The unique virtual event will bring together the global licensing community as it honours the best and brightest of the industry.
Licensing International has announced that the 2020 Licensing International Excellence Awards will take place virtually on Thursday 13th August from 2pm – 3:30pm EDT. Typically held in conjunction with Licensing Expo in Las Vegas, this year’s ceremony has been shifted to an online-only virtual event given the ongoing coronavirus situation.
The group says the awards night has been designed to bring together the global licensing community for ‘a moment of celebration and connection’, as Maura Regan, president, Licensing International, explains: “Now more than ever, we need reasons to come together, and what better reason than to celebrate the amazing work of our industry. Even though we can’t be together in person, we look forward to recognising the prestigious work of our nominees and our winners virtually.”
This year’s awards feature 175 nominees across 23 categories, including the new Best Agency Award. Nominees were selected from more than 600 submissions from 20 countries and judged by a global panel of 150 experts from all areas of the industry. A full list of the nominees can be accessed here.
Marshall Mizrahi, president of Handcraft and stand-up comedian, has agreed to host the event, which will also include the official induction of Martha Stewart into the Licensing Hall of Fame, and a celebration of this year’s Rising Stars. Additionally, this year will see the debut of a new trophy design, set to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
In response to the global coronavirus pandemic, 2020 fundraising efforts will also be somewhat different. All funds raised through donations and adverts in the Awards Programme will be used to support the licensing community, with small business grants made available to companies that are members of Licensing International and have been impacted by Covid-19, regardless of location. Qualifying members are invited to apply on the Licensing International website beginning 1st July.
