LIMA Announces Licensing Excellence Award Nominees

The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) has announced its 75 nominees for its annual awards for licensing excellence, which will be awarded June 8 at the Licensing International Expo’s opening night party.

“This year’s candidates… include several classic brands, as well as new properties, illustrating licensing’s power to help brands stay vital and relevant to new audiences,” LIMA president Charles Riotto said, noting the nominees span the global market, with Asia, Europe and Latin America represented in addition to North America.

Sixteen awards will be presented to top licensees and properties in the following categories: art, character, corporate, film/television/entertainment, sports, licensed promotions and retailer. LIMA will also acknowledge the best brand program of the year in the character, corporate, entertainment and sports categories, as well as the best licensees for hard and soft goods.

Nominees for the coveted “license of the year” award include Hello Kitty (Sanrio), In the Night Garden (Ragdoll Productions/BBC Worldwide), Skelanimals (Skelanimals/Art Impressions) and The Twilight Saga: New Moon (Summit Entertainment).

Voting is open to LIMA members until May 14. For a complete list of the nominees, visit www.licensing.org.