, San Francisco. “I think these reasons in support of cell-ag processes are enticing to conventional animal-based industries that understand the long-term unsustainability of intensive animal-ag, as well as investors who foresee massive potential in cell-ag.” View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CRB on 3blmedia.com

July 22, 2021 02:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Walmart Hosts Free Wellness Day To Empower Customers To Prioritize Health

Walmart

BENTONVILLE, Ark., July 21, 2021 /3BL Media/ - Walmart is inviting customers to take control of their health at Walmart Wellness Day, a free event on Saturday, July 24, where they can get health screenings and wellness resources at pharmacies nationwide, as well as immunizations in one easy location. The goal of Walmart Wellness Day is to help customers get back on track with preventive health measures they may have missed over the past year, especially as many families prepare for in-person work and school this fall. “At least 41% of Americans delayed care during the pandemic, according to the CDC, and that can lead to negative health impacts in the future. We want to make it simple for our customers to prioritize their health and catch up on preventive care by offering convenient health resources where they’re already shopping for groceries and back-to-school items,” said Dr. Cheryl Pegus, executive vice president, Walmart Health & Wellness. “We are especially focused on reaching customers in underserved communities who may have limited options for health care in their community, outside our pharmacies. This is a day for the entire family, and we’ll be offering screenings and services for all ages.” More than 4,700 Walmart pharmacies nationwide will host Walmart Wellness Day events from 10 AM – 2 PM local time on July 24. Select stores will also feature mobile wellness units to make it even easier for customers to access the resources they need. Walmart Wellness Day events will feature the following health resources, administered by our qualified pharmacy team: Free health screenings, including glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index and vision screenings (select locations) Educational health resources and consultations with our trusted pharmacy team Affordable immunizations, including measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), varicella (chicken pox), HPV, tetanus, whooping cough (TDAP) and more No-cost COVID-19 vaccines Reports of new COVID-19 cases continue to drop in areas of the country where the majority of the population is fully vaccinated. Unfortunately, in states where vaccination rates are lower, data shows a rise in cases and hospitalizations. Experts are also seeing variants of the virus starting to emerge, including the Delta variant, which appears to be more contagious. The good news is the CDC reports the three authorized COVID-19 vaccines offer protection against the current virus variants for those who are fully vaccinated. For those who receive their vaccination at Walmart and Sam’s Club, they can now get a free digital version of their vaccination record. Individuals can print, save on a device or share with third-party apps if they choose. Walmart pharmacies have been hosting Walmart Wellness Days since 2014 and have administered more than 4.75 million free health screenings for customers during that time. The quarterly wellness events shifted to a virtual format during the COVID-19 pandemic, and pharmacy staff are excited to be back in person for the first time since January 2020. To find a free event in your neighborhood, visit Walmart.com/wellnesshub. Walmart Wellness Day is one of many events conducted by Walmart across the country as part of its Mobile Wellness program, which launched in March to expand the company’s Health and Wellness efforts in communities. As part of these events and in addition to the vaccine clinic, the Mobile Wellness program will generate education and awareness of Walmart’s wellness services, in tandem with the program sponsor products from Clorox, Kleenex and GSK. About Walmart Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 220 million customers and members visit approximately 10,500 stores and clubs under 48 banners in 24 countries and eCommerce websites. With fiscal year 2021 revenue of $559 billion, Walmart employs 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at twitter.com/walmart. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Walmart on 3blmedia.com

July 21, 2021 03:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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SC Johnson and AccuWeather Announce Launch of First-of-its-Kind Pest Index to Help Families Plan for a Summer Full of Memories...Not Pests

SC Johnson

RACINE, Wis., July 14, 2021 /3BL Media/ - Summer is in full swing, and as people spend more time outside they’re likely to encounter pests including mosquitoes, ticks, ants and cockroaches that can quickly ruin a good time. Today, SC Johnson, the maker of iconic household brands such as OFF! ® and Raid ®, and AccuWeather, the most accurate weather source, announce the launch of a first-of-its-kind Pest Index. This new tool, created by AccuWeather and developed for a seasonal activation with SC Johnson, will help families plan for times – such as backyard BBQs or a trip to the park – when common pests may be present. “Just like you plan for sun or rain, it's important to plan for insects you might encounter in your daily activities,” said Dr. Thomas Mascari, bug expert and entomologist for SC Johnson. “Mosquitoes, ticks, roaches and ants can put a damper on summer fun, and the AccuWeather SC Johnson Pest Index is a great tool that utilizes the power of science to ensure that families are ready and able to help avoid pests outside or at home.” Consumers can access the new AccuWeather SC Johnson Pest Index at any time via a computer or mobile device by going to Accuweather.com/pest. The Pest Index provides users with real-time information on the potential incidence of common bugs in their local towns and cities. It factors in location, weather and insect behavior to predict what level of pest activity – low, moderate or high – people can expect from both indoor and outdoor pests, so they can plan accordingly with OFF! ® and Raid ® products from SC Johnson. Effective management of pests requires understanding where bugs like mosquitoes, ticks, ants and roaches may occur by knowing what attracts these insects, and what actions can be taken to control, repel or eliminate these pests from homes or surroundings. Insect activity varies and the Pest Index has already made some important predictions on what to expect in the U.S. this summer including: Significant rainfall and heat mean a higher chance of mosquito activity. Cities including Dallas, Houston and Lake Charles, Louisiana, are predicted to be most affected this summer with wetter-than-normal conditions. More broadly, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri, as well as Central and East Texas, should also prepare for increased mosquito activity. Drought and higher-than-normal heat may drive ants and cockroaches inside homes in search of food and water in the interior Northwest and inter-mountain West. Similar conditions are expected in the Dakotas due to an extreme spring drought that is carrying into summer. Occasional heat waves and dryness may force cockroaches indoors in the Northeast, particularly in cities like Burlington, Vermont, and Caribou, Maine. Meanwhile, ticks – which are very common pests in the Northeast – will continue to be a concern outdoors. A drier-than-average spring may help reduce mosquito activity in Michigan and the interior Northeast. Tips for Tackling Pests Any parent understands the importance of helping protect their family from bothersome bugs. That’s why SC Johnson teamed up with Tamron Hall – mother and Emmy ® Award-winning host of “The Tamron Hall Show” – to share her personal tips on how she plans to tackle pests year-round. “As a mom and journalist, credibility is key; I know SC Johnson products like OFF! ® and Raid ® are backed by decades of research, so I feel good about using them,” said Hall. “Planning ahead is also key to avoiding summer insects and the itchy mosquito bites that can come with enjoying our family time outdoors. I always make sure I have OFF! ® personal insect repellents on hand in case we need it so that our family time isn’t interrupted.” Outdoor pests like female mosquitoes typically seek out humans for a blood meal to fertilize eggs, while ticks feed as they transition to the next life stage. Both are attracted to the CO 2 exhaled by humans and both have the potential to transmit diseases. Planning for occurrences where ticks and mosquitoes may be present is key to preventing their bite. Preparing for outdoor activities and bringing along personal insect repellents like OFF! ® can help consumers repel mosquitoes and ticks. For indoor pests, like ants and cockroaches, both are seeking food and water and are attracted to homes in search of a meal and shelter. Cleaning up food preparations areas, storing food in sealed containers and placing Raid ® ant or roach baits in areas where these pests are spotted are all ways they can be controlled. “We are thrilled to partner with SC Johnson in making the connection between weather and the presence of insects easier to understand and more apparent for all of our audiences so they can make better proactive decisions to protect themselves,” said Scott Mackaro, Vice President of Science and Innovation at AccuWeather. “The AccuWeather SC Johnson Pest Index will undoubtedly help people prepare better and more comfortably for whatever activity they are planning, during any time of year.” In an effort to avoid unwanted infestations, the Pest Index will provide not only the estimated incidence of common pests but pest control information and recommended products that can be used to pest-proof areas around the home as well as planned outdoor activities. No matter what the situation, SC Johnson’s wide array of pest control products offers solutions for all types of pest problems and can help to keep pesky insects at bay. Visit Off.com and Raid.com for more information about common pests and products that can be used to manage them. ### About SC Johnson Institute of Insect Science For Family Health The SC Johnson Institute of Insect Science for Family Health was established in 1957 and its main location in Racine, Wisconsin, is one of the world’s largest private, urban entomology research centers in the world. In 2013, SC Johnson expanded its research operations globally, opening the first-of-its-kind research facility in China. Company researchers study and advance the sciences of insect biology, physiology, ecology, behavior and toxicology. The Institute also tests pest control formulations and delivery systems to help families protect themselves from insects and the diseases they may carry. About SC Johnson SC Johnson is a family company dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, pest control and shoe care, as well as professional products. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE ®, KIWI ®, OFF! ®, PLEDGE ®, RAID ®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES ®, SHOUT ®, WINDEX ® and ZIPLOC ® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN ®, BAYGON ®, BRISE ®, KABIKILLER ®, KLEAR ®, MR MUSCLE ® and RIDSECT ®. The 135-year-old company employs approximately 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com About AccuWeather, Inc. and AccuWeather.com — AccuWeather, recognized and documented as the most accurate source of weather forecasts and warnings in the world, has saved tens of thousands of lives, prevented hundreds of thousands of injuries and tens of billions of dollars in property damage. With global headquarters in State College, PA and other offices around the world, AccuWeather serves more than 1.5 billion people daily to help them plan their lives and get more out of their day through digital media properties, such as AccuWeather.com and mobile, as well as radio, television, newspapers, and the 24/7 AccuWeather Network channel. Additionally, AccuWeather produces and distributes news, weather content, and video for more than 180,000 third-party websites. Among AccuWeather’s many innovative and award-winning features available free to the public are MinuteCast ® Minute by Minute ® forecasts with Superior Accuracy™. Furthermore, AccuWeather serves more than half of Fortune 500 companies and thousands of businesses globally. Dr. Joel N. Myers, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, established AccuWeather in 1962 and is considered the “father of modern commercial meteorology.” Dr. Myers, a leading creative thinker and visionary, has been named “the most accurate man in weather” by The New York Times and one of the top entrepreneurs in American history by Entrepreneur’s Encyclopedia of Entrepreneurs. AccuWeather, RealFeel, RealFeel Shade, WinterCast, and MinuteCast are all registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature, AccuWeatherIQ, AccuWeather RealImpact, AccuWeather RI, AccuWeather MinuteCast, AccuWeather Network, Minute by Minute and Superior Accuracy are all trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All other trademarks, product names and logos are the property of their respective owners. The AccuWeather app for Android phone and tablet users is free at the Google Play store. The AccuWeather iOS app is free at www.AppStore.com. Visit accuweather.com for additional information. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from SC Johnson on 3blmedia.com

July 14, 2021 09:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Lawyer by Day, Children's Book Author by Night: How Susan Do Uses Her Voice and Vietnamese Culture in More Ways Than One

Yum! Brands

Susan Do wears many hats. At work, she is legal counsel for Pizza Hut Digital Ventures. At home, she is a wife and a mother to two Vietnamese-Honduran boys. And now, to the rest of the world, she is the author of “ The Phở Team,” a children’s book Do authored, illustrated, and published in the summer of 2020 under the name Susan Do Zuniga. “The Phở Team” follows Tân, a young boy on the hunt to cure his hunger. Along the way, he “meets” colorful personifications of all of the ingredients in his favorite traditional Vietnamese dish: phở. The chicken, noodles, onion and many more are the same ingredients of the phở recipe Do’s mother made when she was a child. “Growing up in New Orleans in a large Vietnamese community, I had so many influences from my culture, I wanted to make sure my kids had that, too,” Do said. “It is very important to us that our boys know our family heritage. My husband is Honduran, so he speaks to our sons in Spanish, and I speak to them in Vietnamese.” Do found there were not many options for children’s books about Vietnamese culture. After doing some research and coming up short, she decided to do it herself and write about one thing that is the focal point of so many family gatherings in her culture: food! Not as confident with her drawing skills as she was in her writing, Do considered having an illustrator to do the drawings for the book. Ultimately, though, she decided to put her insecurities aside and do it herself to get what was in her head down on paper. After a year and a half that included some self-doubt, a pregnancy, a pandemic and lots of support and feedback from family and friends, Do became a published author. The book has gained more popularity than she expected … and from unexpected places. “Every time I get an order from an American or non-Vietnamese name, I get so excited because it is awareness and representation for us,” Do said. “With everything going on in the Asian-American community, I couldn't be prouder of the effect that it has had. That's what I'm most excited about.” The violent acts that have occurred in the U.S. since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting #StopAsianHate movement, sparked a fire in Susan to begin speaking up more about her personal experiences, even as a child, being stereotyped. “We endured a lot of racism growing up,” Do recalls. “I mean, I've been called racist names, told I need to stop eating dogs or to go back to China. This has been happening my whole life, and it's been happening for years in the Asian community.” On the evening of the anti-Asian attacks that left eight people dead in Atlanta, Georgia, Do wrote an essay about her experience growing up Asian and the influence it had on her life. This was later published in her hometown paper, the Advocate. “I realized there needs to be better representation of what's happening with the Asian-American plight,” Do said. “We can no longer just put our heads down, work hard and get a pat on the back. Where I would normally be silent on issues, I know I need to start using my voice and sharing my perspective as an Asian woman.” At the end of “The Phở Team,” Tân sits down and shares the large pot of phở with his family for dinner, in a familial act all of us have experienced, regardless of our culture or heritage. As Do says: “I hope people see ‘The Phở Team’ as a book about food that brings a family together. It is the same in many cultures … we all share food as a common bond. The only difference is the type of food we bring to the table, and that is what makes us unique, allows us to share our story and learn from each other.” If you would like to share Vietnamese culture with your family or know someone who would, please go to ThePhoTeam.com and order your copy today! View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Yum! Brands on 3blmedia.com

July 08, 2021 10:31 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Spiceology Teams Up with Craft Beer Pioneers New Belgium Brewing to Introduce Beer-Infused Blends

Spiceology

Spiceology, the fastest-growing spice company in America, announced today its latest innovation in partnership with New Belgium Brewing with the release of six new beer-infused blends. The launch of this line follows Spiceology’s 2020 launch of fan favorite beer-infused blends made in collaboration with over-the-fire cooking expert Derek Wolf. Spiceology and New Belgium Brewing are taking summer barbecue plans by storm with these new rubs, featuring bold summer-inspired flavors. The new beer-infused blends were carefully curated to inspire friends and family to come together and experiment with flavor with innovative profiles, including Citrus Ginger, Habanero Grapefruit, Hot Honey, Moroccan Tagine, Summer BBQ, and Sweet & Sour. “When you think of Spiceology, you think of big and bold experimentation. And that’s exactly what you think of when you think of New Belgium,” said Tony Reed, Chef and Director of Innovations and Partnerships at Spiceology. “When we had the chance to pair the iconic flavors of New Belgium brands like Fat Tire and Voodoo Ranger with our spices, we knew that the flavors of barbecuing would never be the same.” Both companies aim to bring delicious flavor to all through spice blends and beer, and most importantly aim to make the world a better place while doing so. At Spiceology, the team believes in better flavor, not just through good ingredients and unique combinations, but also through responsible business practices designed to create a better world, with diversity and inclusion at the heart of the workforce. 63% of the executive leadership team at Spiceology is made up of women, and benefits are offered equitably across the company, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. As a chef-owned and operated company, Spiceology is committed to supporting fellow LGBTQ+ community members all year long through its ‘Love is Love’ product, which donates 10% of sales to a different LGBTQ+ organization every month. “Just like New Belgium, we believe that business should be a force for good,” said Chip Overstreet, CEO at Spiceology. “While we’ve always been a fan of New Belgium for their delicious beers, this partnership really came to life when we realized our desire to use our business for good was synergistic.” For 30 years now New Belgium has crafted world class beer while pushing forward solutions to the biggest social and environmental challenges of our time. New Belgium was the first brewery to be alternatively-powered and is a certified B Corp, and recently announced their flagship, Fat Tire, as the first carbon neutral beer in America. “We’re always evolving at New Belgium and looking for partnerships that support our goal of being a force for good. Collaborating with Spiceology gives us the opportunity to pair our world-class beers with custom-blended rubs while working with a company that shares our values” said Shaun Belongie, VP of Marketing at New Belgium Brewing. “As we celebrate our 30 th anniversary this year and look ahead to the future, we remain committed to partnering with brands like Spiceology who give us the opportunity to experiment in ways we haven’t before.” With this delicious new line of beer-infused rubs, Spiceology and New Belgium invite consumers to come together and experiment with bold flavors both in the kitchen and beyond. find all six new beer-infused blends on Spiceology’s website. For more information on Spiceology and its products, please visit Spiceology.com, or follow the brand on Instagram. ABOUT SPICEOLOGY Founded in 2013, Spiceology is the fastest-growing privately owned spice company in America, who set out on a mission from day one to eliminate dull flavor. The chef-owned and operated, one-stop spice shop offers innovative signature blends and over 300 fresh small-batch ground spices, herbs, chiles, salts, confections, fruit and vegetable powders, and modernist cooking ingredients. By bringing both staple and unique flavor to leading restaurants and directly to your home kitchen, Spiceology aims to change how its community adds flavor to their food, for good. The brand is sold direct to consumers and chefs across the U.S. and Canada, with customers as far-reaching as Australia and Dubai. For more information or to place an order, visit www.spiceology.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For recipe inspiration, visit here. ABOUT NEW BELGIUM BREWING New Belgium Brewing is recognized as a leader in sustainability and social responsibility. Founded in 1991 in Fort Collins, Colorado, the company expanded to Asheville, North Carolina in 2016, Denver, Colorado in 2018, and San Francisco, California in 2021, and is now the 4 th largest craft brewery in the U.S. Dedicated to proving that business can be a force for good, New Belgium is a Certified B Corp and was the first brewery to join 1% for the Planet. The brewery has donated over $29 million to charitable causes since 1991. New Belgium is famous for its flagship beer, Fat Tire Amber Ale, along with year-round favorites like Voodoo Ranger IPA, Sour IPA and La Folie Sour Brown Ale; as well as an award-winning wood-aged sour program and innovative limited release beers. To learn more about the full product lineup and New Belgium’s Human Powered Business model, visit NewBelgium.com. Contact Details Cassidy Levine +1 908-770-7880 cassidy@spiceology.com Company Website https://spiceology.com/

July 06, 2021 08:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

The Chicken Sandwich Wars Get Cooking

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/8j9695ATEXA The demand for chicken sandwiches is higher than ever before. 65% of the U.S. population ordered a breaded chicken sandwich from a restaurant in the last six months You might say that bird is the word for customers picking from their favorite menu. Look behind those numbers and popularity and you will find culinary innovation, innovative flavors, and an evolution of process and product. Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s have released an all-new Hand-Breaded Chicken sandwich lineup, as an evolution of Hardee’s already strong foothold in the space with their Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders that have been fan favorites for over a decade. The all-new sandwich lineup combines the best of both worlds with the Hand-Breaded Chicken Sandwich and the Hand-Breaded Chicken & Waffle Sandwich, a new play on a familiar combo, available at both Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr., along with the Hand-Breaded Chicken Biscuit at Hardee’s featuring their iconic Made From Scratch Biscuits. With a crispy exterior and savory, complex interior, Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s Hand-Breaded Chicken sandwiches are brought to life with 100% premium white meat breast filet that is marinated in signature seasonings, dipped in buttermilk, hand-breaded in Southern-style flour and then cooked until golden brown. As part of the new lineup, consumers will be able to enjoy the chicken morning, noon and night with menu options offered all day long. To complement the release, Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s will bring the fan obsession with hand-breaded to OnlyFans as the first national food chain to join the emerging platform. Looking ahead, Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s will continue to evolve their hand-breaded offerings with even more impossible-to-ignore flavors in the months to come. For more information visit: carlsjr.com or hardees.com About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 25, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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THE NEW YORK INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL UNVEILS ITS FULL 2021 LINEUP & AWARD NOMINATIONS

Indo-American Arts Council

Celebrates Unmatched Breadth of Indian Cinema with Films in 15 Languages A New York-based film festival may offer inspiration for its industry peers in answering calls for greater diversity and cultural representation in Hollywood. The New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), North America's oldest and most prestigious film festival which features cinema from India, and the Indian Diaspora, announces its full lineup. The festival dates are June 4-June 13 and films are available for pre-order starting Monday, May 17, 2021. Presented by the Indo-American Arts Council, Inc. (IAAC), and powered by MovieSaints, NYIFF celebrates the 21st year of independent, art house, alternate cinema from India and brings this rich collection of films to audiences in the U.S. and North America. Some films will also stream globally. Also, 24-hour online support will be provided by MovieSaints to ensure audiences across three continents have a seamless experience throughout the duration of the festival. “Last year, we had to reimagine the film festival in a virtual format, and it involved pivoting to an online platform. We emerged stronger with a larger footprint as global audiences engaged with the films,” said Suman Gollamudi, IAAC Executive Director. “This year, with the pandemic creating even more distress, we feel a greater responsibility to provide filmmakers an outlet to showcase their work. Plus, offer audiences hope through cinematic stories that give meaning, form and shape to lift our emotions.” Presented virtually for the second year in a row, the festival will feature 58 screenings (23 narrative features, 8 documentary features and 27 short films). The lineup will include worldwide, globally outside of India, the U.S. and NY premieres. Screenings will be followed by post-screening discussions with the filmmakers and acclaimed and celebrated personalities from the film industry. “We aimed to truly underscore the NYIFF commitment to diversity and cultural representation in film,” said Aseem Chhabra, NYIFF Festival Director. “This year, we will feature films in 15 languages spoken in India: Assamese, Bengali, English, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. All films will have English subtitles.” “NYIFF’s mission is to provide filmmakers, actors and industry professionals a platform to showcase their work, as well as foster an environment where filmmakers exchange ideas and interact with discerning and diverse audiences, journalists and aficionados,” Chhabra added. Films screened at NYIFF 2020 went out to win six National Awards, the most prominent film awards ceremony in India. This year, at NYIFF 2021, we are delighted to bring to you the following films that won National Awards: Khisa for “Best Debut Non-Feature Film of a Director” Sonsi for “Best Cinematography Non-Feature Film” Biryaani which received “Special Mention” Many of the films being shown at the festival have won accolades at leading international film festivals. Nasir won the NETPAC Award at the Rotterdam International Film Festival and Sthalpuran won the Young Cinema Award at the Asian Pacific Screen Awards. Apart from these, we are proud to present to our audience, films that have played at Berlinale, Sundance Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival and Rotterdam International Film Festival, among others. “For the first time, the 2021 lineup truly reflects the incredible diversity of Indian cinematic creativity,” said Dr. Nirmal Mattoo, Chairman IAAC. “This standout collection of films introduces new voices, fresh perspectives and original storytelling, which enhances the NYIFF curatorial legacy of spotlighting movies that go on to receive critical global acclaim.” “In addition, we will be unveiling a newly designed award in 2021,” continued Mattoo. “Conceived and created by IAAC Board Member and sculptor, Raj Shahani, this iconic award will epitomize the excellence that NYIFF seeks to foster with its annual awards presentation.” Each of these films along with the complete collection of NYIFF-recognized titles will be available for viewing starting June 4, 2021, at nyiff.us and nyiff.moviesaints.com. The cost to view each film ranges from US$4.99 for feature films (narrative and documentaries) and US$0.99 for shorts. Audiences outside the U.S., excluding India, can pay in their local currencies. In India, the cost will be Rs.150 for features and shorts starting at Rs. 50. There are also discount packages available. Feature Narratives Awakash (Marathi), dir. Chittaranjan Giri, 77 mins, 2020 Biryaani (Malayalam), dir. Sajin Baabu, 96 mins, 2020 Blue Bird (Kannada), dir. Ganesh Hegde, 106 mins, 2020 Fire in the Mountains (Hindi), dir. Ajitpal Singh, 82 mins, 2020 First Night (Tamil), dir. Jack Prabhu, Santoshh KK, 106 mins, 2020 Freddie’s Piano (English), dir. Aakash Prabhakar, Sudharshan Narayanan, 110 mins, 2020 God on the Balcony (Assamese), dir. Biswajeet Bora, 89 mins, 2020 Habaddi (Marathi), dir. Nachiket Samant, 110 mins, 2020 House of Orange Trees (Malayalam), dir. Dr. Biju Damodaran, 110 mins, 2020 June (Marathi), dir. Vaibhav Khisti, Suhrud Godbole, 94 mins, 2020 Mail (Telugu), dir. Uday Gurrala, 116 mins, 2020 Nasir (Tamil), dir. Arun Karthick, 78 mins, 2019 Nazarband (Captive) (Hindi), dir. Suman Mukhopadhyay, 85 mins, 2020 Parallel Lines (Kayamai Kadakka) (Tamil), dir. Kiran R, 104 mins, 2020 Parcel (Bengali), dir. Indrasis Acharya, 123 mins, 2020 Pinki Elli? (Where’s Pinki?) (Kannada), dir. Prithvi Konanur, 108 mins, 2020 Searching for Happiness (Bengali) dir. Suman Ghosh, 63 mins, 2021 Songs for Rain (Boroxun) (Assamese), dir. Krrishna Kt. Borah, 86 mins, 2020 Sthalpuran (Marathi), dir. Akshay Indikar, 85 mins, 2020 The Chicken Curry (Koli Taal) (Kannada), dir. Abhilash Shetty, 84 mins, 2020 The Tenant (English, Hindi), dir. Sushrat Jain, 112 mins, 2020 The Knot (Uljhan) (Hindi), dir. Ashish Pant, 113 mins, 2020 Zollywood (Marathi), dir. Trushant Ingle, 95 mins, 2019 Feature Documentaries Ahimsa Gandhi: The Power of the Powerless (English), dir. Ramesh Sharma, 92 mins, 2020 Borderlands (Punjabi, Bengali, Nepali, Manipuri), dir. Samarth Mahajan, 67 mins, 2021 Ghar Ka Pata (Home Address) (English, Hindi, Kashmiri), dir. Madhulika Jalali, 67 mins, 2020 Shut Up Sona (English, Hindi, Oriya), dir. Deepti Gupta, 85 mins. 2019 Talking Head (English, Bengali), dir. Spandan Banerjee, 94 mins, 2021 The Music of Satyajit Ray (English, Bengali), dir. Utpalendu Chakrabarty, 51 mins, 1984 The Space Between the Notes (English, Hindi), dir. Sumantra Ghosal, 52 mins, 2018 WOMB: Women of my Billions dir. Ajitesh Sharma (English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu), 103 mins, 2021 Short Narratives Adhura (Unfinished) (Hindi), dir. Arjun Lal, 19 mins, 2020 Annual Day (Salana Jalsa) (Marathi), dir. Pratik Thakare, 30 mins, 2020 Appa’s Seasons (Tamil), dir. Radhika Prasidhha, 22 mins, 2020 B. Selvi & Daughters (Tamil), dir. Drishya, 25 mins, 2020 Checking Out (English), dir. Vick Krishna, 15 mins, 2020 Happy Birthday (Hindi), dir. Ajay Kishore Shaw, 20 mins, 2020 Khayali Pulao (Hindi), dir. Tarun Dudeja, 26 mins, 2020 Khisa (Pocket) (Marathi), dir. Raj Pritam More, 16 mins, 2020 Kurma (English, Hindi), dir. Ramsee Chand, 18 mins, 2020 Laali (Hindi), dir. Abhiroop Basu, 30 mins, 2020 Loose Long Shirt (English), dir. Mitali Joshi, 6 mins, 2020 My Brother (Mera Bhai) (Hindi), dir. Shreela Agarwal, 22 mins, 2020 Naap (Hindi), dir. Harshit Acharya, 18 mins, 2020 Now That We’ve Met (English), dir. Nitya Turaga, 5 mins, 2020 Pilibhit (Hindi), dir. Ashutosh Chaturvedi, Pankaj Mavchi, 23 mins, 2020 Pinni (Kannada), dir. Bhuvan Sathya, 20 mins, 2020 Sonsi (Shadow Bird) (Hindi) dir. Savita Singh, 26 mins, 2020 Sunday (Hindi), dir. Arun Fulara, 10 mins, 2020 Tasher Ghawr (English), dir. Sudipto Roy, 47 mins, 2020 The Miniaturist of Junagarh (Hindi, Urdu), dir. Kaushal Oza, 29 mins, 2020 Untouchability (Theetu) (Tamil), dir. Haresh Narayanan, 7 mins, 2020 Vulture (Xogun) (Assamese), dir. Utpal Borpujari, 16 mins, 2020 Short Documentaries At the Altar of India’s Freedom – INA Veterans in Malaysia (English) dir. Choodie Shivaram, 30 mins, 2018 Baluji (English), dir. Cécile Embleton, 22 mins, 2020 Seva (English), dir. Rippin Sindher, 16 mins, 2019 The Hero Within (Hindi), dir. Stanley Hector, 7 mins, 2021 What’s Your Story? (English), dir. O.P. Srivastava, 51 mins, 2020 Media RSVP is required to suman.gn@iaac.us by Tuesday, June 1, 2021. Also, screeners are available to media. Press materials and a photo gallery are available here. More information at: nyiff.us and nyiff.moviesaints.com. For frequently asked technology questions visit https://nyiff.moviesaints.com/faq/nyiff. The 21st Annual NYIFF Award Nominations This year’s nominations were chosen by a prestigious panel of filmmakers and will be judged by artists and media professionals. The winners will be announced as part of the closing event on June 13, 2021. Best Film Fire in the Mountains June Nasir Pinki Eli?/ Where is Pinki? Sthalpuran Best Director Ajit Pal Singh ( Fire in the Mountains ) Akshay Indikar ( Sthalpuran ) Arun Karthik ( Nasir ) Krishna Kt. Borah ( Songs for the Rain ) Suman Mukhopadhaya ( Nazarband ) Best Screenplay Biryaani Mail Pinki Eli?/ Where is Pinki? The Chicken Curry/ Koli Taal The Knot/ Uljhan Best Actor Deep Jyoti Kalita ( Songs for the Rain ) Harish Khanna ( God on the Balcony ) Siddharth Menon ( June ) Tanmay Dhanania ( Nazarband ) Vikas Kumar ( The Knot/ Uljhan ) Best Actress Akshatha Pandavapura ( Pinki Eli?/ Where is Pinki? ) Ashwini Giri ( Awakash ) Indira Tiwari ( Nazarband ) Kani Kusruti ( Biryanni ) Vinamrata Rai ( Fire in the Mountain ) Best Child Actor Aman S. Karkera ( Blue Bird ) Karan Dave ( Habaddi ) Neel Deshmukh ( Sthalpuran ) Porinandhi Jima Sultana ( God on the Balcony ) Rudraksh Jaiswal ( The Tenant ) Best Short (Narrative) Annual Day B. Selvi & Daughters Tasher Ghawr Sonsi Sunday The Miniaturist of Junagardh Best Short (Documentary) Baluji Seva The Hero Within Best Documentary Ahimsa WOMB: Women of my Billion The Space Between the Notes Shut Up Sona Talking Head About The New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF): NYIFF is the oldest, most prestigious film festival screening premieres of feature, documentary and short films made from, of, and about India in the independent, art house, alternate and diaspora genres. Ten days of screenings, post-screening discussions, industry panels, award ceremonies, special events, nightly networking parties, red carpet galas, media attention and packed audiences build an awareness of Indian cinema, entertain and educate North Americans about the real India, and add to the amazing cultural diversity of New York City. For more information, please visit the website at nyiff.us and at nyiff.moviesaints.com. About Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC): The IAAC supports all the artistic disciplines in classical, fusion, folk and innovative forms influenced by the arts of India. We work cooperatively with colleagues around the U.S. to broaden our collective audiences and to create a network for shared information, resources and funding. Our focus is to help artists and art organizations in North America as well as to facilitate artists from India to exhibit, perform and produce their work here. The IAAC is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. For information, please visit www.iaac.us. About MovieSaints: MovieSaints is a comprehensive technology service provider for indie filmmakers and festivals. For indie films it offers solutions like secured global releases, a fundraising platform, secure storage and screener delivery services, etc. For festivals and film clubs it offers a customized, global virtual venue to host all sorts of film related events. Its Integrated Technology Suite includes secured streaming with foolproof piracy tracking, zone blocking for simultaneous online and offline releases, educational and corporate screenings, live Q&As, flexible pricing in over 100 countries, etc. For more information, please visit https://www.moviesaints.com. Contact Details Indo-American Arts Council Suman Gollamudi suman.gn@iaac.us Indo-American Arts Council Media Contact admin@iaac.us Company Website https://www.nyiff.us/

May 24, 2021 07:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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