Editor

FOCAL International the trade body representing the world’s footage archives, professional footage researchers, consultants and facility houses is pleased to announce the final nominations for the 2007 4th FOCAL International Awards in association with AP Archive .

A record 207 submissions from 22 countries were entered into this year’s FOCAL International Awards, spanning the 14 categories designed to recognise productions which have used library archive and stock footage in an imaginative and innovative way.

The Awards Jury comprising 43 industry professionals based in the UK, France, the USA and Canada was sponsored by ABC NewsVideoSource and led by Jerry Kuehl, a previous FOCAL Lifetime Achievement Awards winner and veteran history producer.

For this initial nomination decision the jury was split into separate panels, each with the task of viewing all the submissions in their particular category and short-listing them to the resultant 3 nominations per category. The nominations, representing productions from the UK, Canada, USA, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, Austria and India cover the use of archive in all forms of content creation from factual through to entertainment, the arts, sport, natural history, commercials, full length features, training and corporate communications aired on any platform or channel. .

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.

Further awards will go to the best archive restoration work, the best footage library plus the annual Lifetime Achievement Award.

The 2007 awards and keynote speech are to be presented by founding chief executive of Channel 4 Sir Jeremy Isaacs. Widely recognized as one of the most colourful and influential men in British television, Sir Jeremy has worked at the forefront of broadcasting for 45 years. Celebrated British film-maker Lord Puttnam, FOCAL International’s Chair of Patrons will host the event.

Lord Puttnam said, "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. We sincerely hope that acknowledging and rewarding excellence in the footage industry will draw even more attention to this vital element of the creative processes at work in audio visual production.’

The FOCAL International Awards will be presented to the winners on 14th May 2007 at the Savoy Hotel, London. Hosting the event will be Lord (David) Puttnam CBE, Chair of Patrons and Sir Jeremy Isaacs will deliver the keynote speech and present the awards.

Full list of nominees:
http://www.focalint.org/awardsnominations07.htm