FOCAL Announces Footage Awards Nominations

The trade body representing the world's footage archives, professional footage researchers, consultants and facility houses has announced the shortlisted final nominations for the 2010 FOCAL International Awards in association with AP Archive.
At this year's winner's ceremony there will also be a special acknowledgement, led by Lord (Melvyn) Bragg, of all the work carried out by professional Film Archive Researchers during the more than 30 years of ITV’s former flagship arts strand, the South Bank Show.
Over 160 submissions from 20 countries were competing for this year’s FOCAL International Awards spanning 18 categories designed to recognise productions which have used library archive and stock footage in an imaginative and innovative way.
Awards Organiser Julie Lewis, General Manager, FOCAL International is delighted to have such a strong showing from production companies outside the UK.
"There is stiff competition in the best use of footage in a factual production category with three titles from France being shortlisted and two from Spain. The BBC alone have produced 11 of the shortlisted titles overall, and it is the UK in general that dominates the best use of footage in the entertainment and arts/music categories. Another category to note is the best use of footage in a cinema release category where we have a shortlist from France, Switzerland and The Netherlands. The USA has some strong contenders in the factual and home video sections, and watch out for the two hopeful nominations from Hungary!"
Having lent his support for six years, this will be the last time that celebrated British film-maker Lord Puttnam, FOCAL International’s Chair of Patrons hosts the awards ceremony at the Lancaster London Hotel on 27th April in London.
Lord Puttnam said: "I have enjoyed supporting the footage archives through these awards, and highlighting the skills that help make effective use of library material and the creative contribution they make to audio visual production. Besides which, it is a jolly good evening!
For more information visit:www.focalint.org
(BMcN/BMcC)