New York Festivals� International Television & Film Awards® celebrated the World’s Best TV Programs & Films® at NAB in Las Vegas on Tuesday night. The Grand Jury awarded 119 Gold World Medals, 145 Silver, 104 Bronze, and 327 Finalist Certificates from entries submitted from 50 countries. The following companies were honored with Grand Awards: Done and Dusted, UK for Olympic Opening Ceremony; A&E, USA for Paul Simon’s Graceland Journey: Under African Skies; and History Channel, USA for Hatfields & McCoys.
ESPN, USA earned the title of Broadcaster of the Year for the sixth year consecutive year and was recognized with 12 Gold World Medals, 20 Silver, eight Bronze, and 22 Finalist Certificates.
The Edge Picture Company was honored with the title Production Company of the Year for the seventh year in a row. The London-based company earned two Gold World Medals, two Silver, three Bronze, and six Finalist Certificates.
New York Festivals honored Susan Zirinsky, senior executive producer of the CBS News broadcast 48 HOURS with the third annual NYF Lifetime Achievement Award. Erin Moriarty, correspondent for 48 HOURS, presented the award to Zirinksy, whose extensive journalism career has provided her with a front seat to some of the most iconic moments in TV news history.
Chris Brown, executive vice president of conventions & business operations for NAB, presented a special award celebrating the 100-year anniversary of Indian Cinema to Dr. Kamal Haasan, legendary Indian film actor, screenwriter, producer and director.
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (Sony Pictures Television/ Crackle), and Fresh Guacamole By PES (Showtime) earned Gold World Medals in the Online Entertainment Program category, and “Early Cuts” from the series Dexter (Showtime), and Temps mort /Time out (Societe Radio-Canada /Productions Babel) received Silver Medals. The Dalai Lama at St Paul’s (CTN Communications/The John Templeton Foundation, Online Special Events) and Memorable Moments. The Olympics (Yahoo! Studios, Online Sport Program) were honored with Gold Medals.
CNN’s 24-hour news coverage took center stage earning a total of 7 Gold World Medals, five Silver, two Bronze and eight Finalist Certificates. The network received top honors for their Gold Medal coverage for Selling a Miracle, CNN Presents: Soldier Guinea Pigs, Syria: Inside Aleppo, CNN Series of Reports from Homs, Syria by an Anonymous Journalist/Filmmaker, Refund Robbery, Awra Damon: Homs Wounded, and “AC360: Kids on Race: The Hidden Picture.” And, Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Inside West Papua; ESPN’s Outside the Lines’ “Kyle Maynard: No Excuses,” “Monika Korra: Breaking the Silence,” and “Defiance: The Story of FC Start,” were awarded Gold Medals.
The spotlight was on Prime Time Promos with “London Calling Brand Trail” (BBC Worldwide / BBC Global News); America’s Got Talent‘s “Magnet” (NBC), and “Crimson Petal Sizzle” (Encore Starz Entertainment) taking home Gold Medals. HBO’s “Hemingway & Gellhorn Behind The Scenes Campaign,” “Boardwalk Empire S3 Campaign,” “The Newsroom Trailer #1,” and “LUCK Campaign” along with Showtime’s “Writers Room Campaign” for Weeds and “Mirrors” for The Borgias received Silver Medals.
Brooklyn Castle (Producers Distribution Agency); Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide (Show of Force/PBS); Perfectly Normal (Bunim-Murray); Good Karma $1 (Kids At Play and Fearless Cottage); and A Hell of a Living (ANTENA 3); each earned Gold World Medals for their documentary work.
Each year, NYF, in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Public Information, selects entries that exemplify the aims and ideals of the United Nations, and honors them with the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI) awards. Inside Story, Discovery DCEGP, USA – Society & Social Issues, and Once Upon a Time in Cabramatta, Fredbird Entertainment and Northern Pictures, Australia – Community Portraits earned Gold UNDPI Awards. Perfectly Normal, Bunim-Murray Productions, USA – Documentaries garnered a Bronze UNDPI.
NYF’s 2013 Television & Film Awards ceremony and acceptance speeches will be available for viewing on the International Television & Film Awards website. To view this year’s award winners: http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/winners/2013/ or http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/nabshow2013/mobile/ . For more information visit: www.newyorkfestivals.com.
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More