Grand Awards go to “The Roosevelts: An Intimate History,” Earth is Yours,” and “Y Gwyll / Hinterland
ESPN is Broadcaster of the Year, The Edge Picture Company Earns Production Company of the Year, and BBC Worldwide Asia is the Inaugural Program Promotion Team of the Year
New York Festivals® International Television & Film Awards announced the 2016 competition’s award-winning programming at tonight’s gala at the annual NAB Show in Las Vegas.
NYF’s Grand Jury, comprised of prominent global broadcast and film industry executives, honored the World’s Best TV & Films℠ and awarded 3 Grand Trophies, 153 Gold World Medals, 161 Silver World Medals, 131 Bronze, and 279 Finalist Certificates to entries submitted from 50 countries.
ESPN USA’s sports journalism and coverage of special events were in the winner’s circle, earning the sports powerhouse the coveted title of Broadcaster of the Year for the 8th year. ESPN’s programming, explored a wide variety of topical subjects and was recognized with 12 Gold World Medals, 10 Silver World Medals, 4 Bronze, and 14 Finalists Certificates.
“We are honored to again be named Broadcaster of the Year at the New York Festival Awards, an international competition covering all of television’s best efforts where simply being nominated is a distinct honor,” said John Wildhack, ESPN executive vice president, programming and production. “We take special pride in winning for marquee programming from both our studio and event production teams. The enterprise journalism practiced by Outside the Lines and SportsCenter are second to none, in sports or beyond. Also, we could not be happier with recognition for the iconic Monday Night Football series, our first Special Olympics World Games and our other medal winners. I am thrilled for the hundreds of people whose passion and creativity are at the heart of these entries.”
The Edge Picture Company, UK was in the spotlight, earning the prestigious title of Production Company of the Year for the 10th year running. The production company struck gold, earning a total of 4 Gold World Medals, 6 Silver World Medals, 6 Bronze, and 4 Finalist Certificates.
Phil Blundell, executive producer for The Edge Picture Company said, “Winning this prestigious award for the 10th year in succession is such a huge honour for us and we thank the NYF for this accolade. We are deeply humbled. We would also like to thank not only our many global clients who continually entrust and encourage us to push creative boundaries, but also our many highly skilled production teams who keep delivering such a high standard of filmic work. The emotive power of film continues to play an ever growing role in today’s business world and we just feel privileged to be able to play our part.”
David Hill, legendary veteran sports executive, live event specialist, and Father of FOX Sports, was honored with the 2016 New York Festivals Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Hill’s career has defined excellence in sports television with his illustrious career that spans more than three decades on three continents. Earlier this year, the Emmy-winning live television executive produced the 88th Academy Awards telecast and served as executive producer at Fox for “American Idol” for the iconic show’s final three seasons.
BBC Worldwide Asia received the inaugural Program Promotion Team of the Year Award. The special industry award honors the creative team with the highest scores for entries and largest medal count across all promotion categories and all platforms. The Singapore-based network was recognized with 1 Grand Trophy, 10 Gold World Medals, 2 Silver World Medals, and 2 Bronze World Medals.
“The Roosevelts: An Intimate History” Florentine Films USA was center stage earning the Grand Trophy for producer/director Ken Burns. The award-winning documentary series chronicles the lives of one of America’s most prominent and influential political family and featured a star-studded cast that included Meryl Streep, Paul Giamatti and Edward Herrmann.
Mr. Burns had this to say about receiving the Grand Trophy. “We are honored that the NY Festivals Award has decided to recognize our film, “The Roosevelts: An Intimate History,” with such a prestigious award. The Roosevelts of course are forever connected to New York and we are thrilled that their collective story so captivated the country. Our greatest thanks to all who made this possible.”
“Earth is Yours” BBC Worldwide Asia was in the winner’s circle taking home the Grand Trophy for the network’s promo introducing the BBC Earth Channel to the Pan-Asia region with a soundscape and vision that captures the spectacle of the universe, the wonder of the natural world and our place within it.
“Our team has worked passionately and tirelessly this past year, and to see our work recognised by our peers in the industry is a great honour. The New York Festivals World’s Best TV & Films awards will inspire us to deliver even more engaging and captivating ideas in the coming year,” said Julia Nocciolino, VP Brands and Marketing, BBC Worldwide Asia.
“Y Gwyll / Hinterland” S4C Wales earned the Grand Trophy for their contemporary television detective drama series set in and around the remote coastal town of Aberystwyth in Wales, both Welsh and English language versions of the program were produced simultaneously. The award-winning drama was broadcast via S4C, BBC Wales and BBC4 throughout the UK and sold to Netflix in the US, Canada and Scandinavia. “Y Gwyll / Hinterland” has been sold to over 30 territories including Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Denmark.
Ed Talfan, producer for S4C Wales had this to say, “We are thrilled to be winners of the Grand Award. Our dedicated cast and crew have worked tirelessly over the past three years on the series and we are delighted to share this award with them. We would also like to thank our partners at S4C, BBC Wales, All3Media International, Tinopolis and the Welsh Government for their continued support. It is a privilege to make a show in our own back yard; a show that has something to say about the place where we live and who we are.”
Prominent industry executives presented trophies to global award-winners including: Chris Brown, executive vice president of NAB Conventions and Business Operations, USA; Robert Alberino, vice president/executive producer, San Francisco 49er’s, USA; Ameera David, anchor/host, RT America, USA; Kara Patria Constantino David, broadcast journalist, GMA Network, Philippines; Clayton Conservani and Carolina Barcellos, correspondents, TV Globo, Brazil; David de Lautour and Hannah Marshall, actors in the drama Westside, South Pacific Pictures, New Zealand; and Mihai Gadea, and ceo/general manager/host Mircea Badea, anchor, Antena 3, Romania.
Documentaries were center stage, Gold World Medalists include: “Racing Extinction” Discovery, “Humpback Whales” MacGillivray Freeman Films, and “Mission Mozart” Deutsche Welle. Terra Mater Factual Studios GmbH earned an impressive 5 Gold Medals, including: “Wild Sri Lanka – Episode 1: Land Of Lakes” and “Between Worlds – Episode 1: Guardians of Tradition.” Other documentaries scoring Gold include: “The Vietnam War – Faces of a Tragedy” WDR – WESTDEUTSCHER RUNDFUNK KOLN, “Life on the Reef” and “Changing Minds: The Inside Story,” Australian Broadcasting Corp, and “Vanishing Kings – Lions of the Namib” Interspot Film GmbH. Additional Gold Medalists include: “Born on” Monster Format, “The Secret Garden – Spring Awakening” Doclights GmbH / NDR Naturfilm, “The Antibiotic Hunters” Dreamfilm Productions, “The Paedophile Next Door” Testimony Films, “The Touch of an Angel” TVP S.A., “Sharing Realities. Changing Perspectives” Deutsche Welle, and “Match of the Century: Bruce Lee VS. Life” and “The Naked Truth” Antena 3.
“The broad range of nonfiction long-form programming around the world is recognized by New York Festivals with over 2 dozen documentary categories. This phenomenon is happening because directors, producers and journalists everywhere realize that documentaries change lives – and the growth of issue-based TV movies and mini-series shares that same world-view,” said Rose Anderson, executive director, New York Festivals Television & Film Awards.
Multiple TV Movies earned Gold Medals: “Under the Radar,” and “Autumn Tingles – Speed Dating for Silver Hairs” WDR – WESTDEUTSCHER RUNDFUNK KOLN; “The White Ethiopian” MOOVIE GmbH,” and “Die Ungehorsame (The disobedient woman) Ninety-Minute Film GmbH earned Gold World Medals. In addition, the newly launched Crime Drama category saw multiple programs strike Gold: “Y Gwyll / Hinterland” S4C Wales and “Method” Channel One Russia. “Unreal,” Lifetime’s comedy/drama series earned a Silver World Medal.
Mini-Series honored with Gold World Medals include: “Texas Rising” History, “Midwinter of the Spirit” ITV Studios, and “Battle for Sevastopol” FILM.UA. Silver World Medalists include: “Sons of Liberty” History, “The Trials of Jimmy Rose” ITVStudios, “TUT” Spike, “SHADES OF GUILT – Town Festival” MOOVIE GmbH, and “Old Money” Superfilm Filmproduktions GmbH.
Telenovelas were celebrated by the global Grand Jury. SP Televisão, S.A. “Heart of Gold” earned a Gold World Medal, and “Salty Sea” received a Bronze. Telemundo Network USA’s “La Querida del Centauro,” and “Bajo el Mismo Cielo,” were recognized with a Silver World Medal.
Streaming programming exploded this year with award-winning programming taking home multiple medals: “Life on Hold “Al Jazeera English, and “TravelSSBD” Mediacorp Pte Ltd, and online educational entry “Magna Carta and the Constitution” The Documentary Group were each honored with a Gold World Medal. Hulu’s “Difficult People” earned both a Silver World Medal and a Bronze, and “Casual” also took home a Bronze World Medal. The Metropolitan Museum’s “The Artist Project” and Conde Nast Entertainment’s “The Perfect Match” each earned a Silver World Medal.
NBC’s promos were center stage: The Voice “Epic,” The Voice “Virtual Reality,” The Blacklist “Chaos,” and Blindspot “Comic Con,” were recognized with Gold World Medals. Primetime promos received top honors, Gold Medalists include: “Os Incriveis” and “Zombifying” both for Fox International Channels Latin America; “Black Sails: Visual Effects More than Meets the Eye” and “The Missing – Finale Episodic” STARZ; “CBS News Breathtaking” CBS News; “Entertain Your Brain 2015” National Geographic Channels International and Star Wars Trilogy Teasers” The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia Pte Ltd
News coverage earning Gold World Medals include: Channel NewsAsia (Mediacorp) earned Gold Medals for “Undercover Asia,” “Bring Back Our Girls – Flight of the Falcons,” “Undercover Asia – Voices Under the Mango Tree,” and “Little People Big Dreams.” The networks of Al Jazeera addressed critical issues, and earned 10 Gold Medals including: “Afghanistan’s Billion Dollar Drug War,” “Malaysia’s Unwanted,” “Myanmar’s Jade Curse,” “Mexico’s Disappeared / Fault Lines,” “Fault Lines,” “Death of Aging / Fault Lines,” and “Death of Aging / Fault Lines.” Additional Gold Medalists include CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360° “#Being13: Inside the Secret World of Teens” and “CNN International’s Coverage of Europe’s Migrant Crisis,” and Time Inc Studio’s “Hunter and a Fighter, Two Brothers’ Remarkable Journey.”
SportsCenter, ESPN’s flagship program struck Gold: “SC Featured – Isaiah Bird: No Excuses” and “SC Featured: Lauren Hill: One More Game” received Gold Medals. ESPN’s Outside the Lines earned multiple Golds including: “Revisiting Donnovan Hill” and “Transgender Sports Policy.” ESPN’s “Monday Night Football Open,” “Special Olympics Opening Ceremony Tease,” and “2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee Tease” also scored Gold Medals. Other sports programming earning Gold World Medals: “2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup “Fox Sports, and “MLB Network Presents: Billy Bean.” “LA Kings: 2014 Stanley Cup Moments” Los Angeles Kings earned a Silver World Medal.
Corporate Image Films achieved top honors. The Edge Picture Company was recognized with multiple Gold Medals: “The Essence of Qatar,” “Ask Yourself,” “Cyber Security,” and “Make the Difference.” Other Corporate Films in the spotlight include Gold Medalists: “Volvo Trucks / Real Change, full version” STARK Corporate Communication AB, “Black Ink” Kemper Kommunikation GmbH, Domotex Event – Paradox of Choice,” and “Paradox of Choice” Norvell Jefferson, “Hubei In The Air” Yessian, “MUT” FRISCHE BRISE FILM “Jus dees Idees” THREESIXZERO PRODUCTIONS PTE. LTD., “Jak’s Story” Casual Films, “Passage of Courage” Mubadala, and “QLAR” OPIUM effect GmbH.
Each year, New York Festivals, in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Public Information, selects entries that exemplify the aims and ideas of the United Nations and honors them with the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI) awards. “Life on Hold” Al Jazeera English for Online News Program earned the Gold UNDPI Award, “Mom & Clarinet” Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) for Human Concerns was recognized with a Silver UNDPI Award, and “Racing Extinction” Discovery for Documentaries received a Bronze.