Two days before awards season's final verdicts will be mercifully rendered by Oscar voters, one more group has spoken out on the best of 2011 – in this case, not the best films and TV shows, but the best jobs of publicizing those films and TV shows.
The 49th annual Publicists Awards, which have been presented by the International Cinematographers Guild since the Publicists Guild joined it in 2002, gave out awards for film and television campaigns to the studio publicists behind "The Help" and "Modern Family."
The organization's top career-achievement award, meanwhile, went to Tony Angellotti, whose Angellotti Company handles awards publicity for Universal's life-action films (including "Bridesmaids" this year) and Disney/Pixar's animated films, among others.
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The press award was given to Susan King of the Los Angeles Times.
Honorary awards, which were announced ahead of time, went to actress/comic Carol Burnett, "Harry Potter" producer David Heyman and CBS Television Studios president David Stapf.
The 2012 ICG Publicist Directory was dedicated to Arlene Ludwig, who has worked at Walt Disney Studios for 50 years.
The show took place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, and was hosted by Australian talk show host Rove McManus. Participants included Julie Andrews, Jodie Foster, Gary Oldman, Josh Charles, Max von Sydow and Martin Landau.
The awards:
Les Mason Award for Career Achievement in Publicity: Tony Angellotti, the Angellotti Company
Maxwell Weinberg Publicists Showmanship Award, motion pictures: "The Help," Disney Studios
Maxwell Weinberg Publicists Showmanship Award, television: "Modern Family," Fox Television
Excellence in Unit Still Photography in Movies: Frank Masi
Excellence in Unit Still Photography in television: Hopper Stone
Bob Yeager Award for Community Service: Sharon Black
Press Award: Susan King, Los Angeles Times
International Media Award: Elaine Lipworth, United Kingdom
Lifetime Achievement Award: Carol Burnett
Motion Picture Showman of the Year: David Heyman
Television Showman of the Year: David Stapf, CBS Television Studios
2012 ICG Publicist Directory dedication: Arlene Ludwig, the Walt Disney Studios