FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Gita Chandra, gita@mkpr.com
MKPR, 212.627.8098
Tomoki Kawamoto,Tkawamoto@movingimage.us
The Museum of the Moving Image, 718-784-4520
WEBBY FILM & VIDEO AWARD NOMINEES AND WINNERS TO BE
ACCEPTED INTO MUSEUM OF MOVING IMAGE COLLECTION
Deadline for Entries is December 15, 2006
www.webbyawards.com
www.movingimage.us
New York, NY (November 15, 2006)-The Webby Awards and the Museum of the Moving Image announced today that nominees and winners of The Webby Film & Video Awards, the world’s only major awards honoring original film and video premiering on the Internet, will become part of the Museum’s collection of over 125,000 moving image-related artifacts.
Hailed as the “OSCARS® of the Internet” by the New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites, interactive advertising, and online film and video. Located in New York City, The Museum of the Moving Image maintains the nation’s largest and most comprehensive collection of moving image-related artifacts – from the chariot driven by Charlton Heston in the epic film BEN HUR to Computer Space, the first coin-operated video arcade game released by Nolan Bushnell in 1971.
In addition to being honored at The Webby Film & Video Awards in June 2007, nominees and winners will be recognized at a public event at the Museum of the Moving Image and online through the Museum’s web-based Collection Catalog. The nominated and award-winning films and videos will
also be digitally archived in the Museum’s historic collection.
“The Webby Awards has an impressive track record of uncovering and recognizing innovative and influential online content,” said Rochelle Slovin, Founding Director of the Museum of the Moving Image. “A new generation of moving image makers is taking film, television, and digital media in exciting new directions. We are looking forward to working with the Webby Awards to make sure that this work is accessible, whether for the purpose of scholarship or entertainment, to future generations.”
“We are thrilled to work with the Museum of the Moving Image, an institution that is has long been known for its innovative uses of digital media and technology” said David-Michel Davies, Executive Director of The Webby Awards.This is an exciting opportunity for emerging filmmakers to become a part of history and shape the future of online film and video.”
According to Davies, from now until December 15th, original films and videos can be entered in 11 categories, including Animation, Comedy, Drama, Events, Experimental, Music, News/Documentaries, Reality, Student, and Viral. The awards will be judged by a jury of entertainment industry leaders including Harvey Weinstein, Showtime’s Matt Blank, The Firm’s Rich Frank, Sundance Channel’s Larry Aidem, and Jim Gianopulos, Chairman and CEO, Fox Entertainment.
The launch of The Webby Film & Video Awards comes on the heels of The Webby Awards’ most successful awards season ever. Last year’s Webbys received a record 5,500 entries in 70+ categories from over 40 countries, and was capped by a star-studded June gala showcasing an inspired and influential group of Internet luminaries including Prince, MySpace founder Chris DeWolfe, Arianna Huffington, and author Thomas Friedman.
The Webby Awards will also be collaborating with the Museum of Moving Image to select the top ten most influential online videos which will appear online in January 2007.
To enter a film or video in The Webby Film & Video Awards, visit www.webbyawards.com
About The Webby Awards:
Called the “OSCARS® of the Internet” by the New York Times, the Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites, interactive advertising and online film & video. Established in 1996, the 10th Annual Webby Awards received over 5,500 entries from all 50 states and over 40 countries worldwide. The Webby Awards is presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences; members include Harvey Weinstein, Robert Greenberg, David Bowie and Arianna Huffington. Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include: The Creative Group; Verizon; dotMobi; AOL; Adweek; Fortune; Variety; Wired; IDG; PricewaterhouseCoopers; 2advanced.Net; KobeMail and Museum of the Moving Image. For more information visit
About the Museum of the Moving Image
The Museum of the Moving Image advances the public understanding and appreciation of the art, history, technique and technology of film, television, and digital media. It does so by collecting, preserving, and providing access to moving-image related artifacts; screening significant films and other moving-image works; presenting exhibitions of artifacts, artworks, and interactive experiences; and offering educational and interpretive programs to students, teachers, and the general public. For more information visit www.movingimage.us
OSCAR® is a federally registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Webby Awards and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences are in no way affiliated with or sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences or OSCAR®.
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