AUSTRALIA WINS FIRST INTERNATIONAL DIGITAL EMMY® AWARD FOR FICTION

UK Wins Digital Non-Fiction and Children & Young People Awards

MIPTV-Cannes, March 30th, 2009 — The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced tonight the winners for the International Digital Emmy® Awards at a ceremony organized in partnership with Reed Midem, during the MIPTV Opening festivities in Cannes, France.

Australia made history by winning its first International Digital Emmy® in the Fiction category with Scorched, a futuristic interactive online drama set in a 2012 world, ravaged by climate change. UK won the Non-Fiction and Children & Young People awards. Britain From Above, a joint television and online project using technology to present a unique bird’s eye view of the nation, won for Non-Fiction. Battlefront – a cross-platform project that follows twenty teenagers running campaigns to change the world, won for Children & Young People.  Complete information on the winners follows this release.

“This year’s winners have truly embraced the creative and technological opportunities that the digital space presents,” said Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO of The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. “We congratulate them on their cutting-edge achievements.”

The awards ceremony was attended by over 200 international executives from the television, broadband and mobile industries and sponsored by Zillion TV.

About the International Academy
The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is the largest organization of global broadcasters, with 600 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 fifteen categories: Arts Programming; Best Performance by an Actor; Best Performance by an Actress; Children & Young People; Comedy; Current Affairs; Documentary; Digital Program: Children & Young People; Digital Program: Fiction; Digital Program: Non-Fiction; Drama Series; Non-Scripted Entertainment; Telenovela and TV Movie/Mini-Series.

The Academy is a unique, independent organization comprised of the world’s television and media leaders who come together to exchange ideas, discuss common issues and promote new strategies for the future development of quality global television programming. Each year, the Academy produces the International Emmy® World Television Festival and the International Emmy® Awards Gala in New York City. The Festival features programming from around the world, and presentations and panels from international producers and directors. The International Emmy® Awards Gala attracts 1,000 international figures in broadcast, entertainment and media. More information can be found online at www.iemmys.tv. 

About Reed Midem
Reed MIDEM is a leading organizer of professional, international tradeshows. Reed MIDEM events have established themselves as key dates in professional diaries. The company hosts MIPDOC, MIPTV, MILIA, MIPCOM JUNIOR and MIPCOM for the television and new media industries, MIDEM for music professionals, MIPIM and MAPIC for the property sector and GLOBAL CITY for urban management specialists.

Reed MIDEM is a division of Reed Exhibitions, the world leader in the organization of some 420 public exhibitions and professional tradeshows.

Media Contacts:
Eva Obadia, Director, Marketing & PR       
The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
eva.obadia@iemmys.tv                
T: 212-489-6969
F: 212-489-6557
Cell: 917-754-0085

Jane Garton, Press Manager
Reed Midem
jane.garton@reedmidem.com

 

THE 2009 INTERNATIONAL DIGITAL EMMY® AWARDS WINNERS

DIGITAL PROGRAM: FICTION
Scorched
Firelight Productions in association with Goalpost Pictures / Essential Media and Entertainment
Australia

Director/ Producer: Marcus Gillezeau
Producer: Ellenor Cox
Co-Producer/ Writer: Michael O’Neill
Writer/ Editor: Brad Hayward

Scorched is set in 2012 in a climate change ravaged world. Sydney has run out of water and is surrounded by raging bushfires. Over a three month period, two million Australians entered this “future” world without water and engaged in a “what-if” disaster movie and interactive online drama. The Scorched universe consisted of a star-studded telefeature, an integrated episodic online prequel and sequel drama, as well as an online News network with extensive bulletins and weather reports from 2012. The experience was further enhanced through three dedicated YouTube channels, four ancillary faux websites, 20 social networking profiles, numerous forums and over 20 minutes of user- generated videos.

 

DIGITAL- CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE
Battlefront
RAW TV / Airlock for Channel 4
United Kingdom

Executive Producer, TV & Web: Lucy Willis
Digital Director, Web: Chris Mair
Project Producer, Web: Joanna Woolf   

Battlefront is a new cross-platform project that follows twenty teenagers running campaigns to change the world. Central to the project is a TV series featuring five of these campaigners. Their issues range from fighting gun and knife crime to protesting against ”size-zero” models. Complimenting the TV series is a comprehensive Battlefront website featuring content from the campaigners including blogs, video diaries and short films. Viewers are encouraged to interact with campaigners on the site by leaving messages of support and ideas.

DIGITAL PROGRAM: NON-FICTION
Britain From Above
BBC / Lion
United Kingdom

Executive Producer, Multiplatform (BBC): Nick Cohen
Head of Interactive (Lion Television): Kirsty Hunter
Senior Interactive Designer (Lion Television): Eddie Gachegua
Executive Producer (Lion Television): Nick Catliff

From a bird’s eye view of the nation, Britain looks very different. Its inner workings, cities, landscape, and people are revealed and rediscovered in new and extraordinary ways. Cutting edge technology allows the audience to see through cloud cover, navigate the landscape and witness familiar sights as never seen before. Britain From Above took the idea of multiplatform production to new heights: the entire project was commissioned, planned, scripted and shot as one joint television and online project. The website allows viewers to watch all the films from the programs, exclusive material including rewinds through time at 16 different locations, rough cuts of magic moments behind the scenes, and aerial images in the photography section. 

 

GERMANY’S LEADING FILM & TV PRODUCTION HUB, NRW & INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP TO FOSTER TRANSATLANTIC DIALOGUE

Annual Rendez Vous To Be Held During International Emmy®s Weekend Event in November In New York

Cannes/New York/Düsseldorf- MIPTV March 30th, 2009 — The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and the media authorities of German state North Rhine-Westphalia have joined forces to launch a transatlantic dialogue to foster relations between leading German television professionals and their American counterparts. The partnership was announced today by Andreas Krautscheid, Minister for Federal, European and Media Affairs and Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO of The Academy.

The partnership will also showcase the television and film activities of North Rhine-Westphalia. On the German side it is under the patronage of Minister Andreas Krautscheid, Michael Schmid-Ospach, CEO of the Filmstiftung NRW and is led by Professor Norbert Schneider, Director of Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia (LfM), who initiated this partnership.

“The world’s most preeminent media and entertainment companies make it a point to convene each year in New York for The International Academy’s Emmy® events and we are looking forward to counting the NRW Annual Rendez-Vous amongst them,” said Bruce L Paisner. ”I thank our Ambassador to Germany, Leopold Hoesch for spearheading this initiative.”

“This strategic partnership between our media authorities and The Academy marks our long term commitment to further developing business for our vibrant television and film industries,” said Minister Krautscheid “Together with LfM, and Germany’s largest regional Film Foundation, Filmstiftung NRW, we look forward to promoting quality content from Germany while attracting foreign production into the region.”

About NRW
NRW is the leading television region in Germany- the world’s largest cable TV market and the world’s second largest television production and distribution market- and therefore plays a preeminent role in the international media landscape. Over 60,000 companies and 330,000 employees work in the Film, Television, Publishing and Advertising sectors. In 2005, the annual revenue generated by the media industry in the region was over 117 billion Euros, far surpassing that of other German territories. NRW is actively developing more economic opportunities for the media via its media authorities the Ministry for Federal, European and Media Affairs, the Filmstiftung NRW and LfM.

About Filmstiftung NRW
Founded in 1991, The Film Foundation of North Rhine-Westphalia, finances writers, producers, directors, distributors and exhibitors, high-budget and low-budget productions as well as international and domestic TV movies. Filmstiftung NRW supports film production, from screenplay, project development, production and post-production, to distribution and sales. The Filmstiftung also provides advice on location scouting and helps producers establish contacts with service providers based in the region. As one of the largest regional film funds in Europe, The Filmstiftung NRW has financed more than 1200 productions, over the last 18 years.

About LfM
North Rhine-Westphalia boasts Germany’s largest media authority, The Landesanstalt für Medien Nordrhein Westfalen (LfM). Founded in 1987, LfM is financed by mandatory licence fees, which ensures its impartiality. LfM’s many roles include: supporting independent broadcasting, regulating the distribution of Radio and TV Programs on NRW’s cable networks, protecting freedom of speech and supervising advertising regulations for the protection of minors. Driven by its mandate to promote excellence in television and radio programming, the LfM also presents award ceremonies and special initiatives. It offers a unique platform for cooperation between TV stations and TV producers in the long traditon of the transatlantic dialogue set to foster cultural diversity.

About The International Academy
The Academy is a unique, independent organization comprised of the world’s leading television and media decision-makers who come together to exchange ideas, discuss common issues and promote new strategies for the future development of quality global television programming. The Academy organizes yearly, a series of events for its members and their guests which include board meetings, panels and presentations. The International Emmy® World Television Festival which traditionally takes place the weekend before the International Emmy® Awards Gala, features unique screenings, panels and presentations from around the world. The International Emmy® Awards Gala, held each November in New York City, attracts 1,000 international figures in broadcast, entertainment and media. 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 fifteen categories: Arts Programming; Best Performance by an Actress; Best Performance by an Actor; Children & Young People; Comedy; Children & Young People; Current Affairs; Digital Program: Children & Young People; Digital Program: Fiction; Digital Program: Non-Fiction; Documentary; Drama Series; News; Non-Scripted Entertainment; Telenovela; and TV Movie/Mini-Series. More information can be found online at www.iemmys.tv.

Media Contacts for The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences:
Eva Obadia, Director Marketing & Public Relations
eva.obadia@iemmys.tv
212-489-6969
In Cannes stand 14.11 cell phone +1 917 754 0085

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

Media Contact for NRW:
beate.hoffmann@stk.nrw.de
+49-211-83 71 612

Media Contact for Filmstiftung NRW:
Tanja Güß
tanjaguess@filmstiftung.de
+49-211-93 050-0

Media Contact for LfM:
pwidlok@lfm-nrw.de
+49-211- 77 00 7- 0

 

INTERNATIONAL DIGITAL EMMY® AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

NOKIA TO RECEIVE PIONEER PRIZE

New York – March 5, 2009: Nominees from 9 countries will compete for this year’s International Digital Emmy® Awards, it was announced today by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The Emmys will be presented at a special ceremony on Monday, March 30, at MIP-TV in Cannes. There are 12 nominees in 3 categories; Digital Program: Children & Young People; Digital Program: Fiction and Digital Program: Non-Fiction. The full list of Nominees from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Israel, Qatar, Singapore and the United Kingdom follows this release.

As in years past, the awards will gather over 200 professionals across the entertainment, mobile and Internet industries at the invitation-only ceremony.

“We are very pleased to be recognizing these nominees for their outstanding achievements in producing content specifically designed for delivery on a digital platform,” said Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO of The International Academy. “Digital programming is now a significant option for audiences around the world seeking out content.”

In addition to the presentation of the International Digital Emmy® Awards for Children & Young People, Fiction and Non-Fiction. The International Academy will present a special award – the Pioneer Prize, which is not an Emmy® but rather a special initiative from the Academy which honors an industry personality or organization. “The Pioneer Prize will be presented to Nokia, Inc. for its innovative contributions to the field of digital television and video broadcasting on a mobile device,” added Paisner.

Niklas Savander, Member of the Nokia Group Executive Board and EVP, Nokia Services will accept on behalf of the company.

“We are delighted to accept this prestigious award. As consumers’ digital consumption habits are increasingly going mobile, Nokia and the mobility industry at large is excited by the business opportunity it presents for us together with our content partners,” commented Niklas Savander. “Services like the groundbreaking Comes With Music service and the Ovi Store media distribution network are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in mobile entertainment.”

ABOUT NOKIA
Nokia is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging Internet and communications industries. We make a wide range of mobile devices with services and software that enable people to experience music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games, business mobility and more. Developing and growing our offering of consumer Internet services, as well as our enterprise solutions and software, is a key area of focus. We also provide equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY
Founded in 1969, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is the largest organization of broadcasters in the world, with over 600 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 fifteen categories: Arts Programming; Best Performance by an Actress; Best Performance by an Actor; Current Affairs; Children & Young People; Comedy; Digital Program: Children & Young People; Digital Program: Fiction; Digital Program: Non-Fiction; Documentary; Drama Series; News; Non-Scripted Entertainment; Telenovela; TV Movie/Mini-Series.

ABOUT REED MIDEM
Reed MIDEM is a leading organizer of professional, international tradeshows. Reed MIDEM events have established themselves as key dates in professional diaries. The company hosts MIPDOC, MIPTV, MILIA, MIPCOM JUNIOR and MIPCOM for the television and new media industries, MIDEM for music professionals, MIPIM and MAPIC for the property sector and GLOBAL CITY for urban management specialists.

Reed MIDEM is a division of Reed Exhibitions, the world leader in the organization of some 420 public exhibitions and professional tradeshows.

# # #

Media Contacts:
Eva Obadia, Director, Marketing & PR              
The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences    
eva@iemmys.tv                            
T: 212-489-6969
F: 212-489-6557
Cell: 917-754-0085

Philippe Legall, Press Manager
Reed Midem
philippe.legall@reedmidem.com
 
THE 2009 INTERNATIONAL DIGITAL EMMY AWARDS AT MIPTV NOMINEE LIST
 * as of March 5, 2009

DIGITAL PROGRAM – CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE

Battlefront
Channel 4
United Kingdom

First Class Interactive
Mediacorp TV Singapore Pte Ltd
Singapore

Fun Tzu
Intervisio
Finland

Whack the Mole – The MI High Alternate Reality Game
Xenophile Media Inc.
Canada

DIGITAL PROGRAM – FICTION

Director’s Cut – The Revenge
Container Group S.A.
Argentina

Kirill
Endemol UK / MSN
United Kingdom

Pietshow
Grundy UFA TV Produktions GmbH
Germany

Scorched
Firelight Productions in association with Essential Media & Goalpost Pictures Australia

DIGITAL PROGRAM – NON-FICTION

Al Jazeera English News US Election Special
Al Jazeera English
Qatar

Britain From Above
BBC / Lion
United Kingdom

Gaza-Sderot
Arte / Bo Travail / Alma Films / Trabelsy Productions / Ramattan Studios / UPIAN
Israel

Huella Latente
Eyeworks Cuatro Cabezas for Discovery Channel – Latin America
Argentina