Michael Sheen, right, and David Frost pose after presenting an award during the 2009 British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards in February. Michael Sheen, right, and David Frost pose after presenting an award during the 2009 British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards in February. (Toby Melville/Reuters)

Acclaimed TV programs hailing from the U.K. to Thailand have been nominated for the 37th International Emmy Awards, organizers announced Monday in Cannes.

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences revealed a list of 41 nominees across 10 categories during a press conference at Mipcom, the International Film and Program Market for Television, Video, Cable and Satellite.

A documentary about the intimidating and killing of journalists in conflict zones, a drama about euthanasia based on the true story of a British doctor and a critical analysis of the skyrocketing prices in today's commercial art market are among this year's nominees — selected with the participation of more than 600 judges in 50 countries.

Qatar-based Al-Jazeera English is among the best documentary nominees for Shooting the Messenger, tracking the trend of journalists being targeted, intimated and deliberately killed while working in conflict zones.

The documentary's competition includes:

  • The Ascent of Money, Chimerica Media for Channel 4, United Kingdom.
  • Cityboy – The Life of Investment Banker Geraint Anderson, United Docs/ECO Media/WDR, Germany.
  • Pancho Villa: Aqui y Alli, The History Channel Latin America/Anima Films, Argentina.

Vying for the best arts programming title is Oxford Film & Television's production The Mona Lisa Curse (Channel 4, U.K.), in which Australian-born art critic Robert Hughes examines the unfettered nature and soaring prices of the modern commercial art market.

Also contending in the category are:

  • Mamonas Assassinas – All My Life, TV Globo, Brazil.
  • Ode to Joy: 10,000 Voices Resound!, Mainichi Broadcasting System, Inc., Japan.
  • Seven Gates of Jerusalem, TVP SA / Platige Image, Poland.

Veteran British star Julie Walters has received a best actress nomination for her lead turn in A Short Stay in Switzerland, a BBC drama based on the true story of a retired English doctor who decided in 2006 to take her own life at Switzerland's Dignitas assisted suicide clinic.

Other actresses nominated include:

  • Emma De Caunes - Night Birds, CHEZ WAM, France.
  • Angel Locsin - The Wolf, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, The Philippines.
  • Cecilia Suarez - Capadocia, HBO Latin America Originals, Mexico.

The U.K. led with nine nominations overall, followed by five nods for Brazilian productions and three each for Germany, Mexico and The Philippines. Thailand is a first-time nominee this year.

A full list of the competitors is available on the academy's website.

The winners will be announced at a gala in New York on Nov. 23.

The ceremony will also include the presentation of two special honours. Famed British TV interviewer David Frost — who has re-emerged into the spotlight with the release of the celebrated play Frost/Nixon and the subsequent film adaptation — will receive the International Emmy Founders Award.

Organizers will also present the International Emmy Directorate Award to Markus Schachter, director general of German public service channel ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen).