Q&A with Int'l Council President Kay Koplovitz.

The International Council, an arm of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, is known primarily as the organization that recognizes overseas TV excellence by awarding the International Emmys. But, as President Kay Koplovitz pointed out in an exclusive interview, handing out awards is only one goal of the nearly 30-year-old organization.

Q: What is the International Council's goal?

A: The International Council's mission is to encourage excellence in television by awarding the International Emmys and to nurture excellence through industry outreach and educational programs. The International Council of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences charter was granted in 1969.

Q: Who sits on the International Council?

A: There are approximately 90 directors on the International Council's board, more than 60 percent of whom are television executives associated with industry firms situated outside the United States. Among those firms are the world's largest and most prestigious broadcasters and distribution companies. Included on the roster of directors are the heads of TVE (Spain), the BBC (U.K.), France Television, RTL and ZDF (Germany), NHK (Japan), Brazil (Globo), Bangkok Broadcasting (Thailand), ABC (Australia), Sveriges Television (Sweden), ABC/Disney International, CBS International, NBC International and other leading broadcast entities in the United States with international reach.

Q: How does the council accomplish its objectives?

A: The council awards the International Emmy in recognition of outstanding achievement in television programming and production broadcast outside of the United States. The Emmy Awards ceremony and gala is held the Monday before America's Thanksgiving Day each November in New York City. The black-tie event draws top executives and theatrical stars from around the world. The special skills of the men and women who create and produce television programs all over the world (except for the United States) are acknowledged at the annual Emmy Award event. Awards are presented in six categories: Drama; Documentary;Arts Documentary; Performing Arts; Popular Arts; and Children and Young People. In each category, the program judged to be outstanding receives an Emmy statue.

Q: Besides the International Emmy Award, what other awards are bestowed at the International Emmy Award ceremony?

A: The Founders Award is also presented. This award celebrates the accomplishments of an individual whose work is recognized throughout the world, embodying the vision of the founders of the council, crossing cultural boundaries to touch common humanity. This year's honoree is Hallmark Chairman Robert Halmi Sr.

The Directorate Award is given to broadcast entities for outstanding contributions in the areas of administration, engineering news and/or activities in the field of international relations. This year, Sam Nilsson, director general of Swedish Television (SVT), will receive the Directorate Award.

Q: What are the International Council's activities?

A: This year, the International Council is sponsoring a television and film festival dedicated to human rights. Also, the council, in its various worldwide activities, provides a unique pan-global forum at which senior executives meet collegially to discuss key issues affecting television as an international business. This ongoing opportunity for peer-level discussion and exchange of information is sui generis in an industry where information is a most valued commodity.

Q: Why is the International Council sponsoring a Human Rights TV and Film Festival?

A: The festival is designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Human Rights Declaration. The International Council is particularly honored to organize this festival featuring the best international films and television programs devoted to the topic of human rights.

Q: What kind of programs will be entered, and where will the festival take place?

A: The festival, scheduled to run from November 30 through December 10, 1998, will feature a range of human-rights-related programs, including features, documentaries, short stories and animation. Screenings will be held at various locations around New York City, including the United Nations.

Q: What is the International Council's administrative structure?

A: Most of the council's activities are guided by committees.The Executive Committee oversees the running of the council on the board's behalf. The Nominating Committee deals with membership and candidates for officer roles. The Net TV Committee uses its expertise to help the council keep abreast of developments in new media. Each council function has a working committee that reports to the board. A small professional staff based in New York City and headed by Executive Director Georges Leclere handles the day-to-day administration of the council.

Q: Where does the council get its funding?

A: Revenues from the International Emmy Award Gala and the Almanac fund the organization. In addition, directors, through their respective companies, contribute a nominal participation fee. Through its charter, the International Council is operated as a not-for-profit organization.

Q: What is the council's education and outreach agenda?

A: Of the several committees that function on behalf of the Board of Directors, one of the most active is the Education and Outreach Committee. This is the focal point for the council's activities that are directed to non-members, students, young professionals and broadcast organizations from emerging countries whose operations may be underfunded or otherwise lacking in trained personnel and techniques. Assistance in these areas of concern is offered through scholarships and fellowships funded by the International Council Foundation. The Education and Outreach Committee assists the foundation by identifying applicants or candidates and organizing grants.

Q: What assistance is offered to participants in the program?

A: A significant aspect of the council's program in this area is the Sir Peter Ustinov Television Script Writing Award, offered to young people wishing to pursue a career writing for television. The Outreach Committee considers the planning and execution of at least one major seminar yearly. These seminars are primarily produced for an audience of industry professionals and have been held in New York City, but also during markets and festivals such as MIP-TV, Prix Italia, the Cologne Conference, the Golden Rose of Montreux and the Banff Television Festival in Canada.

Q: What is the relationship between the council and the United Nations?

A: The council has links with the United Nations and, in particular, UNICEF. The International Council/UNICEF International Children's Day of Broadcasting is an initiative undertaken jointly by the two organizations. The initiative began in 1992 and has continued to enjoy unparalleled success. An International Emmy Award is given every year to the TV station which made best use of children's programming on that particular day.

Q: How is the International Council set apart from other broadcasters' professional organizations?

A: The International Council is unique for providing the opportunity for the senior executives who constitute the Board of Directors to meet collegially to discuss key issues facing the television industry around the world. The Council is committed to the convergence of new technologies, including new media and HDTV, and to being on the forefront of emerging technologies.