Britain Garners 9 International Emmy Nods

(AP)  British television productions garnered a leading nine International Emmy nominations Monday, including the long-running MI5 spy series "Spooks" for best drama and the TV talent show parody "Peter Kay's Got the Pop Factor ..." for top comedy.

Mexico's "Capadocia," produced by HBO Latin America, stood out with three nominations. The series set in a fictional women's prison rife with corruption is in contention for best drama, actress (Cecilia Suarez) and actor (Oscar Olivares). China's "Ultimate Rescue" was a double nominee for best TV movie/mini-series and actor (Chen Li).

Other British nominees include actress Julie Walters for her role in "A Short Stay in Switzerland," inspired by the true story of a woman who took her own life in a Zurich clinic after being diagnosed with an incurable degenerative disease, and Ben Whishaw for his star turn in the thriller "Criminal Justice," about the odyssey of a 21-year-old defendant accused of murder.

A total of 41 nominees in 10 categories from 17 countries will compete for International Emmys, honoring excellence in TV programming produced outside the United States.

Brazil had five nominations, including the comedy "The Slum," followed by the Philippines, Germany and Mexico with three apiece. The Netherlands, Denmark, Argentina, Japan, China and France each had two nominees. Thailand had its first-ever nomination for the children's program "Lharn Poo Koo E-Joo."

"As interest in our competition builds every year, The Academy is proud to serve as a cultural showcase of television from all continents," said Bruce L. Paisner, president and CEO of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, in a statement announcing the nominations.

"We ... hope the first-time nomination from Thailand will inspire more producers from many more countries to follow in their footsteps and enter the competition."

The other contenders for best drama include "The Land of the Wind" (South Korea), "The Protectors" (Denmark) and "Sokhulu & Partners" (South Africa). The comedy nominees also include "Hoshi Shinichi's Short Shorts" (Japan) and "Turkish for Beginners" (Germany).

Walters and Suarez will be competing in the best actress category with France's Emma De Caunes for "Night Birds" and the Philippines' Angel Locsin for "The Wolf." Robert de Hoog of the Netherlands was the other best actor nominee for his role in "Skin."

The winners will be announced on Nov. 23 at the 37th International Emmy Awards ceremony in New York, hosted by British television star Graham Norton.

Two honorary awards will also be presented.

British TV legend David Frost, whose interviews with former President Richard Nixon were depicted in the Oscar-nominated film "Frost/Nixon," will receive the International Emmy Founders Award.

Photos: "Frost Nixon"

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who is German-born, will present the International Emmy Directorate Award to Markus Schachter for his outstanding leadership of Germany's ZDF television network and to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany.
By Charles J. Gans