NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 10, 2010 – The Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council’s series of public service television announcements, promoting the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 in Niagara, received three prestigious awards this month.
The 2010 Houston International Film Festival awarded the television PSAs Bronze in the Public Service Campaign category. Two 30 second spots entitled "200 Years" and "Fog" were recognized for outstanding creative excellence in film and video. Over 4,400 entries were submitted to the Festival from 33 countries. The Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council television PSAs were among the 15 per cent of entries to win an award. The 2010 Houston International Film Festival is the third oldest awards competition in North America, founded in 1961.
The 2010 Hermes Creative Awards also awarded the two spots with Platinum in the Public Service Campaign category and Platinum in the Pro Bono category which recognizes the talents and generosity of the creative community. Over 3,300 entries were submitted to the competition from the United States and other countries and the Niagara 1812 PSAs were among the 18 per cent of entries to win an award. The 2010 Hermes Creative Awards takes place in Arlington, Texas and was established in 1995. It is an international competition for creative professionals, recognizing outstanding work in the industry, judged to exceed the high standards of the industry norm.
The public service television announcements were initiated by Vincent Del Buono, the late CEO of the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council, whose vision was to promote the new discover1812.com website to the public through television. He enlisted the help of Brian Purdy, a member of the Grimsby 1812 Bicentennial Committee and long-time broadcaster who was recently selected as the Citizen of the Year by the Grimsby and District Chamber of Commerce. Purdy produced the PSAs pro bono in collaboration with WNED-TV in Buffalo. Purdy and the team at WNED-TV were able to incorporate the footage shot for a two-hour War of 1812 documentary that WNED-TV is producing into the PSAs. The War of 1812 documentary is due to PBS stations nationwide in Fall 2011.
The recognition of these PSAs is a great tribute to the lasting legacy of Del Buono who was instrumental in several 1812-related initiatives in the Niagara Region as well as Niagara and Erie County, NY.
The Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council is a bi-national not-for-profit organization established to commemorate the War of 1812 and celebrate the 200 years of peace between Canada and the United States which have followed.
For media inquires please contact: Jen Burkholder, Communications Coordinator, Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council at 905-984-3626 Ext. 3456, communications@discover1812.com.