11TH
ANNUAL WEBBY AWARDS LAUNCH CALL FOR
ENTRIES, UNVEIL NEW ONLINE FILM &
VIDEO AWARDS
Reflecting Web's Dominance in Pop
Culture, Webbys Launch Major
Expansion with Top Names in
Entertainment
New
York, NY (September 19, 2006)
Building on its decade-long position
as the preeminent awards for
Websites, The Webby Awards today
launched its 11th Annual Call for
Entries with the debut of major new
awards in online film and video and
interactive advertising.
Hailed as the "Oscars of the
Internet" by the New York Times and
"one of the most prestigious awards
in the world" by the BBC, The Webby
Awards is the leading international
award honoring excellence on the
Internet.
Joining forces with some of the
biggest names in entertainment and
media, including Harvey Weinstein,
Showtime's Matt Blank, R/GA's Bob
Greenberg, Wieden+Kennedy's John
Jay, The Webby Awards unveiled the
world's first major awards honoring
original film and video premiering
on the Internet, as well as 15 new
categories recognizing outstanding
achievement in interactive
advertising.
"The
Web is now the dominant force
reshaping pop culture and business
and nowhere is that more evident
than in the boom in film and video
now premiering on the 'Net" said
David-Michel Davies, Executive
Director of The Webby Awards.
"Having set the standards for
Websites, we are thrilled to now
honor the innovators who are taking
the medium in exciting new creative
directions."
The
Webbys' major expansion comes on the
heels of its 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.
To
enter your Website, interactive
advertising, or online film & video
in The 11th Annual Webby Awards'
more than 100 categories, visit
www.webbyawards.com.
The early entry deadline is October
27, 2006.
The
Webby Film & Video Awards will
showcase eleven categories including
Animation, Comedy, Drama and
Reality. Davies said Weinstein and
Blank will lead a judging panel of
entertainment industry insiders and
creative celebrities that includes
The Firm's Rich Frank, Sundance
Channel's Larry Aidem, and Jim
Gianopulos, Chairman and CEO, Fox
Entertainment. The awards, which are
being spearheaded by former Variety
publisher Gerry Byrne, will be
presented at a star-studded ceremony
and screening on the eve of The 11th
Annual Webby Awards in June 2007.
With
Internet advertising breaking
revenue records and redefining the
media landscape, Davies said the
timing was right for The Webby
Awards to establish new categories
recognizing the extraordinary range
of innovation in the field.
R/GA's Bob Greenberg is one of more
than fifty advertising industry
leaders who will serve on the
judging panel for the new
interactive advertising categories.
Other members include: Jeff
Benjamin, Creative Director, Crispin
Porter + Bogusky; Matt Freeman, CEO
Worldwide Tribal DDB; David Eastman,
CEO, Agency.com; and Annie Wong,
Executive Creative Director, Ogilvy
& Mather, Hong Kong.
The
Webby Awards is presented by the
International Academy of Digital
Arts & Sciences, a global
organization with over 550 members
including musician David Bowie,
Virgin Group founder Richard
Branson, Internet inventor and
Google Chief Internet Evangelist
Vinton Cerf, "Simpsons" creator Matt
Groening, Real Networks CEO Rob
Glaser, and fashion designer Max
Azria.
Nominees will be announced in April,
and winners will be unveiled in June
2007.
Called the "Oscars of the Internet"
by the New York Times, the Webby is
the leading international award
honoring excellence in Web design,
creativity, usability and
functionality. 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. Sponsors and Partners of
The Webby Awards include: AOL, The
Creative Group; Verizon; Adweek;
Fortune; Variety; Wired;
IDG; iStockphoto;
American Marketing Association;
PricewaterhouseCoopers;
2advanced.Net; KobeMail and Museum
of the Moving Image. For more
information visit
www.webbyawards.com.
