EMMA AWARDS 2004 RUN INTO CONTROVERSY
(24 May 2004)

On May 24th, the Asian showbiz world came alive with the seventh Ethnic Multicultural Media Academy (EMMA) Awards, hosted by Rageh Omar. The EMMA Awards this year featured an outstanding shortlist of finalists selected by a panel of judges, chaired by Human Rights solicitor Imran Khan. Although this year's event ran into controversy for selecting David Beckham as joint winner of the 'Sporting Personality of the Year' award and Tom Cruise as 'Best Film Actor' for 'The Last Samurai', other Black and ethnic minority stars like Lemar, The Black Eye Peas, Adrian Lester and comedian Inder Manocha were also winners.

Manocha who won the 'Best Comedian' award beat off stiff competition from Lenny Henry, Meera Syal and 3 Non Blondes. When asked about his reaction, Inder said: “I feel all those open spots in Clapham have finally paid off! 'Bend it Like Beckham' star, Parminder Nagra jetted in from the set of TV-show 'ER' to pick up an EMMA for 'Best TV Actress' for her role in Channel 4's 'Second Generation'. She said "I'm absolutely overwhelmed and gob-smacked for receiving this award, as a kid I used to think this type of recognition was unattainable".

Yasmin Alibhai Brown was named 'Best Print Journalist' and Lisa Aziz was voted 'Best TV Journalist'. Several BBC programmes and personalities also won recognition. BBC ONE film 'The Secret Policeman', which went undercover to expose police recruits' racism, won the 'Best TV Documentary' category. Made by BBC Documentaries, 'The Secret Policeman' adds its Emma to a list of prizes – the programme has won a Bafta Royal Television Society award, and its investigator Mark Daly was named RTS young journalist of the year and winner of a Liberty human rights award. The Secret Policeman's Executive Producer Simon Ford said: "It's fantastic to be recognised by the EMMAs, particularly since it was chosen by public vote. It shows that viewers understood how significant this programme was."

Art Malik, star of BBC One's Holby City, was named 'Best TV Actor' and BBC London 94.9FM presenter Vanessa Feltz was 'Best Radio News Journalist' at the awards held in London. A little dazed she said she wasn't sure if she'd won the award "for being Jewish or for going out with a black man for the past four years!". Greg Dyke, who put diversity high on the agenda when he was Director-General of the BBC, was named 'Media Personality of the Year'.

The EMMA Awards have delivered nineteen voted categories every year since inception. The general public are invited to vote for their winners via the EMMA website or dedicated voting telephone lines, supported by our extensive award winning Saatchi & Saatchi advertising campaign.

Two prestigious honorary EMMA Awards are also awarded at the ceremony in recognition of the outstanding achievements of world-renowned cultural individuals. This year's 'Legend Honour' paid tribute to the legacy of Bruce Lee and his martial arts philosophy that has inspired filmmakers for decades. Sir Bill Morris received the 'Lifetime Achievement Award'. Guests this year included the Rt. Hon Michael Howard, MP, and Rt. Hon Charles Kennedy MP, Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes and a host of Asian personalities and media celebrities.

EMMA 2004 WINNERS

MUSIC SECTION

1. Best British Music Act/Production

Lemar

2. Best International Music Act/Production

The Black Eyed Peas

3. Best World Music Act/Production

Natascha Atlas

FILM SECTION

4. Best Film Production

The Passion of the Christ

5. Best Film Actor

Tom Cruise (The Last Samurai)

6. Best Film Actress

Maia Morgenstern (Passion of The Christ)

TV SECTION

7. Best TV Entertainment Production

Teachers

8. Best TV Actor

Art Malik (Holby City)

9. Best TV Actress

Parminder Nagra (Second Generation)

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

10. Best Play/Theatre Production

Henry V

11. Best Book/Novel

The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad

12. Best Comedy/Comedian

Inder Manocha

JOURNALISM SECTION

13 Best Print Journalism

Yasmin Alibhai Brown

14. Best Radio News Journalist

Vanessa Feltz

15. Best TV News Journalist

Lisa Aziz

16. Best TV Documentary

The Secret Policeman

PUBLIC FIGURE SECTION

17. Public Figure for the Year

Jocelyn & Sophie Hurndall

18. Media Personality for the Year

Greg Dyke

19. Sporting Personality for the Year

David Beckham & Thierry Henry

20. Legend Award

Bruce Lee

21. Life Time Achievement Award 2004

Sir Bill Morris

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