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NEWSDIGEST
fruits of our labours made it into the hands of Brian Eno, which is how he got to know the software. We ended up publishing a title by him called Generative Music One. We basically grew from there.”
As the decade went on, SSEYO turned more and more towards produc- ing software for mobile devices. “The software was developed to be a low bandwidth solution because of the
internet devel- opments we’d done. We just extended that to mobile devices,” says Tim Cole. “High bandwidth connection for mobile devices just hasn’t hap- pened yet. Everyone was banking on it happening in
2000, then 2001 and then 2002... But while everyone was waiting we were creating technology that worked on the existing bandwidths. That’s our real claim to fame.”
“Higher bandwidth mobile connec- tions such as 3G and so forth were a premise based on several different soft- ware roll-outs. But this high bandwidth scenario has drifted out further and further meaning that there’s more demand for low bandwidth content solutions today. And that has worked in our favour because that just happens to be what we do.”
With the Koan software beginning to filter out across the mobile market – the company are actively looking for further funding to help the widespread dispersal of software – the bell may well be tolling for the irritating bleeps and squeaks that characterise today’s mobile audio. ■
GRIERSON AWARD WINNERS
BBC TV’s Correspondent: Killers Don’t Cr y scooped a pair of this year’s Grierson Awards which were pre- sented at BAFTA in November. The pro- gramme compiled by reporter Allan Little about Conflict Resolution in South Africa (Producer: Pearlie Joubert, Director: Clifford Bestall) won the Premier Grierson and Best Documentary on a Contemporary Subject.
Programme 15 (Windfall Films for C4. Producer: Daisy Asquith) won Best Newcomer with runner-up award going to The Alcohol Years (Director: Carol Morley for The Arts Council).
Britain At War In Colour – Darkest Hour (Carlton. Series Producer: Stewart Binns) was named Best Historical Documentary) while the William Dalrymple-presented Indian Journeys (Icon for the BBC. Producer/Director: Hugh Thompson) won Best Documentary Series.
Life Tribute Awards went to veteran reporter Alan Whicker and the late Desmond Wilcox. ■
SETTING THE AGENDA
Co-hosted by The Hollywood Reporter and investment banker Merrill Lynch, the second annual European Media CEO summit was held at Cliveden last month.
Among the gathering for the three- day event were content providers and broadcasters – including Carlton, Granada and RTL – film distributors, technology companies, publishers and football clubs.
A questionnaire at the end of the proceedings yielded the following find- ing among the CEOs:
• 60% were overwhelmingly convinced DVDs will be the biggest sector of the home entertainment business during next five years followed by pay TV and computer games.
• 70% believed that consumers would continue to seek light enter-
tainment and escapism in
their viewing choices post
September 11.
• 80% said they foresee har- monisation of broadcast reg-
ulations across Europe but
several cautioned that it
might not occur within the next five years and would probably be affected by national amendments. ■
BIFA TRIUMPH
Sexy Beast, produced by Jeremy Thomas and directed by Jonathan Glazer won no fewer than five of this year’s British Independent Film Awards including Best Film, Director, Producer, Screenplay (Louis Mellis and David Scinto) and Actor (Ben Kingsley).
Chris Menges BSC won the Lifetime Achievement Award and the FilmFour Special Jury Prize went to Miramax’s Bob and Harvey Weinstein.
Asif Kapadia, who joined up with Shekhar Kapur for a BAFTA-staged event, Standing On the Shoulders Of Giants, dur- ing the Regus London Film Festival, won The Douglas Hickox Award for his debut feature The Warrior. ■
FILM COUNCIL FIRSTS
The Film Council has announced a number of new initiatives over the past few months. These include a £1.5m investment to support the production of digital short films, £1m to young first-time filmmakers and animators – many aged 8-18 – in its First Light project and a continuing allocation of investment to single film projects from the Council’s Development Fund. ■
MULTICULTURAL PRIZES
Filmmakers, comics, actors and TV directors were among the winners of Carlton’s inaugural Multicultural Awards held in London on October 24.
Entertainment and comedy (pre- sented by comedian Felix Dexter and TV presenter Josie D’Arby) – stand-up comic Curtis Walker; Theatre (presented by Casualty actor Kwame Kwei Armah) – actor Adrian Lester; Film (presented by actors Vas Blackwood and Robbie Gee) – director Newton Aduaka; Broadcasting, Press and New Media (presented by
The Big Breakfast news presenter Jasmine Lowson and The Mirror showbiz writer Eva Simpson) – Tommy Nagra, producer/director, Leisure & Factual Entertainment, BBC Birmingham. ■
Photos this page from top: Desmond Wilcox; Valerie Kleeman and Alan Whicker; Jeremy Thomas; Chris Menges BSC
Photos opposite page inset: Lionhead Managing Director Peter Molyneux with one of his BAFTAs top and far left: images from Lionhead’s winning interactive adventure game Black & White above and left: SSEYO Koan Interactive Audio Programme, winner of the Technical Innovation BAFTA