This year’s International Emmy Awards held at the New York Hilton on November 19, 2012 saw a record of up to 12 nominees from Asia. 15 countries; Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain and the UK, made the nominations list this year. Submissions went through three rounds of judging over six months by jurors across 67 countries.

Nine categories were presented at the gala, eight of which had nominees hailing from Asia. This year, the “Drama Series” category had three Asian nominees: ICAC Investigators 2011 (RTHK/ICAC, Hong Kong, China), The Kitchen Musical (The Group Entertainment, Singapore) and The Slap (Matchbox Pictures/ ABC / Screen Australia, Australia). In 2011, only NHK Japan’s Sakanoue no Kumo (Cloud above the Slope) was nominated in this category.

“At the first International Emmys in 1972, there were only two categories: Fiction and Non-Fiction. Today, we have 20 categories presented over four different awards ceremonies,” said Bruce L. Paisner, President & CEO of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. “We congratulate the 2012 nominees for their outstanding achievements as their programmes and performances enter into television history.”

November 17 & 18 saw over 600 international television and media executives at the annual International Emmy World Television Festival. Panels and presentations of the year’s nominees were exhibited at the festival joined by academy members, jurors and sponsors.

At the festival, The Kitchen Musical, by Singapore’s The Group Entertainment, attracted about 70 participants in a room meant for 50. An attendee told TV Asia Plus that the drama series was well received at both the festival and during the awards when the nominee clip was shown.

CheeK, co-founder and Head of Creative, The Group Entertainment, said: “This is the first time Singapore had three nominations and I am proud to be part of all three nominations. At this level, a nomination is already a win!” He added, “We were the crowd favourite but the big French production, Braquo, won for Best Series, congrats to them.”