Production heavyweight Jonathon Ker to chair LIA TVC Production + Post Production jury

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Jonathon Ker, Partner/Executive Producer of paydirt, Santa Monica will lead the 2013 London International Awards (LIA) TV/Cinema/Online Film – Production/Post-Production Jury.

 

LIA judging will once again take place at Encore/Wynn Hotels in Las Vegas in October this year.

Over the course of his two-decade-plus career, Ker (left) has distinguished himself as a career builder with a keen eye for talent and a steadfast reputation for top-tier commercial film production. His diverse and impressive resume includes commercials, films and music videos, many produced in conjunction with some of the most respected directorial talents in the business.

 

Most recently, Ker co-founded paydirt with director Iain Mackenzie and fellow producer Jeremy Barrett. In just a short time, paydirt has thrived. Prior to paydirt, Ker established tight in 2004, and concurrently introduced and ran Outsider and the Viral Factory in the States.

Before this, he oversaw production powerhouses Palomar Pictures, which he helped found, and Limelight USA. His successful run also included time as head of broadcast at BBH London.

Ker has produced a number of films which have received countless awards at top film festivals around the world and garnered widespread critical acclaim. Most recently Ker produced the critically acclaimed documentary Buffalo Girls, which premiered in 2012 at the Slamdance Film Festival. Spots for Coca-Cola, Levis, Nike, Mercedes, American Express, and other major international brands top Ker’s commercial portfolio.

 

“As a reflection of the importance and the value of production and post-production in the creative process, LIA awards both Production Company of the Year and Post-Production Company of the Year. This year we are proud to announce that Jonathon, with his award-winning expertise, will lead the jury panel as they review and critique the 2013 craft entries.” stated Barbara Levy, President of LIA.

 

“I am thrilled to be invited back this year to be the President of the Craft Jury at LIA 2013. I truly enjoyed my visit last year, and am excited to come back. Looking forward to getting together with all of the new judges, and spending time watching all of the great work from 2012/2013.” said Ker. 

LIA will open their Entry System at the end of April with a final deadline at the end of July.

LIA Educational Initiative: In 2012, LIA announced the launch of its ‘Creative Conversations’ program targeted to Young Creatives from around the globe. As a way to give back to the very industry that has made LIA a trailblazer across the awards landscape, LIA coordinated a week of seminars, ‘conversations’, lunches and dinners that were both educational and stimulated discussions around the future of Advertising.

Creative Conversations.jpgIn 2013, ‘Creative Conversations’ will once again take place at Encore/Wynn Las Vegas during the week of the October 2013 LIA Judging Sessions. The entire initiative, including travel, meals and hotel expenses, is fully funded by LIA.

Only seventy attendees from around the globe will be invited to this intimate, invitation-only event. LIA has communicated word of the ‘Creative Conversations’ to various global agency networks, independent agencies, production companies, associations and media outlets. The managers of these companies and associations will chose individuals for the exclusive opportunity to experience LIA’s educational initiative.

The leaders of the ‘Creative Conversations’ in 2012 included: Ted Royer, Susan Credle, Israel Diaz, Sonal Dabral, Tony Calcao, Jeremy Craigen, Faris Yakob, Neil French, Phil Growick, Doerte Spengler-Ahrens, Bob Garfield, Jonathon Ker, Ralph van Dijk and Scott Elias.