|
Shonda Rhimes to be
presented with BAFTA Special Award.
Award to be celebrated in New York.
BAFTA is pleased
to announce that Shonda Rhimes has been selected as
recipient of a BAFTA Special Award, to be celebrated during
an exclusive tribute event in New York City on May 3, 2023.
Shonda Rhimes is an
award-winning television creator, producer and author, as
well as the CEO of the global media company, Shondaland.
Rhimes is the first woman to create three television dramas
- “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Private Practice” and “Scandal” - that
have achieved the 100 episode milestone. She is also the
executive producer of the hit ABC series "How To Get Away
with Murder.” In 2017, Rhimes shifted the entertainment
industry’s business model when she left network television
for an unprecedented agreement for Shondaland to exclusively
produce streaming content in partnership with Netflix. “Bridgerton,”
Shondaland’s first scripted series with the streamer, has
become a worldwide franchise with seasons 1 and 2 of the
show holding top spots among English language programming
for Netflix. On May 4th the “Bridgerton” world expands with
the launch of the prequel series "Queen Charlotte: A
Bridgerton Story," which was created and executive produced
by Rhimes. In addition, Rhimes scripted the limited series
“Inventing Anna” based on the popular New York Magazine article
about the fake German heiress, Anna Delvey and is also the
executive producer of “Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate
Nutcracker,” a documentary highlighting the dance school
created by legendary choreographer Debbie Allen.
“We are honored to be presenting a BAFTA
mask to such a deeply respected and admired artist. Shonda’s
trailblazing work has captured our hearts and inspired
audiences around the world. As a groundbreaking producer,
showrunner and writer, her impact on the landscape of modern
global television is simply unparalleled,” said Kathryn
Busby, Chair of the BAFTA North America Board.
The award will be celebrated during a special
evening that will feature an intimate fireside chat and
cocktail reception, for an invited industry audience. The
prestigious event also marks the return of BAFTA’s in-person
award presentations in North America.
Rhimes broadened her
company’s content landscape when she launched the culture
website Shondaland.com in partnership with Hearst Digital
Media and Shondaland Audio in partnership with iHeart Radio
to produce podcast content. She is a New York Times bestselling
author for her memoir “Year of Yes” and has built
multi-platform partnerships with such leading brands as
Dove, St. John, MasterClass, Microsoft and Mattel. Rhimes
has three times been included in the TIME 100 list of most
influential people and her work has been celebrated with
numerous awards including induction into the Television
Academy Hall of Fame.
“Shonda has built the foundation and platform
to launch global careers and has created the opportunity for
new voices and talents to thrive in this industry. She has
raised the bar, set the standard, and it is simply
impossible to think of a Television industry without her
creative force, talent, and vision behind it,”
said Krishnendu Majumdar, BAFTA Chair.
BAFTA has had a
presence in the U.S. since the formation of BAFTA Los
Angeles in 1987, followed by BAFTA New York in 1996. Now,
with almost 2,000 members in North America, activities
include its extensive Screenings and Q&A program, Tea
Parties, BAFTA Breakthrough USA, the Yugo BAFTA Student
Awards, the U.S. Newcomers Program, Scholarships, and the
Vance Byrd Mentorship program.
# # #
Notes to Editors:
-
BAFTA Special
Awards are honorary awards presented to those who have
made a significant, inspiring, and outstanding
contribution to film, games and television through a
particular project(s) and/or their work.
-
From 2022 the process through which
BAFTA’s honorary awards are selected has been expanded
with the introduction of a Global Selection Co-ordinating
Committee – made up of representatives from the U.K.,
North America, and from BAFTA’s relevant sector
committees (film, games, television). Members also have
the opportunity to suggest recipients and all
individuals proposed by members are reviewed and
considered by the relevant sector committee on a rolling
basis throughout the year.
About BAFTA
BAFTA – the British
Academy of Film and Television Arts – is a world-leading
independent arts charity that brings the very best work in
film, games and television to public attention and supports
the growth of creative talent in the UK and internationally.
Through its Awards ceremonies and year-round programme of
learning events and initiatives – which includes workshops,
masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes
in the UK, USA and Asia – BAFTA identifies and celebrates
excellence, discovers, inspires and nurtures new talent, and
enables learning and creative collaboration. For more
information please visit:
:www.bafta.org
. BAFTA is a registered charity (no. 216726).
|