Shonda Rhimes to Receive 2016 International Emmy® Founders Award

New York/Cannes-Miptv, April 4, 2016 – The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced today that it will present the 2016 International Emmy® Founders Award to Shonda Rhimes, the prolific Writer, Executive Producer and Creator behind global hit series Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, Private Practice and How to Get Away with Murder. Rhimes will accept the Award at the 44th International Emmy® Awards Gala, on Monday, November 21, 2016, in New York City.   

 “Shonda Rhimes is in a league of her own- not only does she have an entire night of primetime on ABC in the United States, but her groundbreaking shows and iconic characters are avidly followed by over 300 million viewers worldwide, in 67 languages,” said Academy President & CEO, Bruce L. Paisner. “We look forward to honoring her boundless creative artistry and unique production talent with our Founders Award.” 
 
“I am continually amazed by the global reach of television and have been so fortunate to have fans of my shows around the world,” said Rhimes. “To be recognized for this by the International Television Academy is truly an honor.”   
 
For her collective work on her various shows, Rhimes is the recipient of a Golden Globe for Outstanding Television Drama, Peabody Award, Television Producer of the Year by the Producers Guild of America, Writers Guild Award for Best New Series, GLAAD Media Award, as well as numerous AFI Awards for Television Program of the Year and an unprecedented 6 NAACP Image Awards for Writing for Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series plus 8 NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Drama Series.    
 
Rhimes has twice been included in TIME Magazine’s 100 list of the most influential people along with Fortune Magazine’s “50 Most Powerful Women in Business,” and Glamour Magazine’s “Women of the Year.”  In 2013, Rhimes was appointed by President Obama to serve as Trustee for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In 2014, Rhimes, along with producing partner Betsy Beers, received the Directors Guild of America’s prestigious Diversity Award. Rhimes was additionally a 2014 recipient of the W. E. B. Du Bois Medal from Harvard and the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award from The Hollywood Reporter. In 2015, Rhimes was awarded the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement from the Writers Guild of America, West, as well as inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Broadcasting Hall of Fame. She was additionally honored with the Ally for Equality Award from the Human Rights Council, the Eleanor Roosevelt Global Women’s Rights Award from the Feminist Majority Foundation and the 2016 Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television from the Producers Guild.   
 

In 2004, Rhimes created her production company Shondaland. Her latest series The Catch, recently premiered on ABC, March 24th.

 

About The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is a membership based organization comprised of leading media and entertainment figures from over 60 countries and 500 companies from all sectors of television including internet, mobile and technology. The Academy’s yearly schedule of events includes the prestigious International Emmy® Awards held in New York, The International Emmy® Kids Awards at MIPTV and a series of industry events such as Academy Day, The International Emmy® World Television Festival and Panels on substantive industry topics. The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recognizes excellence in television produced outside of the United States, as well as US Primetime programs produced in languages other than English, with the prestigious Emmy® Award. Currently celebrating programming across varied areas including: Arts Programming, Current Affairs, Comedy, Documentary, Drama Series, News, Non-Scripted Entertainment, Telenovela, and TV Movie/Mini-Series, it also recognizes excellence in Performances, Kids programming and Digital. For more information, go to www.iemmys.tv

 

MEDIA CONTACTS 

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Eva Obadia, Senior Director, Communications & Partnerships
Cell: +1-646-334-9299
eva.obadia@iemmys.tv

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