PARIS — Shonda Rhimes, the creator and producer of such worldwide hits as “Grey’s Anatomy,””Scandal” and “Private Practice,” will be celebrated at Cannes -set TV showcase Mipcom where she will receive the Personality of the Year award.
The tribute to Rhimes will take place at a gala dinner attended by leading international TV execs at the Carlton Hotel on Oct.18. While at Mipcom, Rhimes will also deliver a Media Mastermind keynote.
“Shonda Rhimes is an inspiring voice, a global creative icon and a role model in the industry,” said Paul Zilk, Reed Midem CEO. “In recognition of her outstanding influence on the entertainment industry, we are honoured to welcome her to Cannes as the MIPCOM 2016 Personality of the Year.”
“I have always been amazed by the power and global reach of television,” said Rhimes. “It is an incredible feeling to know that audiences around the world have enjoyed the shows and characters that I have created and I couldn’t be more honored to receive the MIPCOM Personality of the Year award.”
Rhimes’ slate of shows, produced by her banner Shondaland and handled by Disney Media Distribution, air across 250 territories in 67 languages.
Her latest show, “ Still Star – Crossed,” is a period drama conceived as a sequel to ‘Romeo and Juliet’ which “(charts) the treachery, palace intrigue and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets in the wake of the young lovers’ tragic fate,” described Reed Midem, Mipcom’s organizer.
Previous Personalities of the Year at Mipcom have included Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Ted Turner, Pierre Lescure, Anne Sweeney, Leslie Moonves, Sumner Redstone and Jeffrey Katzenberg.
The 32nd edition of Mipcom is set to run Oct. 17-20 in Cannes.
Elsa Keslassy © 2016 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC