The 2018 KOI-USA Nominations Now Open

USA - Following the enthusiastic reception to its launch in April, the Knight of Illumination Awards USA (KOI-USA) is now open for nominations. The KOI-USA Award categories include five awards in each of the three categories. The Theatre category includes Dance; Opera; Plays; Musicals; and Projection Design. In Live for Broadcast, the awards are for Scripted Series; Unscripted Series; Awards Shows; Set & Video Design; and Entertainment & Events. Finally, in the Concert Touring & Events category, the awards are for Events; Video Content; Club; Stage; and Arena. To be eligible for nomination for KOI-USA, productions must have been performed or broadcast in the United States between August 1, 2017 and July 31, 2018.

At the same time, the UK-based KOI Awards is seeing a record number of nominations ahead of the June 30, 2018 deadline, as the event prepares for its 11th annual ceremony at the Hammersmith Apollo, London, on Sunday, September 16, 2018.

To meet this heightened interest in both Awards processes, two new websites have been launched. Easy to navigate, with an emphasis on visuals of award-winning design work, the websites feature past winners and shortlisted nominees, photo galleries, and videos from previous ceremonies, and clear instructions on how to nominate designers for their work this year.

The KOI Awards, conceived by renowned lighting designer Durham Marenghi, Jennie Marenghi and Italian lighting manufacturer Claypaky who, along with ACT Lighting, are headline sponsor of the KOI-USA awards, celebrate the achievements of lighting and video designers working in a range of entertainment genres. The KOI Awards have been running in the UK for a decade, and this year will mark its first appearance in North America, partnering with Live Design, who also produce the continent's leading live event production technology conference and tradeshow, Live Design International (LDI). The first KOI-USA ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 20, 2018 in The Foundry at the SLS Hotel, Las Vegas, with pre-dinner drinks reception and post-ceremony party taking place in adjacent spaces within SLS Hotel complex.

David Johnson, Managing Director of Live Design, says, "It's vitally important to us that the three judging panels maintain complete independence, as they do in the UK, which is why we're lucky to have three highly respected designers on board to chair each panel. Clifton Taylor (consultant and lighting designer) chairs Theatre; John Featherstone, lighting designer and Principal of design company Lightswitch, chairs Concert Touring & Events, and entertainment lighting designer Jeff Ravitz chairs Live for Broadcast."

"I'm thrilled and honored to be the chair of the Live for Broadcast judging panel for the esteemed Knight of Illumination Awards as it crosses the Atlantic to inaugurate a USA version at last," says Ravitz. "As a lover of light in all its forms, I will relish the opportunity to discover the best in cueing, color, composition, angle, and excitement."

About the Live Design Network

In its 30th year, Live Design International (LDI) has been the leading tradeshow and conference for live design professionals from all around the globe. LDI hosts over 14,000 attendees working in theatre, concerts, clubs, theme parks, and houses of worship, as well as a wide range of international live and broadcast venues. Attendees from over 85 countries come to LDI to see the latest gear in action, refresh their knowledge, and replenish their creativity. More than 400 companies exhibit, providing live demos and the opportunity for face-to-face discussions about the cutting-edge gear they debut exclusively to LDI attendees.

Live Design is a digital daily industry news portal, online training and education resource for lighting, sound, video, projection, set, and staging professionals from all around the globe. Live Design provides vital information to more than 50,000 production professionals, working in theatre, concerts, clubs, theme parks, and houses of worship, and a wide range of international live and broadcast venues.  

About Informa Exhibitions

With over 200 trade and consumer exhibitions annually, Informa Exhibitions is a global market leader in such end markets as Construction & Real Estate, Life Sciences, Health & Nutrition, Boating, Beauty, Agriculture and Pop Culture. Through face to face and digital channels, its transaction-oriented exhibitions enable communities to engage, experience and do business. In doing so, Informa brings together people who want to buy and sell, network, do business and gain inspiration. Industry insight, coupled with an innovative and entrepreneurial approach, provides Informa Exhibitions customers and partners with the opportunity to create business advantage and access markets. 

Informa Exhibitions is a division of Informa PLC, a leading business intelligence, academic publishing, knowledge and events business, creating unique content and connectivity for customers all over the world. Informa PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100.