Virtual event will take place on August 13; all funds raised will support trade body’s new grant programme to aid small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
Licensing International has confirmed that the 2020 Licensing International Excellence Awards will take place as a virtual event on Thursday August 13.
Typically held in conjunction with Licensing Expo in Las Vegas, this year’s ceremony will move online to honour the best and brightest in the industry after the trade show was postponed for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Now more than ever, we need reasons to come together, and what better reason than to celebrate the amazing work of our industry,” says Maura Regan, president of Licensing International. “Even though we can’t be together in person, we look forward to recognizing the prestigious work of our nominees and our winners virtually.”
This year’s awards feature 175 nominees across 23 categories. 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.
In addition, all funds raised through donations and ads in the awards programme will be used to support the licensing community, with small business grants available to companies which 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 from July 1.
The ceremony – which will take place from 2pm-3.30pm EDT and will be hosted by Marshall Mizrahi, president of Handcraft by day and stand-up comedian by night – will also include the induction of Martha Stewart into the Licensing Hall of Fame and a celebration of this year’s Rising Stars.
In addition, this year will see the debut of a modern new trophy design, which is due to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
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