An event distribution and event handling system receives a first event at a first event filter. The first event filter has a set of associated filter criteria, which is applied to the first event. If the first event satisfies the filter criteria, the first event is transformed into a second event and the second event is communicated to a second event filter having a set of associated filter criteria. The second event filter is associated with an event consumer, which performs an action if the second event satisfies the filter criteria associated with the second event filter. The second event includes an event header having a standard format and a payload having multiple payload objects.