U.K., Brazil lead global Emmy noms

British television productions garnered a leading eight International Emmy nominations, including two for the BBC1 drama "The Street."

Brazil finished a close second with a record seven nominations for the South American country. Five of those went to TV Globo productions, including "Elis Regina Special: All My Life" for arts programming, Lazaro Ramos ("Snakes & Lizards") for best actor and Lilia Cabral ("Pages of Life") for best actress.

Japan had four nominations, followed by South Africa with three, and Germany, Denmark, China and the Netherlands with two apiece. Colombia received its first nomination ever, for the documentary "In God's Hands."

The 38 nominees in nine categories were announced Monday by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences at a news conference at the MIPCOM festival in Cannes, France. The International Emmys honor excellence in TV programming produced outside the U.S.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony Nov. 19 at the Hilton New York Hotel. The International Emmy Founders Award also will be presented to former U.S. Vice President Al Gore for his role in launching the Current TV channel and his efforts to combat global warming.

"The Street," which follows the lives of different residents of one street, was nominated for best drama series, with Oscar winner Jim Broadbent nominated for his role as an embittered pensioner. South Africa's "Home Affairs" also received two nominations _ for best drama and best actress (Brenda Ngxoli).

The other drama nominees included "The Killing" (Denmark) and "Mothern" (Brazil).

Also nominated for best actor were Pierre Bokma ("The Chosen One," Netherlands), Guo Jia Ming ("My Own Private Deutschland," China) and Bobby AuYeung Chun Wah ("Dicey Business," Hong Kong).

British actress Victoria Wood was cited for her role in the drama "Housewife, 49," based on a real World War II diary. She will be competing against Cabral, Ngxoli, and Muriel Robin ("Marie Besnard - The Poisoner," France).

Noteworthy candidates in the TV movie/miniseries category include the controversial British TV movie "Death of a President," directed by Gabriel Range, about the fictionalized assassination of President Bush, and the Brazilian film "Antonia," about a group of four young female rappers.

The other British nominees included "Stephen Fry - The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive," in which the British comedian talks about his own and other people's experiences of living with bipolar disorder, in the documentary category; "Simon Schama's Power of Art: Bernini," about the Baroque sculptor, for arts programming; and the talent show "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?", in which singers competed to star in a London production of "The Sound of Music," in the non-scripted entertainment category.

Germany was represented by "The Wall (Die Mauer - Berlin '61)" in the TV movie/miniseries category, and the comedy show "Alle lieben Jimmy (Everybody Loves Jimmy)."

The other comedy nominees included "The Amateurs" (Brazil), "NEO - Office Chuckles" (Japan), and "Little Britain Abroad."

The academy is the largest organization of global broadcasters with more than 500 members from nearly 70 countries and over 400 companies.

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