New York Festivals® International Television & Film Awards announced its 2017 finalists. Grand Jury members from the international broadcast and film industry selected this year’s finalists from entries submitted from 40 countries. Primetime entertainment, innovative documentaries, compelling Olympic and sports programs, as well as big budget corporate image film advanced to the trophy round.
“This year more than ever before, content creators across all platforms and all genres engaged viewers in an immersive conversation about the important topics and critical issues facing us today. From climate change documentaries to primetime drama to major sports events, the art of storytelling and the science of new technology gave audiences new ways to experience and to navigate our ever-changing world,” said Rose Anderson, VP & executive director of New York Festivals Television & Film Awards.
Documentaries advancing to the medal round include: “Before the Flood” (National Geographic) produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and Fisher Stevens examines the changes occurring around the world due to climate change; “David Attenborough’s Light on Earth” (Terra Mater Factual Studios GmbH) follows the naturalist’s exploration of bioluminescence; “Years of Living Dangerously” (National Geographic) series exploring climate change produced by James Cameron; “Europe´s Last Nomads” (INTERSPOT FILM GMBH) explores the seasonal migration of people and animals between grazing grounds; and “National Parks Adventure” (MacGillivray Freeman Films) narrated by Robert Redford. Also advancing: “The Circus: Inside The Greatest Political Show on Earth” Showtime’s series featuring Bloomberg Politics managing editors Mark Halperin and John Heilemann and campaign strategist Mark McKinnon; HBO’s documentary TV series “VICE Media”; and CBC/Bountiful Films documentaries “Hold Your Fire” and “Wasted.” WGBH’s series NOVA, America’s most watched primetime science television series, moved forward with 9 Finalists.
Drama series, TV movies and mini-series achieving finalist status include: “Victoria” (ITV UK) British television’s drama about the early life of Queen Victoria; “MARS” (National Geographic) the six-part docudrama television miniseries about attempts to colonize Mars; “Jean” (TVNZ) the drama about New Zealand’s most famous aviatrix, Jean Batten; “Roots” (History Channel) historical mini-series; “Killing Reagan” (National Geographic) drama detailing the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. Also advancing: “Harley and the Davidsons” (Discovery Channel) mini-series; “UnREAL” (Lifetime) drama series about a reality dating competition; “Workin’ Moms” (CBC/ Wolf and Rabbit Entertainment) comedy series; and “Duel of the Brothers – Adidas vs. Puma. (Zeitsprung Pictures GmbH).” Finalists in the Telenovela category advancing: “Frozen Memories” and “More Than Love” (SP Televisão, S.A.); “Someone To Watch Over Me” (GMA Networks, Inc.); and “Soy Luna” (The Walt Disney Company LATAM).
Sports programming finalists included: “Super Bowl 50” (CBS), 2016 Rio Olympics Opening Ceremony, Olympic Games, Studio, and Paralympic Coverage (SporTV/Globosat), “MLB Network Presents: The Bird,” “Maverick and Ortiz,” “Crafted,” and “MLB Central” (MLB Network). Both CNN and Sports Illustrated Now documentaries, news programs and reports/ features achieved Finalist status. TV Globo’s “Planet Extremo” moved on to the medal round. “Formula 1 British Grand Prix Opening Film 2016” Evoke Films; “Indy 500” Jump Studios; “Calgary Stampede 2016 Parade Open” Shine Light Entertainment; “SPORTV OLYMPIC PROMOS” SporTV/Globsat; Olympics 2016 and UEFA EURO 2016 (ZDF);2016 Brazil 2016 Paralympic Games (Francetv Sports); Summer Olympics (France 3); BBC Sport/Rio 2016 Programme Brand (BBC); and US Open 2016 (Starhub) also advanced.
ESPN’s special event coverage and sports journalism moved ahead with programming on a wide variety of topics. SportsCenter, ESPN’s flagship series, saw multiple entries achieve Finalist status and Outside the Lines saw entries advance. Additional ESPN Finalists include: “Monday Night Football,” “World Cup of Hockey,” Chicago Cubs World Series Anticipation Feature,” “The Evolution of Michael Phelps,” and “Saving Clay County.”
Al Jazeera’s Network’s news and investigative programming advanced to the next round including: Al Jazeera Media Network’s “Al Jazeera Investigates,” a current affairs and investigative journalism series; Al Jazeera English’s “People in Power” a documentary series that looks at the use and abuse of power; and “Witness,” a documentary series exploring world issues through compelling human stories ; and Al Jazeera Network’s “101 East,” documentary series examining world issues through focusing on Asia’s diverse cultures and conflicting politics.
Network news coverage from around the globe reported on today’s headline issues, Finalists include: 7 Network Australia, Bloomberg TV, CANAL 13 ARTEAR S.A., Channel NewsAsia (mediacorp), CNN, DW Deutsche Welle, KOREAN BROADCASTING SYSTEM (KBS), Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Television Hong Kong, RT, RT America, Sky News, Television Broadcasts Limited, and VOA.
Engaging promos from around the world achieved finalist status. Entries moving forward: The Affair Trailer–“Cages” (Showtime Networks); TIMELESS “Time Has Come” and America’s Got Talent “Simon of the Lambs” (NBC Entertainment), and “All That All That Matters” (CBS News). Fox International Channels Latin America promos moving on to the next round include: “School For Husbands,” “Shallow Grave,” and “Woodcut Posters.” These network submissions also advanced: Telemundo Network’s “El Chema”; Discovery Communications Spain & Portugal’s “U.F.O Declassified”; FOX Networks Group, S.L.U.’s “Outcast Time – Conceptual closure”; Ishikawa Television Broadcasting Corporation’s “The Fall of Manchuria Began Here”; “ACS The Best. First”; and Scripps Networks International’s “Finally I’m buying a house.”
Corporate image entries moved on to the medal round. The Edge Picture Company Ltd. saw multiple entries advance including: “Senses of Qatar,” “Everyday Heroes,” “Debunking the Myths,” “One Million Futures” and “Africa.” Entries from international production companies achieving finalist status include: AL DENTE ENTERTAINMENT GMBH, AVISTA AG, Buddy Films, Casual Films, Norvell Jefferson, Radley Yeldar; FICTION FILMS GMBH, OPIUM effect GmbH, Gorilla Gorilla!, iceni.co, NLMK Group, Psona Films LIMITED, Seed Audio-Visual Communication, STARK, Ti22 FILMS, and Veldkamp Produkties.
All entries submitted to the 2017 TV & Film Awards competition were judged online and screened by New York Festivals Television & Film Awards Grand Jury of 200 plus producers, directors, writers, and other creative media professionals from around the globe. To view the 2017 Finalists click: here.
The 2017 Television & Film Awards gala will take place at the annual NAB Show in Las Vegas on April 25, 2017. This is the seventh year that NYF and their official partner, NAB Show, will present the competition to more than 103,000 media and entertainment professionals from 187 countries, including 1,608 industry press representatives, and over 1,800 exhibiting companies.
