British Academy of Film and Television Arts/Los Angeles and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to Co-host 3rd Annual Tea Party Honoring Emmy Nominees
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
One-of-a-Kind Celebrity-Painted Teapots to be Auctioned Off at Event
North Hollywood, CA, August 24, 2005 – The British Academy of Film and Television Arts/Los Angeles (BAFTA/LA) and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences will co-host the 3rd annual Emmy Nominees’ Tea Party on Saturday, September 17 at the Park Hyatt in Century City from 2:30 – 5:30 PM. BBC America is the Presenting Sponsor of the event.
BAFTA/LA and the Television Academy will celebrate the 2004-2005 Emmy nominees from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand on the Saturday prior to the Primetime Emmy Awards. In addition, attendees will include past Emmy winners, nominees and other noted talent from the United Kingdom and former Commonwealth countries, BAFTA/LA members, Academy members, and invited industry executives.
A new feature of this year’s Tea Party is a silent auction of one-of-a-kind celebrity painted teapots from a list of stars which includes Ali G, Kenneth Branagh, Lucy Davis, Helen Fielding (author of "Bridget Jones' Diary”), Patricia Heaton, Anthony LaPaglia, Ian McShane, William Shatner and Harry Shearer, among others. Bidding on the one-of-a-kind teapots will take place throughout the party, and all the proceeds of the auction will benefit the educational outreach and scholarship programs of BAFTA/LA and the Television Academy Foundation. Those interested in viewing the celebrity-designed teapots prior to the event may do so by visiting either www.baftala.org or www.emmys.com/awards/2005pt/2005ptteapots.php.
This year there are over 115 Emmy nominees from these countries represented in 38 categories, including 3 of the 5 Lead Actors in a Drama Series and in the Lead Actor in a Mini Series categories, as well as nominees for Directing; Mini Series, Guest and Supporting Actor/Actress, Reality Program and others.
Rebecca Segal, BAFTA/LA Board Director and Tea Party Chair (SVP Sky Networks) remarked “This event is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions that talent from these countries -- both in front of and behind the cameras -- has made to television we see and enjoy in the U.S., and truly illustrates how ‘global’ television has become.”
”It’s gratifying to watch this event grow, just as our international broadcast has grown to reach over 150 territories worldwide,” added Todd Leavitt, President and COO of the Television Academy and its Foundation. “The Tea Party provides a great opportunity to celebrate television stars, producers, writers, directors and craftspeople from home and abroad – and they in turn honor us by helping raise monies for educational outreach programs.”
Park Hyatt Los Angeles is the Hotel Sponsor for the event; The Estates Group and Young’s Market Company are Beverage Sponsors, and Teleflora and Twining’s of London are Sponsors along with ICM, Four Boys Films, William Morris Agency and Reveille.
* * *
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences was founded in 1946 just one month after network television was born. It is a non-profit organization devoted to the advancement of telecommunications arts and sciences and to fostering creative leadership in the telecommunications industry. In addition to recognizing outstanding programming through its Emmy® Awards, the Television Academy publishes emmy® magazine and through its Foundation, is responsible for the Archive of American Television, College Television Awards, acclaimed student internships and other educational outreach programs.
* * *
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts/Los Angeles (BAFTA/LA) is a professional, independent, non-profit organization founded in 1987, which operates as an affiliate of BAFTA, headquartered in London. Its members represent all disciplines of the entertainment industry and have full voting rights in the annual Orange British Academy Film Awards (known as the BAFTAs). With over 1,100 voting members, BAFTA/LA is the largest British professional industry organization outside of the UK. BAFTA/LA’s various activities include screenings, Q & A’s, scholarships to British students studying film and television in Los Angeles, and the Heritage Archive Video Interviews. Its outreach program extends to hosting numerous educational events for various entertainment organizations as well as students and inner-city school children.
* * *
For additional press information and resources concerning the Primetime Emmy Awards or the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, please direct your inquiries to Robin Mesger of The Lippin Group at (323) 965-1990.
* * *
Press Contacts:
Paul Gendreau
PGPR
818-985-0245
Pam Wilson
Ink Media Corp.
661-799-9102
Robin Mesger/Lauren Kelcher
The Lippin Group
323-965-1990