2007 INTERNATIONAL EMMY® WORLD TELEVISION FESTIVAL PRESENTS A PANORAMA OF PROGRAMMING FROM OVER 20 COUNTRIES

NEW YORK, November 1, 2007 – The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced today the line-up for its 2007 International Emmy® World Television Festival, to take place on November 17 and 18, at the Sofitel Hotel in New York.

A by invitation kick-off cocktail party hosted by Katherine Oliver, Commissioner, The Mayor’s Office of Film, Broadcasting & Theatre will launch the weekend of festivities at Gracie Mansion, on Friday, November 16. Home Box Office (HBO) will be hosting the closing cocktail on Sunday, November 18.

The Festival will feature the International Emmy® Nominee screenings and presentations during which the producers of the nominated programs discuss their program in the nine Emmy® categories including:  Arts Programming; Best Performance by an Actress; Best Performance by an Actor; Children & Young People; Comedy; Documentary; Drama Series; Non-Scripted Entertainment and TV Movie/Mini-Series.  All nominated programs will be screened over the two days of the Festival.

This year’s highlights also include a discussion on “How to Make Successful Drama Series” featuring CSI/Las Vegas producer, Steven Felder and a panel on “The Television of Tomorrow, Today”, featuring speakers from Joost, The BBC, Blinkbox, ABC News and Bravofact. A strand of panels on Socially Responsible Television with expert speakers from the BBC, Egyptian TV, Globo TV, Nigerian TV, Population Media and Sesame Workshop will also take place throughout the weekend.

“The International Emmy® World Television Festival is a unique platform for organizations wanting to promote themselves to the global television community with some 800 international media and entertainment professionals returning each year.” said Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, also President of Hearst Entertainment. 

International Emmy® Award Nominees will receive their medals at the Nominee Medal Ceremony organized each year at the Festival. The Academy will also present the Sir Peter Ustinov Young Scriptwriter Award, to Australian winner Felicity Carpenter for her script “Touching People”.

Liu Changle, Chairman & CEO of Phoenix Satellite Television is the 2007 Festival Chairman.

2007 Festival Sponsors include Hong Kong based Phoenix Satellite Television, Globo TV, Home Box Office, The Hollywood Reporter, Microsoft, Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting and Sofitel Accor Hotels.

Founded in 1969, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is the largest organization of global broadcasters, with members from nearly 70 countries and over 400 companies. The Academy was chartered with a mission to recognize excellence in television programming produced outside of the United States, and it presents the International Emmy Award to programs in eleven categories: Arts Programming; Best Performance by an Actress; Best Performance by an Actor; Children & Young People; Comedy; Continuing News Coverage; Documentary; Drama Series; Interactive Channel; Interactive Program; Interactive Service; News; Non-Scripted Entertainment; TV Movie/Mini-Series.

The Academy is a unique, independent organization including the world’s leading entertainment and media professionals who come together to exchange ideas, discuss common issues and promote new strategies for the future development of quality global television programming. The International Emmy® World Television Festival to be held Saturday and Sunday, November 17 and 18, will feature unique screenings, panels and presentations from around the world. The International Emmy® Awards Gala, to be held November 19, in New York City attracts over 1,100 international figures in broadcast, entertainment and media. More information can be found online at www.iemmys.tv. 

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Media Contacts:

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Eva Obadia, Director, Marketing & PR
eva@iemmys.tv  1-212-489-6969

The Lippin Group
Don Ciaramella
don@lippingroup.com 1-212-986-7080