New York Festivals International Television & Film Awards, now in its 58th year, announced the World’s Best TV & Films winners last night at their gala event at the annual NAB Show in Las Vegas.
The Grand Jury panel awarded 145 Gold World Medals, 155 Silver, 128 Bronze, and 261 Finalist Certificates from entries submitted from over 50 countries. The following companies earned the prestigious Grand Award: ESPN for “Outside the Lines Special Report: The “N” Word,” History Channel for “Houdini,” and Showtime for “Years of Living Dangerously.”
CNN won Broadcaster of the Year and was in the spotlight with 16 Gold World Medals, 13 Silver, 8 Bronze and 18 Finalist Certificates.
The Edge Picture Company was recognized with the title of Production Company of the Year for the 9th year in a row. The UK-based company earned a total of 5 Gold World Medals, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze and 9 Finalist Certificates.
Ken Aagaard, executive VP, operations, engineering & production services, CBS Sports, was honored with the fifth annual New York Festivals Lifetime Achievement Award. With a media career spanning over four decades, Aagaard is one of sports television’s most respected broadcast executives. His resume includes high profile global sporting events for many networks including 18 Super Bowls, five World Series, a half dozen Wimbledon matches and French Opens, and three Olympic Games, including the 1988 Games in Seoul where he was VP operations for NBC Olympics.
“Outside the Lines Special Report: The 'N' word,” ESPN USA, earned the Grand Trophy for ESPN’s Black History Month programming. The hour-long show, hosted by Bob Ley, examined the word, its history and featured a live discussion. The award-winning entry also earned 4 Gold World Medals.
Dwayne Bray, senior coordinating producer, Enterprise Reporting Unit, ESPN, said, “'The N word' special was the result of a lot of creative thinking from people across different platforms and on a number of shows at ESPN. Senior coordinating producer Michael Fountain came up with the idea of doing a one-hour show on the topic after the Riley Cooper incident. We’re happy we found ways to advance the dialogue around this important and sensitive subject and were able to deliver a show that revealed how different generations tend to view the word through their own experiences.”
“Houdini,” History Channel USA, was honored with the Grand Trophy for their mini-series, starring Oscar-winner Adrien Brody. The drama chronicled the life the legendary escape artist who defied death through his stunts, his visions and his mastery of illusion.
“Years of Living Dangerously,” SHOWTIME Presents, A Roaring Fork Films Production, earned the Grand Trophy for their globetrotting documentary series on the human impacts of climate change. The program features Harrison Ford, Don Cheadle and Pulitzer Prize-winner Thomas L. Friedman examining climate change.
Long-form entertainment categories were in the spotlight with multiple high-profile programs earning medals. Mini-Series entries earning Gold Medals: “Víctor Ros” from CRTVE / TVE, and “Cillia,” ITV. “Vikings,” Drama, History Channel also earned a Gold World Medal. Additional programs taking home the Gold include: “Boardwalk Empire DVD Feature,” Entertainment, HBO, “PINOCCHIO,” Family Special, WDR, and “iheart radio music awards 2015,” Special Event, Done+Dusted.” The following TV Movies earned Gold Medals: “The Witness House,” MOOVIE – the art of entertainment GmbH, “The Chosen Ones (OT:Die Auserwählten)” and “The Investigator (OT: Die Fahnderin),” both by WDR, and “Prim, Murder in Turk Street,” CRTVE / TVE.
CNN’s coverage racked up 16 Gold Medal winning entries including: “This is Life with Lisa Ling,” “Theme Parks Investigation,” “Morgan Spurlock Inside Man,” “Every Day in Cambodia, A CNN Freedom Project Documentary, ” “The Hunt with John Walsh,”” Typhoon Haiyan,” “The Sixties,” “And the Oscar Goes To…,” “Iraq: Sinjar Mountain Rescue,” “CNNgo: Launch (Commuter/ Airport/ Workout),” ‘Human to Hero: Verity Smith, British Dressage Rider,” and “Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown: Get Packing” for Documentary/Information Program Promotion. In addition, CNN’s Ivan Watson and Nima Elbagir each earned a Gold Medal for Best News Reporter/Correspondent.
Other news coverage earning accolades include: “Return of the Lizard King,” Al Jazeera Network, and “Stolen Art,” SPIEGEL TV GmbH, each earned a Gold Medal for Best Investigative Report; “HAITI HEALTH CARE,” MediaLinks TV, CCTV-America, took home the Gold for Best Coverage of Continuing News Story. Steve Chao, Al Jazeera Network, also earned a Gold Medal for Best News Reporter/Correspondent. “The Sinking of the Sewol,” Channel News Asia, MediaCorp Pte Ltd, and “Hunt for a Super Comet,” Exploration Productions Inc. – Discovery Channel Canada, were each honored with Gold Medals for Best News Documentary/Special.
HBO’s promos were in the winner’s circle: “Boardwalk Empire Season 5 Campaign” and “True Detective Trailer #5 Atmospheric” earned Gold World Medals. HBO’s “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2014 Induction Ceremony Trailer,” “Silicon Valley Trailer, Promo #2, GOT Tie-in,” “Sonic Highways Trailer,” “The Normal Heart Campaign,” “The Leftovers Season 1 Campaign,” and “True Detective Season 1 Promo Campaign” were awarded Silver World Medals.
Primetime Promos took center stage; prominent winners taking home the Gold include: NBC’s “Peter Pan Live! First Look” and “THE BLACKLIST “Dominos.” Fox Broadcasting Company’s “24: Live Another Day “Street Chaos” Super Bowl Promo” earned a Gold Medal. NBC’s Silver Medalists include: “CHICAGO FIRE,” “THE VOICE “Joy Ride,” “Voice S7 First Look,” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Launch Campaign.” Showtime’s “House of Lies Handshake,” STARZ’s “The Missing,” and BBC Worldwide entries “Sherlock – Season 3,” “The Musketeers,” a “Top Gear S21” each received Silver Medals.
ESPN saw 15 entries ranging from special events to sports journalism earn Gold World Medals. “2014 FIFA World Cup Final” was in the winner’s circle earning a Gold Medal. SportsCenter, ESPN’s flagship program, earned multiple Gold Medals for “Pete’s Challenge,” “Origins of Species” and “A Lasting Image.” “Outside the Lines Special Report: The 'N' Word” critical examination of issues resulted in 4 additional Gold Medals. E:60, ESPN’s investigative news magazine, earned Gold Medals for “Enemy Within,” “Qatar’s World Cup,” “Downhill,” and “Dream On.” In addition, “Felix Sabates,” Reportajes Especiales, and “Jake Olson Fights On” College Gameday, each received a Gold Medal.
Sports programming scored Gold Medals for multiple entrants including: HBO’s “Cornered: Kenny Bayless” and “2 Days – Ruslan Provodnikov.” In addition, “Hall of Heroes: MLB Network Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Open," MLB Network, “Mylène Paquette Great Odyssey,” Radio Canada, “Billy Ingham, A Story About Passion,” Buddy Films for Havas Sports & Entertainment, were honored with Gold Medals. “Sochi 2014 Olympics Opening Ceremony,” Channel One Russia, and “The Display of Faith,” San Francisco 49ers, each earned a Silver Medal. In addition, “Chiefs Kingdom: #29,” Kansas City Chiefs, earned a Bronze World Medal.
Top honors were bestowed to Online Programming entries. Deutsche Welle’s “When we were 17: Youth at the crossroads” took home the Gold Medal in the Online Special Events category. Online Comedy entries “Tiny Commando,” Kids at Play, Principato-Young Entertainment, earned a Gold Medal and “Secret Agent,” Attraction Images, took home the Bronze Medal. Online Educational Program categories received multiple awards including: “We the Economy,” Vulcan Productions / Cinelan, received a Gold Medal and “#GameOn,” Australian Communications and Media Authority, earned a Silver Medal.
Documentaries took center stage earning Gold Medals for brilliant storytelling: WHITEY: United States of America v. James J. Bulger,” RadicalMedia, CNNFilms; “Tide of Grief,” MAY events; “DRAWING AGAINST OBLIVION,” Final Frame Produktions GmbH; “Journey to the South Pacific,” MacGillivray Freeman Films; and “The Cabaret of Death,” TVP S.A. Silver Medalists included: “David Bowie is,” Done +Dusted; “Highways Conversation with Foo Fighters,” HBO, and "Walang Rape sa Bontok (Bontok, Rapeless)," GMA Network.
Prominent corporations earned top honors for their Corporate Films: “Evinrude G2 Outboard Teaser,” Group Mojo, earned a Gold Award. The Edge Picture Company was honored with multiple Gold Awards for the following programs, including two Gold Awards for “Lifesaving Rules,” along with Gold Awards going to ”My Story,” “The Sound of ABB,” and “A Day in the Life of a Toilet.“ The UK based company also earned 3 Silver Medals for their entries “Business without Barriers,” “Face Cloud,” and “Guardians of the Sky.”
Annually NYF, 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. “Our Girl,” Animage Limited, Social Issues, earned the Gold UNDI Award; “Years of Living Dangerously,” Showtime Networks Inc., Environment & Ecology, earned the Silver UNDPI; and “On the Other Side of the Fence,” Henry Nevison Productions, Social Issues, was awarded the Bronze UNDPI Award.
