Reel Women: PR guru Nicole Goesseringer Muj

Nicole
(REEL WOMAN: Nicole Gosseringer Muj)

Nicole Goesseringer Muj is the visionary the founder of Kultura PR International LLC, a boutique public relations agency that specializes in international entertainment, lifestyle and cultural clients.

​Previously, she served as Associate Director, Worldwide Publicity, E! Networks, where she oversaw media relations for E!’s rapidly expanding international division, including the E! International Network and E!’s program sales division. She also was responsible for domestic trade and consumer publicity for E!, The Style Network and E! Online.

Prior to E!, she worked in new media/entertainment convergence public relations at mPRm Public Relations and was responsible for several high profile accounts, including Sony Pictures. Nicole also worked at Steeplechase Media, Comspan Communications and Comspan Russia as Director of Marketing Communications.

She holds a Master of Arts in Communications from California State University, Fullerton, and a Bachelor of Arts in Slavic Studies from the University of Ottawa in Canada. Nicole is an experienced journalist, serving as Managing Editor, Indie Entertainment Magazine and Lifestyle & Entertainment Editor, GOTHAMOLOGY and is a contributor to Informer Media, Jetset Magazine, Azure Azure, filmfestivals.com, Destination Luxury, The Hype Magazine and Quoi de Neuf?

She is the co-founder of French Riviera Film Festival.

Let’s meet Nicole!

What’s your origin story?

I am first-generation Canadian, born in Toronto and grew up in the “boonies” as they say from age three, on the shores of beautiful Lake Simcoe, Ontario. My mother was from Germany and father from Austria and I believe I was very lucky to have been raised by such amazing parents in such a calm and serene environment. I ended up majoring in Slavic Studies, with a minor in German, at the University of Ottawa.

After earning my bachelor’s degree, I attended University of Texas at Austin and California State University Fullerton, and earned a master’s degree in communications. After this, I spent one year in Russia, in St. Petersburg and Moscow, just after the Perestroika period.

To experience the Russian culture and live with the Russian people had a real impact on my life. I am still very close with many of the classmates and the friends I made during this time in my life.  (Present day, I am devastated by what Vladimir Putin is doing to the people of Ukraine.)

How did you get into the entertainment and media industries?

I was able to combine my Slavic studies and communications specialties and began to work for a company called Comspan Communications, the first company to bring Western entertainment content and live events to the former Soviet Union. Comspan, incidentally, was owned by Larry Namer, who founded E! Entertainment Television. To this day, I’m delighted to be working with Larry, handling his company’s and partners’ PR.

Eventually, I went on to handle international and domestic trade PR for Comcast Networks (E!, Style Network and G4). I decided after five years at Comcast that I wanted to start my own business, so in 2006, I founded Kultura PR International. I have never looked back since then.

Who were your mentors?

My mother Trudi, my sister Sonja, and Kay Brown Philips… all incredible women, who have passed on.

Some other women who I would like to mention as inspirations to me are award-winning filmmaker Sue Vicory, founder of womendocumentaryfilmmakers.com and My Power of One, and most recently, my friend HFPA journalist Lena Basse. Lena was born in Kyiv and dropped everything to go to Europe to help the people of Ukraine.

While there will be others, what do you consider your biggest achievement to date?

I have two of note. Firstly, the most memorable achievement was to organize some of the final concerts by “The Voice,” the late Whitney Houston in the former Soviet Union.

And secondly, French Riviera Film Festival, a festival I co-founded, along with my business partner Gotham Chandna. The festival is dedicated to the celebration of short films and short form content. I am very proud of what we have done in only four short years, and the 2022 installment of the festival will be held once again live in Cannes during the time of the Festival de Cannes.

We just launched a special PSA campaign in support of Ukraine people and have called upon our celebrity partners to help us. And, we’re in the final approvals of creating a non-profit under the FRFF banner, dedicated to promoting cultural exchange and collaboration.

Other highlights include working with Gotham on some amazing projects, including a “Salute to Akira Kurosawa” during Cannes, developing special panel showcases during the top film festivals and markets, and launching Indie Entertainment Media magazine.

What drives you to create? 

I truly enjoy my work and am passionate about my international projects, from concert bookings in Europe to panel events during the world’s top film events to my own film festival. I’m always looking for ways to take things to even greater heights.

What shows are doing the best job of portraying strong women on TV?

The sitcom Designing Women. I must say that one of my favorite female characters of all time is Julia Sugarbaker, played by the late Dixie Carter.


REELated: See who else is on the Reel Women List


Coffee, Lunch or Happy Hour. Name a famous woman you would like to attend each function with.

Coffee (or tea): Stevie Nicks;

Lunch: French actress Isabelle Huppert

Happy Hour: The late Betty White

What is the biggest challenge to women in your industry?

For me, it is to be taken seriously. Sometimes it seems as if my plans and ideas are not considered as valid or are questioned, simply because I am female. This “questioning” is not only by men.  Regardless, this hasn’t stopped me. It gives me a great sense of satisfaction when one of my projects comes to fruition and is successful.

How has having the superpower helped you?

I believe that things are changing with regard to opportunities for women in the arts.  I have met and have worked with so many incredible and fearless women – filmmakers, musicians, writers, actresses, artists, all of whom are using their superpowers for change. We all must support one another.

What is your kryptonite? 

My kryptonite is ‘time’ or lack of it.  I have so many things I want to do and accomplish, and there just are not enough hours in the day.

When you’re not creating, what do you do in your off time?

I watch movies – classics, indies, foreign films, documentaries, and of course, shorts!

Predict your future! Where are you in 5 years?

Growing the French Riviera Film Festival, launching new cultural initiatives, and delving more into producing. I have produced a number of lifestyle shows, PSAs and segments over the past several years, and really enjoy the process.


Nominate Someone You know For 4th Annual REEL WOMEN


Nicole
(REEL WOMAN: Nicole Gosseringer Muj)

Nicole Goesseringer Muj is the visionary the founder of Kultura PR International LLC, a boutique public relations agency that specializes in international entertainment, lifestyle and cultural clients.

​Previously, she served as Associate Director, Worldwide Publicity, E! Networks, where she oversaw media relations for E!’s rapidly expanding international division, including the E! International Network and E!’s program sales division. She also was responsible for domestic trade and consumer publicity for E!, The Style Network and E! Online.

Prior to E!, she worked in new media/entertainment convergence public relations at mPRm Public Relations and was responsible for several high profile accounts, including Sony Pictures. Nicole also worked at Steeplechase Media, Comspan Communications and Comspan Russia as Director of Marketing Communications.

She holds a Master of Arts in Communications from California State University, Fullerton, and a Bachelor of Arts in Slavic Studies from the University of Ottawa in Canada. Nicole is an experienced journalist, serving as Managing Editor, Indie Entertainment Magazine and Lifestyle & Entertainment Editor, GOTHAMOLOGY and is a contributor to Informer Media, Jetset Magazine, Azure Azure, filmfestivals.com, Destination Luxury, The Hype Magazine and Quoi de Neuf?

She is the co-founder of French Riviera Film Festival.

Let’s meet Nicole!

What’s your origin story?

I am first-generation Canadian, born in Toronto and grew up in the “boonies” as they say from age three, on the shores of beautiful Lake Simcoe, Ontario. My mother was from Germany and father from Austria and I believe I was very lucky to have been raised by such amazing parents in such a calm and serene environment. I ended up majoring in Slavic Studies, with a minor in German, at the University of Ottawa.

After earning my bachelor’s degree, I attended University of Texas at Austin and California State University Fullerton, and earned a master’s degree in communications. After this, I spent one year in Russia, in St. Petersburg and Moscow, just after the Perestroika period.

To experience the Russian culture and live with the Russian people had a real impact on my life. I am still very close with many of the classmates and the friends I made during this time in my life.  (Present day, I am devastated by what Vladimir Putin is doing to the people of Ukraine.)

How did you get into the entertainment and media industries?

I was able to combine my Slavic studies and communications specialties and began to work for a company called Comspan Communications, the first company to bring Western entertainment content and live events to the former Soviet Union. Comspan, incidentally, was owned by Larry Namer, who founded E! Entertainment Television. To this day, I’m delighted to be working with Larry, handling his company’s and partners’ PR.

Eventually, I went on to handle international and domestic trade PR for Comcast Networks (E!, Style Network and G4). I decided after five years at Comcast that I wanted to start my own business, so in 2006, I founded Kultura PR International. I have never looked back since then.

Who were your mentors?

My mother Trudi, my sister Sonja, and Kay Brown Philips… all incredible women, who have passed on.

Some other women who I would like to mention as inspirations to me are award-winning filmmaker Sue Vicory, founder of womendocumentaryfilmmakers.com and My Power of One, and most recently, my friend HFPA journalist Lena Basse. Lena was born in Kyiv and dropped everything to go to Europe to help the people of Ukraine.

While there will be others, what do you consider your biggest achievement to date?

I have two of note. Firstly, the most memorable achievement was to organize some of the final concerts by “The Voice,” the late Whitney Houston in the former Soviet Union.

And secondly, French Riviera Film Festival, a festival I co-founded, along with my business partner Gotham Chandna. The festival is dedicated to the celebration of short films and short form content. I am very proud of what we have done in only four short years, and the 2022 installment of the festival will be held once again live in Cannes during the time of the Festival de Cannes.

We just launched a special PSA campaign in support of Ukraine people and have called upon our celebrity partners to help us. And, we’re in the final approvals of creating a non-profit under the FRFF banner, dedicated to promoting cultural exchange and collaboration.

Other highlights include working with Gotham on some amazing projects, including a “Salute to Akira Kurosawa” during Cannes, developing special panel showcases during the top film festivals and markets, and launching Indie Entertainment Media magazine.

What drives you to create? 

I truly enjoy my work and am passionate about my international projects, from concert bookings in Europe to panel events during the world’s top film events to my own film festival. I’m always looking for ways to take things to even greater heights.

What shows are doing the best job of portraying strong women on TV?

The sitcom Designing Women. I must say that one of my favorite female characters of all time is Julia Sugarbaker, played by the late Dixie Carter.


REELated: See who else is on the Reel Women List


Coffee, Lunch or Happy Hour. Name a famous woman you would like to attend each function with.

Coffee (or tea): Stevie Nicks;

Lunch: French actress Isabelle Huppert

Happy Hour: The late Betty White

What is the biggest challenge to women in your industry?

For me, it is to be taken seriously. Sometimes it seems as if my plans and ideas are not considered as valid or are questioned, simply because I am female. This “questioning” is not only by men.  Regardless, this hasn’t stopped me. It gives me a great sense of satisfaction when one of my projects comes to fruition and is successful.

How has having the superpower helped you?

I believe that things are changing with regard to opportunities for women in the arts.  I have met and have worked with so many incredible and fearless women – filmmakers, musicians, writers, actresses, artists, all of whom are using their superpowers for change. We all must support one another.

What is your kryptonite? 

My kryptonite is ‘time’ or lack of it.  I have so many things I want to do and accomplish, and there just are not enough hours in the day.

When you’re not creating, what do you do in your off time?

I watch movies – classics, indies, foreign films, documentaries, and of course, shorts!

Predict your future! Where are you in 5 years?

Growing the French Riviera Film Festival, launching new cultural initiatives, and delving more into producing. I have produced a number of lifestyle shows, PSAs and segments over the past several years, and really enjoy the process.


Nominate Someone You know For 4th Annual REEL WOMEN