MUMBAI: The Internationla Academy of television Arts and Sciences (Iatas) has announced that Jon M. Chu, the creator and director of the web series The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, is set to receive the 2011 Pioneer Prize at the International Digital Emmy® Awards, to take place on 4 April at the television trade event MipTV in Cannes, France.

The American film director and screenwriter, best known for directing the dance movie franchise Step Up and most recently directing the 3 D documentary Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, has created an online dance phenomenon with his web series THE LXD, which is redefining the quality of digital entertainment. “
 
Iatas president, CEO Bruce Paisner said, "Jon M. Chu is one of the most up & coming directing talents of our time and we look forward to honoring him for his innovative contributions to the field of digital entertainment with our Pioneer Prize”.

THE LXD chronicles the journey of seemingly ordinary people who discover they have extraordinary powers and must choose their place in an epic conflict between good and evil. The characters are called to join The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers to fulfill their destiny through their superpowers of dance. Since its launch domestically on Hulu in July 2010, the series has been distributed globally reaching a worldwide audience of over 350 million viewers. THE LXD was created by Jon M. Chu and produced by Chu and Hieu Ho in partnership with Agility Studios and is distributed by Paramount Digital Entertainment. 
 
In addition to the Pioneer Prize, The International Academy will present three International Digital Emmy Awards for Digital Program: Children & Young People; Digital Program: Fiction and Digital Program: Non-Fiction.

As in previous years, the International Digital Emmy Awards will bring together over 200 professionals across the entertainment, mobile and Internet industries at an invitation-only ceremony, on the opening night of MipTV 2011.