AFI BLOG: Media and Technology

Variety

Stephen Colbert, will.i.am among recipients

Original content from high-profile film and TV names highlighted the 12th annual Webby Awards winners, which were announced Tuesday.
The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences has been distributing the awards since 1996.

“Wet Hot American Summer” helmer David Wain’s “Wainy Days” won one of the Online Film and Video Webbys. The series has featured Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd and Rashida Jones.

“Tom Green’s House Tonight” also received a Variety Webby. Last year, the long-running show finally landed a syndication deal with Debmar-Mercury that began in January.

Faux news commentator Stephen Colbert is the Webby Awards Person of the Year, and the Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am will receive the Artist of the Year nod.

Director Michel Gondry will receive the Film and Video Person of the Year award for his movie “Be Kind Rewind,” described by the Webbys as “a celebration of low-budget, do-it-yourself filmmaking.”

Multiple winners included the Onion’s “Onion News Network” video series, the New York Times’ website, and PBS’ “Frontline World.”

Also on the multi-award list was “Hometown Baghdad,” a reality series about three teenagers living in occupied Iraq.

The Webby Film and Video Awards will be celebrated June 9 at Skirball Center in Gotham, hosted by Judah Friedlander.

The ceremony for the other awards will be at Cipriani Wall Street on June 10 and will be hosted by Seth Myers.

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