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Hard Rock International Announces Development Of REVERB by Hard Rock® Pensacola To Open in 2029

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PENSACOLA, Fla. /PRNewswire/ — Today, Hard Rock International announces development plans for REVERB by Hard Rock® Pensacola to break ground in 2026 and open in 2029. REVERB by Hard Rock® is a unique hotel brand designed to be an energetic cultural hub for connection, creation and inspiration among music fans, locals and travelers alike. This will mark the company’s sixth REVERB property joining the portfolio, with Atlanta and Hamburg, and Kalamazoo, Tampa, and Scottsdale also being developed.

REVERB by Hard Rock® Pensacola will feature more than 125 hotel technology-enhanced rooms, a full-service restaurant, rooftop bar, lobby bar and lounge, quick service restaurant and fitness center. An exclusive REVERB City Guide for Pensacola will feature local artist-curated lists of favorite drinks, dining, and entertainment locations throughout the local area. Additionally, the property will host a podcast recording studio for local talent and creators as well as a meeting space for conferences.

The property will be located downtown at Maritime Park along Pensacola Bay with views of the picturesque water that connects to the Gulf of Mexico and with views of Blue Wahoos Stadium. It will provide easy access to nearby hotspots including beautiful beaches, National Naval Aviation Museum and Pensacola Museum of Art. The hotel will be developed on a 100-year ground lease with the city of Pensacola that goes to vote by the City Council on August 8, 2024. The project is expected to create an economic boost to the area and generate 500+ construction and 75+ permanent hospitality employment opportunities with competitive pay.

“Hard Rock is thrilled to keep growing our REVERB hotel portfolio with what will be the second planned property in Florida, this time in the heart of Pensacola Bay. We have full confidence in our partner, the Dawson Company, to deliver a best-in-class hotel based on their four decades of proven experience executing complex and catalytic projects throughout the eastern United States, and their extensive knowledge of the Pensacola market,” said Todd Hricko, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Hotel Development at Hard Rock International.

The Dawson Company, a second generation, Pensacola-based development firm known for its pioneering, landmark mixed-use developments in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Baltimore and Pensacola has assembled one of the most accomplished and world-renown design and engineering teams ever to design the project in Florida’s Panhandle. The design team includes Gensler, the world’s largest preeminent architectural design firm that has created some of the most distinctive, recognizable and celebrated monuments and structures around the world and Kravitz Design, the global conceptual design firm helmed by music and style icon Lenny Kravitz known globally for their groundbreaking, yet approachable and artistic style. With a plan to build in mass timber, Thornton Tomasetti, the foremost thought leader on mass timber design is also on the design team.

“With its roots in music, entertainment and philanthropy, Hard Rock is a wonderful partner for The Dawson Company to continue extending our real estate footprint,” said Tamara Bowens, President & Chief Operating Officer for the Dawson Company. “We are truly excited to bring the REVERB by Hard Rock to the city of Pensacola and we look forward to also working closely with Gensler, Kravitz Design and Thornton Tomasetti to develop what’s to become an incredible mainstay in Pensacola.”

Other partners contributing to the development include Pensacola native, NFL Hall of Famer and real estate entrepreneur, Emmitt Smith, CEO at EJ Smith Enterprises.

For more information about current and upcoming properties, visit hotel.hardrock.com.  

About REVERB by Hard Rock®

REVERB by Hard Rock® is a new select-service hotel designed for the modern music lover; a sanctuary for the eclectic, a place for fans to gather and experience a melting pot of music culture. The hotel features a modern, urban design, user-friendly integrated technology and a program that focuses on local music, food and lifestyle. Hard Rock has been celebrating the spirit of music for nearly five decades; with REVERB, they shine the spotlight directly on the fans. For more information about REVERB by Hard Rock, visit reverb.hardrock.com.

About Hard Rock® 

Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in over 70 countries spanning 309 locations that include owned/licensed or managed Hotels, Casinos, Rock Shops®, Live Performance Venues and Cafes. Its Unity by Hard Rock™ global loyalty program rewards members for doing the things they love across participating properties around the world. HRI also launched a joint venture named Hard Rock Digital in 2020, an online sportsbook, retail sportsbook and internet gaming platform. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia at more than 88,000 pieces, which are displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock Hotels has been honored by J.D. Power’s North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study as the number one or two brand in Outstanding Guest Satisfaction for five consecutive years among the top Upper Upscale Hotels. HRI became the first privately-owned gaming company designated a U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal in 2021 and has since been honored fourfold. Hard Rock was also honored by Forbes among the World’s Best Employers, as well as Best Employers for Women, Diversity and New Grads and a Top Large Employer in the Travel & Leisure, Gaming and Entertainment Industry. In the 2022 Global Gaming Awards, Hard Rock was named Land-Based Operator of the Year for the second time in four years. Hard Rock International currently holds investment grades from primary investment-grade rating agencies: S&P Global Ratings (BBB-) and Fitch Ratings (BBB). For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com or shop.hardrock.com

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About the Dawson Company
The Dawson Company dba Inspired Communities of Florida is a second-generation managed, Pensacola Florida-based real estate company founded in 1969 in Atlanta, GA by Harold Dawson, Sr. With a history rooted in “doing well by doing good,” The Dawson Company has developed, renovated, and/or managed 5 million square feet of office, 1.5 million square feet of retail, and 15,000+ units of attached and multifamily housing. Drawing on its in-house expertise, The Dawson Company has evolved into a boutique development firm that immerses itself into niche tertiary markets to create impactful, enduring, catalytic mixed-use developments that grow, strengthen and enhance cities, towns and communities.  For more information visit: www.thedawsoncompany.com.

SOURCE Hard Rock International

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Heidi Klum Fronts GREY GOOSE “Devil Wears Prada 2” Push Featuring The Devil’s Roast Cocktail

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GREY GOOSE is stepping into the spotlight with a new collaboration tied to 20th Century Studios’ “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” arriving exclusively in theaters May 1. The French vodka brand is rolling out a multi-platform campaign that blends fashion, film, and cocktail cultureand it’s led by supermodel and Emmy-winning television personality Heidi Klum.

GREY GOOSE
GREY GOOSE and Heidi Klum Strut Into the World of The Devil Wears Prada 2

The partnership includes celeb-forward social content, immersive pop-ups, in-theater cocktail activations, and limited-edition packaging inspired by the highly anticipated sequelwhich returns more than 20 years after the original film became a defining pop-culture moment.

Klum stars in an original content piece created with BBH USA, set inside the world of “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” The spot spotlights The Devil’s Roast, a GREY GOOSE twist on Miranda Priestly’s iconic coffee order from the first film, reimagined as an espresso martini-style cocktail. Klum draws a line between Runway Magazine’s exacting standards and the craftsmanship behind the collaboration.

GREY GOOSE x The Devil Wears Prada 2 Unveil “All Access” Starring Heidi Klum

The Devil’s Roast is positioned as the campaign’s signature serve: made with GREY GOOSE vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur, a pinch of salt, and finished with three gold-dusted coffee beans. Fans can try it at GREY GOOSE Devil’s Roast pop-ups in New York City on April 14, 21, and 23 at Zuccotti Park and Manhattan West Plaza, paired with gold-dusted popcorn. Select theaters nationwide will also feature specialty GREY GOOSE cocktails when the film opens.

Additional U.S. elements include New York City out-of-home billboards and a limited-edition GREY GOOSE specialty box available starting April 1 at retailers nationwide.

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Source: GREY GOOSE (PRNewswire, Mar 17, 2026)

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L’Oréal Paris Gets Glam With “The Devil Wears Prada 2” in Oscars-Night Ad Featuring Kendall Jenner and Simone Ashley

L’Oréal Paris teams with The Devil Wears Prada 2 for an Oscars-night ad starring Kendall Jenner and Simone Ashley, ahead of the film’s May 1 release.

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Last Updated on April 30, 2026 by Daily News Staff

L’Oréal Paris is stepping back into one of pop culture’s most stylish fictional workplaces.

The beauty brand announced a new collaboration with 20th Century Studios’ The Devil Wears Prada 2, launching with a custom commercial set to debut during the 98th Annual Academy Awards. The film hits theaters May 1, and the Oscars-night spot is designed as the first major moment in a broader promotional partnership that will roll out alongside the movie’s theatrical release.

The Devil Wears Prada 2
L’ORÉAL PARIS GETS GLAM WITH “THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2,” DEBUTING OSCARS-NIGHT AD FEATURING KENDALL JENNER AND SIMONE ASHLEY

A Runway Magazine-inspired spot, built for Oscars night

Created by Maximum Effort, the ad is a cinematic nod to the world of The Devil Wears Prada 2, recreating the sleek, high-pressure energy of Runway Magazine’s offices with a glossy, fashion-forward edge.

In the storyline, L’Oréal Paris global ambassador Kendall Jenner finds herself at the center of an unexpected mix-up: she’s mistaken for a candidate interviewing to become Miranda Priestly’s new assistant. The spot also introduces one of Miranda’s latest assistants, Amari, portrayed in the film by Simone Ashley, who appears alongside Jenner in the campaign.

The commercial is positioned as both a playful homage to the franchise and a brand-forward moment that connects L’Oréal Paris to the film’s signature mix of confidence, glamour, and sharp humor.

Kendall Jenner and Simone Ashley on stepping into the Runway world

Jenner described the experience as a personal fashion fantasy.

“Spending the day at the Runway office was honestly so much fun,” she said. “I got to live my dream walking past that iconic reception, and what made it even more special was getting to experience it alongside my L’Oréal Paris family. I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”

Ashley, who joins the sequel’s cast and appears in the ad as Amari, called the collaboration an extension of a major milestone.

“Working on this film has been a true career highlight and bringing it further to life with this spot with L’Oréal Paris has been so much fun,” she said. “I loved working with both the L’Oréal Paris and Disney teams and can’t wait for The Devil Wears Prada fans to see what we created.”

A multi-pronged partnership at the intersection of beauty and entertainment

L’Oréal Paris says the Oscars-night debut is only the beginning. The collaboration will continue through the film’s theatrical rollout with a series of creative activations designed to celebrate “confidence, glamour, and cultural impact” where entertainment and beauty overlap.

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Laura Branik, President of L’Oréal Paris Brand, framed the partnership as a natural fit for a moment that blends fashion, film, and cultural conversation.

“Teaming up with The Devil Wears Prada 2 lets us show up in a moment that defines beauty and pop culture, and at a scale that matches the legacy of the film,” Branik said. “Launching this collaboration on Oscars night, with a spot that pays homage to the story and brings together our global ambassadors Kendall Jenner and Simone Ashley, is a meaningful way to reinforce what L’Oréal Paris stands for: celebrating women who set the standard, on screen and in real life.”

Disney echoed that tone, emphasizing the sequel’s core themes.

“Confidence, glamour, and humor are at the heart of The Devil Wears Prada 2,” said Lylle Breier, EVP, Partnerships, Promotions, Synergy & Events at Disney. “We are delighted to collaborate with iconic beauty house L’Oréal Paris to celebrate the release of the new film in such a stylish and fun way.”

The film returns to Runway, 20 years later

The Devil Wears Prada 2 arrives two decades after the original 2006 film became a defining fashion-and-media touchstone. The sequel brings back the original main cast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, returning to New York City and the Runway Magazine offices.

The film also reunites director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna, while introducing new cast members including Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, Kenneth Branagh, B.J. Novak, Simone Ashley, Patrick Brammall, Caleb Hearon, Helen J. Shen, and Pauline Chalamet. Tracie Thoms and Tibor Feldman reprise their roles as Lily and Irv.

20th Century Studios’ sequel is produced by Wendy Finerman and executive produced by Karen Rosenfelt, Michael Bederman, and Aline Brosh McKenna. The movie debuts exclusively in theaters May 1.

Where to watch the ad

The L’Oréal Paris Oscars-night spot is available online here: https://youtu.be/HbAbxcPYBMk

For more information, L’Oréal Paris notes that it is the world’s number one beauty brand, available in 150 countries, with a mission focused on empowering women through confidence and self-worth—an ethos the brand says aligns with the cultural legacy of The Devil Wears Prada franchise.

Source: L’Oréal Paris USA press release via PRNewswire (March 15, 2026).

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The Largest AI Film Competition Is a Snapshot of Where AI Filmmaking Is Headed

Largest AI Film Competition : Ten Los Angeles Film School and Los Angeles Recording School alumni contributed to 2026 Oscar-winning films including One Battle After Another, Sinners, F1, and Avatar: Fire and Ash.

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professional video editing interface on computer screen
Largest AI Film Competition
Photo by Fuka jaz on Pexels.com

A year ago, “AI film” still sounded like a niche experiment—cool demos, rough edges, and lots of debate about whether it could ever look truly cinematic. Higgsfield’s latest competition results suggest we’ve crossed into a new phase: AI filmmaking is becoming a real, global production lane, driven by independent creators working outside traditional studio systems.

According to the company, its AI Film Competition drew nearly 8,800 submissions from 139 countries, with a $500,000 cash prize pool distributed to independent filmmakers. Beyond the winners, the dataset reads like a market signal: generative tools are lowering the cost of entry for high-end visuals, and the talent pipeline is no longer geographically locked to legacy production hubs.

A global creator map is replacing the old studio map

One of the most telling takeaways is where the work is coming from. Higgsfield reports the largest volume of entries came from:

  • India (1,805)
  • United States (1,041)
  • Germany (278)
  • France (230)
  • Italy (228)
  • Brazil (212)
  • United Kingdom (196)

Historically, cinematic action and high-end VFX were concentrated in a handful of established centers—places with the budgets, infrastructure, and specialized crews to pull off complex sequences. Higgsfield’s results point to a different reality: subscription-based, production-grade AI tools are reducing geographic barriers, enabling creators across Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe to compete in the same visual arena.

Higgsfield CEO Alex Mashrabov framed it as a creator inflection point, arguing that the scale of participation signals the next breakout franchise “can come from anywhere on Earth.” Whether or not you buy the blockbuster prediction, the underlying shift is hard to ignore: global access is now a feature of the production model.

The judging criteria hints at what matters next

Another important detail: the prize pool wasn’t awarded for “best render” alone. Higgsfield says the jury—made up of both traditional production veterans and AI-native creators—prioritized storytelling and directorial intent over technical polish.

That’s a meaningful signal for where AI filmmaking is headed. As tools improve, the baseline for visual quality rises. What differentiates creators isn’t just the ability to generate a shot—it’s the ability to direct one: pacing, tone, character, and clarity of vision.

The jury included names and studios spanning both worlds, such as Secret Level (founded by Emmy-winning filmmaker Jason Zada), Buralqy, concept artist Jama Jurabaev, and PJ Ace of Genre.ai—who called it “the best-looking AI film contest” they’ve seen.

Decentralized production is no longer theoretical

The Grand Prize winner is also a case study in how AI changes collaboration. 1st Place ($150,000) went to Muhannad Nassar (Detroit) and Simon Meyer (Germany) for “GRANDMA vs WASP.” The pair reportedly never met in person, instead using an asynchronous workflow across time zones with Higgsfield’s Cinema Studio.

That’s not just a fun anecdote—it’s a preview of a parallel production ecosystem where teams form around taste and capability rather than geography. If the toolchain is centralized in the cloud, the “studio” becomes a workflow, not a building.

Winners show two pathways: new creators and experienced pros

The rest of the top placements reflect how broad the adoption curve is becoming:

  • 2nd Place ($100,000): Nikolay Shestak for “CUPID,” using Higgsfield to execute concepts that would normally be budget-prohibitive. He plans to apply the prize toward an independent superhero film.
  • 3rd Place ($50,000): Brothers Ash and Aram Gevorkyan for “SCRATCH,” created in five days. Ash noted audiences mistook it for a studio-backed theatrical release and asked for a link to the “full movie.”

What’s emerging is a two-lane future: newcomers using AI to enter filmmaking for the first time, and established creatives using it to expand what they can produce independently.

Money is starting to loop back into production

Higgsfield also highlights something that looks a lot like early-stage industry deal flow: one top winner is reportedly reinvesting prize money back into the platform to produce a feature-length film, and the project has already attracted involvement from a major Hollywood figure.

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That matters because it suggests AI-generated work isn’t staying in a separate “AI corner.” It’s beginning to intersect with the traditional financing-and-distribution ecosystem—especially when the output looks cinematic enough to be taken seriously.

The market is growing—and the infrastructure is consolidating

The competition results land in a market that’s expanding quickly. Citing Grand View Research, Higgsfield notes the global AI video generator market was estimated at $788.5 million in 2025 and is projected to reach $3.44 billion by 2033 (a 20.3% CAGR).

Higgsfield is positioning itself as an all-in-one workflow layer, combining its own models with third-party options (including OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s Veo, among others) so creators can choose the best model per task without rebuilding pipelines. The company says it serves 20 million+ users who have generated 50 million+ videos, and it reports a most recent valuation of $1.3 billion.

What to watch for next

If you’re tracking where AI filmmaking is going, this competition offers a few clear “watch points”:

  • More global breakout creators as the cost of cinematic visuals continues to fall
  • Decentralized teams forming around projects, not locations
  • A shift from “can it look good?” to “can you direct it?” as quality becomes more accessible
  • Traditional industry crossover as AI-native projects attract recognizable partners

Want to see the winning films and action scenes? Higgsfield has them here: https://higgsfield.ai/contests/make-your-action-scene

Source: Higgsfield press release distributed via PRNewswire (March 18, 2026).

Looking for an entertainment experience that transcends the ordinary? Look no further than STM Daily News Blog’s vibrant Entertainment section. Immerse yourself in the captivating world of indie films, streaming and podcasts, movie reviews, music, expos, venues, and theme and amusement parks. Discover hidden cinematic gems, binge-worthy series and addictive podcasts, gain insights into the latest releases with our movie reviews, explore the latest trends in music, dive into the vibrant atmosphere of expos, and embark on thrilling adventures in breathtaking venues and theme parks. Join us at STM Entertainment and let your entertainment journey begin! https://stmdailynews.com/category/entertainment/

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