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