Industry Innovators from Global Media Powerhouses Join Forces for the 2026 Jury
The New York Festivals® Television & Film Awards announced its 2026 Grand Jury, bringing together more than 100 top industry leaders from around the world to evaluate this year’s most innovative TV and film projects.
Each year, NYF’s TV & Film Awards recruits internationally celebrated documentary filmmakers, directors, journalists, executive producers, dramatists and screenwriters from over 25 countries to serve on its elite Grand Jury. These industry innovators bring diverse expertise to meticulously evaluate entries across all platforms, applying thoughtful consideration honed over years of trailblazing work in TV and film.
The 2026 Grand Jury features leaders from iconic media organizations recognized for pioneering storytelling across news, documentaries, entertainment, sports, and corporate image. Top-tier companies represented this year include NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, BBC, Al Jazeera Media Network, Radio-Canada, ZDF, Fuji Television, The Walt Disney Company, ESPN, Mediacorp, TV Globo, Movistar+, nautilusfilm GmbH, Phoenix Satellite Television, Rai Radiotelevisione italiana, Kansai Telecasting Corporation, CNN International, China Global Television Network, Banijay Rights, 1895 Films, France Télévisions, and Sony Pictures Television Iberia.
“We are thrilled to welcome these globally recognized storytellers to the 2026 edition of the Grand Jury,” said Rose Anderson, Executive Vice President, New York Festivals. “These men and women all volunteer their time for the NYF selection process. Their collective wealth of hands-on knowledge, their commitment to excellence, their passion, and their creativity across all genres underscores today’s fair and just peer review process.”
The TV & Film Awards Grand Jury includes:
Monica Albuquerque, Senior Vice President of Scripted Content and Development, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, USA
Noelia Alonso Franco, Creative Center Iberia Director, Sony Pictures Television Iberia, Spain
Eduardo Blanco, Creative Manager, The Walt Disney Company, Spain
Neil Cairns, Head of Features, CGTN Europe, United Kingdom
Eduardo Clavet, Editor, TV Globo, Brazil
Daniel Carriere, Science Reporter, Radio-Canada, Canada
Sara Cooper, President & CEO, Plastic Pictures, United Kingdom
Debbie Cuell, CEO & Executive Producer, Sparkle Picture, Australia
Luca Dambrosio, Creative Producer, Rai Radiotelevisione italiana, Italy
Lauren Farrar, SVP AVOD & US Minor, Banijay Rights, United Kingdom
Walter Fernandez, Editor-in-Chief CNA & Chief Sustainability Officer, Mediacorp, Singapore
Reshma Ghost, Filmmaker & Founder, Blue Petal Films, India
Victor Glynn, Producer, GCB Films, United Kingdom
Michael Gray, Series Executive Producer, BBC, United Kingdom
Melanie Haft, Managing Director & Head of Production, nautilusfilm GmbH, Germany
Claire Heydt, Producer, Light & Shadow GmbH, Germany
Jacob Hickey, Head of Factual, Blackfella Films, Australia
Haibo Huang, Deputy Head of Phoenix Chinese Channel; Director of the Chief Editor’s Office, Head of Phoenix Movie Channel, Phoenix Satellite Television, Hong Kong
Tom Jennings, Founder & President, 1895 Films, USA
Natalie Jowett, Managing Director, JusticeAid, USA
David Lennon, Senior VP, FORTUNE Brand Studio, USA
Brian Lockhart, Senior Vice President, Original Content, ESPN, USA
Michael Maack, Marketing Producer, ZDF – Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, Germany
Maribel Martinez, Founder & Creative Director, Diecinueve36, Mexico
Akira Nishimura, Executive Producer, Fuji Television, Japan
Nick Olle, Senior Supervising Producer, 101 East, AL Jazeera, Malaysia
Alexandra Pauliat, Executive Producer, People and Power, Al Jazeera Network, Qatar
Duncan Preston, Head of Global Creative Services, Al Jazeera Media Network, Qatar
Matt Pothecary, Creative Director, Media Zoo Ltd., United Kingdom
Ricardo Ravanelli, News Director/Head of Content, CANAL 13 ARTEAR S.A., Argentina
Monica Sarbu, Executive Director, CNN International, Romania
German Sela, Head of Brand, Moviestar+, Spain
Jessica Soho, Broadcast Journalist, GMA Networks, Philippines
Jay Soo, Chief Commercial & Creative Officer | APAC, Casual Films, Singapore
Francis Toral, Head of Integrated News Division, ABS-CBN Corporation, Philippines
Nessa S. Valdellon, First Vice President & Senior Vice President, GMA Public Affairs & GMA Pictures, Philippines
Umesh Vohra, Head of Planning, TRT World, Turkey
Toshie Yoshida President, TI ComNet Japan, Japan
View the 2026 TV & Film Awards Grand Jury: HERE.
The 2026 TV & Film Awards Grand Jury will view all entries during online judging panels to determine a score based on industry-specific criteria. Juries determine Gold, Silver, and Bronze Trophy Winners. Top-scoring entries are honored with the esteemed Grand Trophy. Special Industry Awards celebrate Broadcaster of the Year, Production Company of the Year, and Program Promotion Team of the Year.
The WaterBear Award is bestowed to the highest scoring documentary across Climate Change & Sustainability, Environment & Ecology, and Nature & Wildlife. This coveted award is a partnership between the free streaming platform dedicated to the future of our planet WaterBear Network and New York Festivals. The winning entry will be announced during the 2026 Storytellers Gala on May 21st, 2026. View the 2025 Storytellers Gala.
NYF’s TV & Film Awards honors the rich diversity of content created by today’s visionary storytellers for global audiences across all viewing platforms. Since 1957, the competition has celebrated excellence and innovation across all genres, keeping pace with industry-wide developments and global trends.
All Entries will be judged online and screened by the TV & Film Awards Grand Jury of 200+ producers, directors, writers, and other creative media professionals from around the globe. Award-winning entries will be showcased at the TV & Film Awards winners gallery. To view the 2025 TV & Film Awards winner’s showcase visit: winners.
The deadline to enter the 2026 Television & Film Awards competition is December 31, 2025.
To view entry details and competition rules and regulations visit HERE. For a complete list of the Television & Film Awards 2026 categories, visit HERE.