The British Video Association honoured the cream of home entertainment at a glittering 30th Anniversary Awards ceremony in London, presented by high-flying comedian Alun Cochrane, which attracted more than 1000 guests.

The increasing success of Blu-ray was noted with Star Trek XI winning ‘Best Blu-ray Title of the Year’, as voted for by consumers at online retailers Zavvi.com and (event sponsor) thehut.com. Furthermore, the efforts of the Blu-ray Partners were rewarded with the top gong ‘Industry Initiative of the Year’ award.

Universal Music/Metropolis Group were recognised in the authoring categories winning ‘Best British Authored Blu-ray’ for Take That Present The Circus Live. Eagle Rock Entertainment/ Eyeframe were awarded ‘Best Britsh Authored DVD’ for Monty Python: Almost The Truth - The Lawyer's Cut.

Warner Home Video’s Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was celebrated for having outsold all other titles in 2009, making the sixth Harry Potter film winning the ‘Retail Title of the Year’ award.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment won ‘Retail and Rental Distributor of the Year’, having ended 2009 with a final volume market share of 15.9%.

In the retail sections, HMV scooped a hat-trick with wins in three categories: ‘Retailer of the Year’; the newly-created ‘Blu-ray Retailer of the Year’ and ‘Retailer Marketing Initiative of the Year’ prize for its ‘Get Closer’ and ‘My Inspiration’ marketing campaigns.

A panel of 32 Managing Directors, Sales Directors, and Marketing Directors from key distributors awarded ‘Online Retailer of the Year’ to Amazon.co.uk.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and their creative agency, Hicksville, fought off tough competition to be awarded the trophy for ‘Creative Initiative of the Year’ for their outdoor campaign to promote Terminator Salvation. Hicksville went on to win the ‘Agency of the Year’ award for its work with a number of BVA member organisations.

‘Marketing Initiative of the Year’ for film awards were divided into three Box Office categories this year, according to box office revenue. The winners were: Momentum Pictures for their work on The September Issue (up to £3 million), Paramount Home Entertainment UK for Watchmen (£3 to £10 million) and E1 Entertainment for Twilight (over £10 million). E1 Entertainment also came away from the evening with the award for top ‘Rental Title of the Year’ for Twilight.

The ‘Non–Theatrical Marketing Initiative’ was won by Revolver Entertainment for City Rats. The Nolans Live: I’m in the Mood Again Tour by Universal Pictures (UK) scooped the ‘Music’ award whilst HiT Entertainment’s franchise Thomas & Friends won in the ‘Children’s’ category with the Hero of the Rails instalment.

ITV Studios Home Entertainment’s Late Night with the Loose Women triumphed in the ‘Television’ category whilst This is Spinal Tap (Up to 11 Edition) released by Optimum Home Entertainment rocked to victory with the ‘Marketing Initiative of the Year for Catalogue.’ The ‘Specialist’ category saw Universal Pictures (UK) win their second award of the nigh with their release of Michael McIntyre – ‘Hello Wembley!’

In recognition of her almost 17 years in the role as Director General of the BVA, Lavinia Carey was named ‘Industry Individual of the Year’ Anthony Peet, Chairman of the BVA said “From VHS to DVD to Blu-ray and into the digital world, Lavinia Carey has championed us and our industry needs, representing the home entertainment business both in the media and at governmental level, nationally and internationally. It is more than fitting, that tonight, on this 30th anniversary of the British Video Association, we acknowledge the work she has achieved.”






Jean-Luc Renaud, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of www.dvd-intelligence.com, was a judge for the Best British Authored DVD and Blu-ray categories.

Story filed 26.04.10