2009 Commitment to Excellence Award Recipients:

Illinois Film Office, Television Productions honoree:
For over three decades the Illinois Film Office has been Chicago’s ambassador to Hollywood marketing our state as a world-class film and television destination. As a result, the city of Chicago has been the backdrop for some of television’s most memorable programs including “ER”, “Hill Street Blues”, “Married with Children”, “Family Matters”, “Women of Brewster Place”, “The Untouchables”, “Missing Persons”, “Chicago Hope”, “The Bonnie Hunt Show”, “Early Addition”, “Cupid”, “Mind of the Married Man”, “What About Joan”, and “Soul Food”. Most recently, as a result of Illinois’ Film Tax Credit, the state has landed major TV series work such as “Prison Break”, “The Beast”, “My Boys”, and NBC’s comedy pilot “State of Romance” in April 2009. In addition, the IFO provides production companies with an array of services including location scouting, housing assistance and information hotlines. In 2009 the IFO will continue “Shortcuts”, the IFO’s first ever short film competition and “IFO Night at the Movies”, a new program for people across Illinois to learn more about our bustling film industry.

BACKYARD Productions, Television Commercials honoree:
For nearly 20 years, Backyard has been a dynamic creative partner to major international brands and leading ad agencies, building a loyal following worldwide. The company continues to break new ground, forging new business alliances in China and spearheading innovative integrated campaigns. Throughout the company’s evolution, founders Roy Skillicorn and Blair Stribley have worked with the best creative minds in the business, maintaining a highly collaborative and accommodating work ethic. Founded in Chicago but long headquartered in the production hub of Los Angeles, Backyard boasts worldwide representation. In the past year, Backyard directors have applied their substantial creative talents to high profile campaigns for Wieden + Kennedy, BBDO/NY, Leo Burnett, BBH/Shanghai and Lowe, London and hot brands such as Stella Artois, ESPN, Minute Maid for China, M & M’s, MTV and Travelocity. Consistently featured in Creativity Magazine’s Top 25 Production Companies, Backyard has been honored at Cannes, One Show, Addy, Effie, LIAA, Ad Council, D&AD and Clio awards. Alongside Stribley, executive producers Eriks Krumins, Kris Mathur and Peter Steinzeig oversee Backyard’s current roster, including international talents Luis Carone, Ericson Core, Jesper Ericstam, John Immesoete, Jeffrey Karoff, Shyam Madiraju, Nick Piper, Rob Pritts, Don Rase, Rob Sanders, Kevin Smith, Aaron Stoller and Chace Strickland.

TELEVISION COMMERCIALS

Best Commercial
Gold Hugo
Kung Food
Leo Burnett

Audience Choice Award
Football Coaches’ Recruiting Spot
Big Ten Network/ Tom, Dick and Harry Advertising

Best Commercial Campaign
Silver Hugo
Cure for Cable Campaign
Draftfcb Chicago

Automotive
Certificate of Merit
Car Wash
The Corner Store Films

Alcoholic Beverages
Silver Hugo
Circus
DDB Chicago

Silver Plaque
Heineken – Walk in Fridge
Czar

Certificate of Merit
Swedish Commercial
DDB Chicago

Beverages
Certificate of Merit
Fountain
Optimus

Consumer Products
Gold Plaque
Toshiba “Timesculpture”
Hungry Man

Silver Plaque
Cheesecake
Lapiz

Silver Plaque
Empanada
Lapiz

Silver Plaque
Victory
DDB Chicago

Certificate of Merit
McNuggets Love
Burrell Communications

Communications
Certificate of Merit
Symphony of Sport
Alturas Films

Computers / Technology
Silver Hugo
Ozzy
Leo Burnett

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT

Humor
Gold Plaque
Magazine Buyer
DDB Chicago

Silver Plaque
Ozzy
Leo Burnett

Certificate of Merit
Empanada
Lapiz

Certificate of Merit
Meeting
DDB Chicago

Special Effects
Silver Plaque
Kung Food
Leo Burnett

Writing
Gold Plaque
David Abernathy
DDB Chicago

Low Budget
Silver Plaque
Done
Optimus

Certificate of Merit
Russian Dolls
Bent Image Lab

TELEVISION PROGRAMS

Best Television Production
Gold Hugo
Heroes
NBC Universal

Best Documentary
Gold Hugo
Section 60: Arlington National Cemetary
Downtown Community Television

Children’s Series
Certificate of Merit
Plaza Sesame
Sesame Workshop

Certificate of Merit
Sesame Tree, “The Share Necessities
Sesame Workshop

Documentary: Arts / Humanities
Silver Plaque
The Last 79 Hours of Chen Jian
Phoenix Satellite Television Co. Ltd

Certificate of Merit
Arena: The Agony and Ecstasy of Phil Spector
BBC Arena

Certificate of Merit
The Promise of Music
Deutsche Welle DW-TV

Documentary: History/Biography
Silver Hugo
Calavera Highway
Renee Tajima-Pena

Gold Plaque
Puyi- The Last Emperor of China
Wildfilm Australia

Gold Plaque
Photographs of Nagasaki
NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp.)

Gold Plaque
Lost Bones: In Search of Sitting Bull’s Grave
Micro Bus Pictures

Silver Plaque
The Powder and the Glory
Powderglory Productions LLC.

Certificate of Merit
Arena: The Hunt for Moby Dick
Lone Star Productions

Certificate of Merit
Benazir and Democracy
Samaa TV

Certificate of Merit
Paper Dolls- Australian Pinups of World War 2
Marina Films Pty. Ltd.

Documentary: Science / Nature
Certificate of Merit
The Musical Brain
Matter of Fact Media Inc.

Certificate of Merit
A Rain Story
NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp.)

Documentary: Social / Political
Silver Hugo
At the Death House Door
Kartmequin Films

Gold Plaque
Controlling the Discourse: The “Putin Empire” and the Media
NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp.)

Certificate of Merit
Out and Proud in Chicago
WTTW Channel 11

Certificate of Merit
Fixing My Brain
Matter of Fact Media Inc.

Dramatic Program
Silver Plaque
Life on the Margin- Ah Lan’s Heaven
Radio Television Hong Kong

Certificate of Merit
The Secret Ageny
TVP S.A.

Certificate of Merit
Wroclaw Golghota
TVP S.A.

Certificate of Merit
Life on the Margin- Jordan and Honey
Radio Television Hong Kong

Certificate of Merit
Life on the Margin- The Scavenger’s War
Radio Television Hong Kong

Educational Program
Certificate of Merit
Peek-a-Boo! I’ve Found You!
NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp.)

Certificate of Merit
The Road Back- “A Beautiful Choice”
Radio Television Hong Kong

Feature Length Telefilm
Certificate of Merit
Affinity
DCD

TELEVISION SERIES

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT