October 10, 2007

Given the nature of MipCom, which is a market for content, awards don’t form a part of the MipCom agenda. However, in a move to encourage more content in the digital medium, MipCom introduced Internet and Mobile TV Awards in 2005. In its third edition, Neeraj Roy, MD and CEO of Hungama Mobile, is the Chairperson of the Jury. There are 32 entries in the shortlist, of which there is just one Indian entry – Tangerine Digital Media’s ‘Dancing Queen’ project has been shortlisted in the Best Film Shot on a Mobile Device category.

The winners would be announced in a ceremony on October 10.

The nine categories of these Awards are Best Short Form Audiovisual Entertainment made for mobile and/or Internet; Drama/Comedy Lifestyle & Music/ Factual; Best Cross Platform & Interactive Mobile TV format; Best Mobile service for social community & user-generated content; Best made for Mobile TV or film channel; Best Film shot on a mobile device; Best Short Film originally created or repurposed for mobile.

The nominees’ list includes players like Miles Beckett, Co-founder & CEO, LGI5 Studios; Judy Gladstone, Executive Director, Bravo! Fact Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent; Laurence Herszberg, General Manager, Forum des Images & Founder Pocket Films Festival; Mark Selby, Senior VP, Nokia; Juha Tiihonen, CEO & Co-founder, Starcut Oy; Karin Timpone, Head of Consumer / Customer Innovation, Yahoo! Inc.

Also, this is the first time that a virtual space of information about the Awards has been set up inside the 3-D virtual world of Second Life. The objective of the Awards is to stimulate and reward excellence for new short form audiovisual entertainment content and cross media formats.

Speaking on why there was only one shortlist from India, Hungama Mobile’s Roy said, “This is only the third year, and there has to be more awareness around the Awards as well. That said, there are only 32 nominations worldwide this time. But I see India faring very well in years to come. The mobile medium has the potential to create a level playing field for filmmakers and other content creators, where a new visual language is in the process of being born. And there is a lot of work happening in the new mediums in India now.”