Prix Italia set to roll

Seven juries will award 13 prizes

By CECILIA ZECCHINELLI

MILAN -- The 54th Prix Italia, the world's oldest TV programming fest, will be held Sept. 14-21 in Palermo, Sicily, centered at the historic Teatro Massimo.

Seven juries will award 13 prizes in radio, TV and Web categories.

Last year's fest, held in Bologna, was overshadowed by the events of Sept. 11, and many delegates failed to show. But this year is expected to be back to normal for the 75 commercial and public broadcasters from 60 countries expected to take part.

Italy's Carlo Sartori will remain secretary general of the event, while Jim Graham (head of the U.K.'s Border TV) was replaced at the end of 2001 as chairman of the festival by Germany's Frank-Dieter Freiling, controller of international affairs of German pubcaster ZDF.

Accreditation forms must be received by June 15; for details, visit www.prixitalia.rai.it.