RICKY GERVAIS TO BE AWARDED SIR PETER USTINOV COMEDY AWARD AT BANFF / nextMEDIA 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 8, 2010 -- RICKY GERVAIS TO BE AWARDED SIR PETER USTINOV COMEDY AWARD AT BANFF / nextMEDIA 2010
British comedian and recent Golden Globe host to participate in tell-all interview about his career and success

(Banff, AB, Canada - February 8, 2010) The Banff World Television Festival and nextMEDIA are delighted to announce that [b[Ricky Gervais will be presented with the Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award, at this year’s event taking place June 13-16 at the Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta. The award acknowledges outstanding comedic performances – prominent comedic actors who have received this prestigious award include John Cleese, Bob Newhart and Kelsey Grammer.

In addition to being recognized for comedic excellence, Gervais will also chart his career and success to date, in an interview, which delegates can attend.

Over a 10-year period Ricky Gervais has become the most influential British comedian since Charlie Chaplin. He is an award-winning stand up and his tour ‘FAME’ became the fastest selling UK stand up show in history, selling an untouchable 100,000 tickets in 9 minutes.

Named one of the 100 Most Influential People In The World by Time Magazine, one place behind Nelson Mandela, Ricky has also won two Emmys and three Golden Globes. ‘The Office’ is the most successful British comedy of all time being shown in over 90 countries with seven remakes.

"This is probably the greatest honour of my career. Only the Nobel Peace Prize can top this, but I will only accept that in person if the ceremony is held somewhere as beautiful as Banff. I think they Fedex, luckily," says Ricky.

“We could think of no one funny man so deserving of this prestigious award this year, than Ricky Gervais. The Office is the most critically acclaimed sitcom of all time and Gervais’ worldwide influence in the comedy industry is unparalleled,” says Peter Vamos, Executive Director of the Banff World Television Festival.

This year’s Banff World Television Festival announced an innovative strategic partnership that will combine nextMEDIA and the Banff World Television Festival (BANFF) into a joint event at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel on June 13–16, 2010.

Combining nextMEDIA and BANFF is a response to delegate feedback on the emerging opportunities
 
between television and digital media platforms. During the enhanced four-day event in Banff, some of the biggest names in broadcasting, television production, distribution and digital media from North America will come together to experience industry insight and the synergy connecting the media community. Over 1500 delegates are expected to attend.

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About Ricky Gervais

At the turn of this century, Ricky was preparing to star and direct a pilot he had written with Stephen Merchant for the BBC, called ‘The Office’. It went quite well and a series was commissioned. It first aired at 9.30pm on Monday 9 July 2001 on the BBC. The rest as they say is history. It is the most critically acclaimed sitcom of all time becoming the first British comedy to win a Golden Globe. In all, Ricky has won two Primetime Emmys, three Golden Globes and seven BAFTAs. The beginning of the next decade is looking good for the fat bloke from Reading too. He started the year as the first host of The Golden Globes since 1995, with an estimated world TV audience of 250 million. www.rickygervais.com

About nextMEDIA
nextMEDIA is a series of digital media conferences, products and programs. It has established itself as Canada’s leading platform for business development and training around the digital media ecosystem. nextMEDIA is owned and produced by Achilles Media Ltd. with the help and support of an international advisory board from the digital media industry. nextMEDIA Banff will take place concurrently with the Banff World Television Festival from June 13-16, 2010 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. http://www.banff2010.com/nextmedia.program.php

About the Banff World Television Festival
The 31st Banff World Television Festival will take place June 13-16, 2010 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Canada. International broadcasters, producers, writers, directors, distributors and industry executives from over 25 countries will be attending. A core feature of the festival is the prestigious Banff World Television Awards (“The Rockies”). In 2009, 130 programs from over 30 countries were chosen as finalists in 23 program categories. www.banff2010.com

About Achilles Media

The Banff World Television Festival and nextMEDIA are produced by Achilles Media Ltd., an international business-to-business media and facilitation company serving the media and investment industries. Achilles Media communities include: History Makers: International Summit of History & Current Affairs Producers, nextMEDIA World events, Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX) and the Canadian New Media Awards. For more information, visit www.achillesmedia.com

Media contact:
Almira Bardai
Jive Communications
Tel: 604-568-7214
Email: almira@jivecommunications.ca

More information can be found online at http://www.achillesmedia.com

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