Call for Entries Kicks-Off Today; Best Video Remix/Mashup Among New Categories
New York, NY (September 23, 2008) Reflecting online video's increasingly
influential role in shaping popular culture, The Webby Film and Video Awards
today kicked off its 13th annual call for entries with new categories honoring
the medium's growing ranks of talent, performers, and personalities.
New categories honoring individual performances include Best Host of
Reality/Variety Series and Best Individual Performance, which will honor
everything from a poignant dramatic performance to an intricately executed
dance routine.
Hailed as the "Internet's highest honor" by the New York Times, The Webby
Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet,
including online film and video, Websites, interactive advertising, and mobile
Websites. To enter work in The Webby Film and Video Awards, visit
"Our new categories reflect the Internet's role as a breeding ground for some
of today's most exciting and original talent," said David-Michel Davies,
executive director of The Webby Awards. "We're looking forward to honoring
the performers and personalities who are pushing the medium forward in
exciting new directions."
For the first time, The Webby Awards will also present Best Video
Mashup/Remix, which will salute the digital art form dedicated to combining
disparate video clips into new and original works. The genre has risen to new
heights with such standouts as the Hillary Clinton/1984 Apple commercial
video and the hugely popular trailer remix of The Shining.
Launched in 2006, The Webby Film and Video Awards is judged by a panel of
more than 85 entertainment industry leaders that includes The Sundance
Channel's Larry Aidem, Director Darren Aronofsky, Showtime Chief Matt Blank,
20th Century Fox Chairman Jim Gianopoulos, and Harvey Weinstein.
The 2009 winners will join the ranks of previous honorees such as The Onion
News Network, Tay Zonday ("Chocolate Rain"), and Eepybird.com's "The
Extreme Diet Coke and Mentos Experiments."
Comedian and "30 Rock" star Judah Friedlander hosted the 2008 Webby Film
and Video Awards ceremony, which featured Michel Gondry and Lorne
Michaels delivering the Webbys' famed five-word speeches as they accepted
Special Achievement Awards. Other winners included "Hometown Baghdad,"
National Geographic, and the cult instructional series "You Suck at
Photoshop."
Nominees will be announced in April 2009, and winners will be honored at a
star-studded New York ceremony in June 2009.
About The Webby Awards
Hailed as the "Internet's highest honor" by the New York Times, The Webby
Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet,
including Websites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile
web sites. Established in 1996, the 12th Annual Webby Awards received
nearly 10,000 entries from all 50 states and over 60 countries worldwide. The
Webby Awards is presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and
Sciences. Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include: Adobe; The
Creative Group; Nokia; .ORG; Level 3; Getty Images; The Barbarian Group;
Digital Kitchen; Adweek; The New York Times; Variety; Wired; IDG; FirstMark
Capital; Brightcove; PricewaterhouseCoopers; 2advanced.Net; KobeMail and
Museum of the Moving Image.
