NEW YORK : The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (IATAS) has issued a call for entries for the 31st International Emmy Awards which will take place later this year. The International Emmy Award honours the best programmes produced, and initially broadcast, outside the United States.

IATAS executive director Georges Leclere said: " After the 2002 win from new countries Denmark and the Slovak Republic, we are looking forward to even more diversity in our entries and winners for the 2003 International Emmys. Our marketing efforts are targeting the under-represented regions, Latin America, Africa and Asia, and we hope to see an increase of entries from new countries."

Awards will be given in seven categories: arts programming; children & young people; documentary; drama series; news coverage; popular Arts; TV movies/mini-series rules and regulations, along with entry forms, can be found on the IATAS website at www.iemmys.tv in several languages. The deadline for submissions is 1 April.

Preliminary judging takes place in New York in the spring and the semi-finals judging round will take place around the world in the summer. Cities will include: London, Miami, Monte Carlo, Montreux, Guayaquil, Singapore and others.

The nominees will be announced at MIPCOM in Cannes, France in October. Winners will be revealed at the 31st International Emmy Awards Gala on 24 November. The 5th iEMMYs Festival will be held 23 November and will feature screenings of the International Emmy-nominated programs with the directors and producers in attendance. Both the International Emmy Awards Gala and the iEMMYs Festival take place in New York City.

The IATAS is the largest organisation of global broadcasters, with representatives from over 50 countries on its board. It was chartered in 1969 with a mission to honor and encourage excellence in television programming outside the United States by presenting the International Emmy Award as well as offering education for professionals in the global television industry.