Keynotes Announced for MGEITF

LONDON, May 14: Plans have
been unveiled for the 34th MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television
Festival (MGEITF), which runs from August 22 to 24, with celebrity chef Jamie
Oliver and Armando Iannucci tapped to deliver keynote speeches.

Oliver will give the
Richard Dunn Memorial Interview, supported by talkbackTHAMES and chaired by
Peter Bazalgette, while Iannucci, a Scottish comedy writer, director and
producer, will deliver the Alternative MacTaggart Lecture, focusing on the
future of broadcasting.

Clay Shirky, who has
written for The New York
Times, Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review and Wired magazine, among others, will present this year’s Futureview Address,
delving into cutting-edge issues in technology and their effects on the broadcasting
and media industries. And as previously announced, Peter Fincham, the director
of television at ITV and former BBC One controller, will give the MacTaggart
Lecture.

Along with Fincham,
controllers from BBC One, Five, BBC Three, Sky, Channel 4, E4 and More 4 and
ITV2 will be discussing their channel highlights and looking ahead to 2009.

The program will also
feature a live debate on the subject of public-service broadcasting, with both
Andy Duncan, the chief executive of Channel 4, and Jana
Bennett, the director of BBC Vision, already confirmed to speak. Meanwhile,
Hanish Mykura, the head of documentaries at Channel 4, will join award-winning
journalist Peter Taylor, Dawn Porter and Alan Hayling from Renegade Pictures,
on a session entitled What’s Up, Docs?, which examines the resurgence of the
single doc through strands such as Wonderland and Cutting Edge.

Doctor Who executive producer Russell Davies, actor Ross Kemp
and Heroes creator Tim Kring
are also confirmed to give Masterclasses, supported by broadcast.

Tim Hinks, this year’s
executive committee chair and the chief executive at Endemol U.K., said: “Don't
believe the hype or the miserablists—television and creativity are in
great shape. And this year the television festival is unashamedly upbeat
featuring an impossibly mouthwatering mix of celebrity and talent from in front
of the camera and behind, and from all platforms. It promises to be the
multimedia event of the year.”

Andrew MacKenzie, this
year’s MGEITF advisory chair and the head of factual entertainment at Channel
4, added: “We’re delighted to be able to launch MGEITF 2008 with such an
exciting lineup of speakers. I think this year’s festival has something for
everyone…policymakers, creative talent and celebrity stalkers. It comes at a
crucial time in the debate over the future of public service television. But is
also a showcase of some of British and world television’s greatest creative
forces.”

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski