FOCAL INTERNATIONAL CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS TO 6 TH PRESTIGIOUS FOOTAGE AWARDS CEREMONY
FOCAL International the trade body representing the world’s footage archives, professional footage researchers, consultants and facility houses has announced the launch of its call for submissions to the 2009 FOCAL International Awards in association with AP Archive .
These accolades represent the only global competition dedicated to the celebration of the use of footage by producers together with the recognition of achievements of professionals within the archive industry.
The FOCAL International Awards 2009, in association with AP Archive for the 6 th consecutive year running will span 17 award categories covering all forms of content creation. From factual through to entertainment, sport, wildlife, music promos, commercials, full length features and corporate communications aired on any platform or channel, the jury will be looking for productions which have used library archive and stock footage in an imaginative and innovative way.
The achievements of individual footage researchers, libraries and their staff are also acknowledged in these awards, together with the skills of facility houses involved with the restoration and preservation of key elements of our cultural history. Last year’s winner in this section was the BFI National Archive for their Documentary Centenaries.
Other recent winners included BBC programmes Andrew Marr’s History of Modern Britain, Brasil, Brasil and Nation on Film. Being Jewish in France and The Rape of Nanking were amongst the winning productions from France, whilst Italian producers scooped an award for We want Roses Too (Vogliamo Anche le Rose). Australia’s Absolutely Wild Visuals won an Award for their Animal Crackers and Researcher Val Evans (Bremner, Bird & Fortune, Don’t Watch That, Watch This et al) was singled out for an award together with Elizabeth Klinck from Canada who was granted the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Following the lead set by AP Archive and the French national archives INA, sponsors are now being sought for all the competition categories.
The 2009 awards at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, 5th May, are to be hosted by celebrated British film-maker Lord Puttnam, FOCAL International’s Chair of Patrons, together with a guest keynote speaker.
Lord Puttnam said, " Acknowledging and rewarding excellence in the footage industry draws attention to this vital element of the creative processes at work in audio visual production. I have long been a supporter of the footage archives, the skills that help make effective use of it and the contribution they make to the creative media. The FOCAL International Awards are now well established as the world’s leading event to promote and recognise the best use of footage across all media platforms and production genre. They are a great celebration of library footage, and by running this annual event, there is no doubt that FOCAL International has greatly raised the profile of the industry it represents.”
To enter submissions to the FOCAL International Awards such as archive restoration work, or productions which have used footage and have been premiered or first published in 2008, go to www.focalint.org /focalawards.htm
Closing date 1st December, 2008.
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About FOCAL International:
The Federation of Commercial Audiovisual Libraries International Ltd, is a not-for-profit professional trade association providing an information resource, excellent networking and marketing opportunities for content industry professionals and giving users easy access to over 350 members worldwide:
FOOTAGE LIBRARIES selling clips, archive, footage, stock shots, stills, audio FOOTAGE RESEARCHERS with the professional skills to find and deliver the material, on time, within budget, rights cleared FOOTAGE CONSULTANTS to advise on content management solutions and use of valuable library assets FACILITIES with the technical equipment and expertise to store, restore or deliver the material on any format MEDIA LAWYERS specialising in media and copyright issues. Use FOOTAGE FINDER, RESEARCHER FINDER and FACILITY FINDER – FREE services giving fast easy access to footage and its professionals.
Contacts:
info@focalint.org
+44 (0)20 8423 5853
www.focalint.org
