New York Festivals TV & Film Awards Announces 2017 Winners at NAB

Grand Awards go to “David Attenborough's Light on Earth,” “MARS” and “Super Bowl 50”

Al Jazeera Earns Broadcaster of the Year, The Edge Picture Company is Production Company of the Year, and Fox Networks Group Latin America Named Program Promotion Team of the Year

New York Festivals® International Television & Film Awards   announced the 2017 award winners at the annual NAB Show in Las Vegas. This year’s ceremony celebrated the World’s Best TV & Films℠ from 40 countries around the globe.

This year’s award-winning entries represented the innovative programming accessible to viewers today, compelling primetime entertainment, innovative documentaries, riveting Olympic and Sports programs, headline news coverage, engaging promos and stellar corporate image films.

The 2017 TV & Film Awards Grand Jury comprised of prominent international broadcast and film industry executives awarded trophies to content creators across all platforms and in all genres including 3 Grand Awards 167 Gold World Medals, 175 Silver World Medals and 145 Bronze World Medals. 

Three outstanding entries were honored with the coveted New York Festivals Grand Award: “David Attenborough's Light on Earth” Terra Mater Factual Studios GmbH’s blockbuster documentary; “MARS” National Geographic’s six-part docudrama television miniseries; and “Super Bowl 50” CBS Sports captivating coverage of the Denver Broncos/Carolina Panthers game. 

Al Jazeera’s news analysis and investigative programming earned the network the prestigious title of Broadcaster of the Year. The network’s award-winning entries covered a variety of global topics and were recognized with 7 Gold World Medals, 14 Silver World Medals, 8 Bronze, and 12 Finalists Certificates.  Gold Medalists include: Al Jazeera Investigates “The Dark Side: Secrets of the Sports Dopers,” “Al Jazeera English “ISIL and the Taliban” and “The Caliph: Foundation,” and “101 East for “Good Morning Pakistan.”

“Al Jazeera English is delighted be named Broadcaster of the Year at the New York Festival awards and to win a batch of gold, silver and bronze awards for our content,” said AJE’s acting Managing Director, Giles Trendle. “It’s a great honour to have our bold and unique journalism recognized on the global stage by our peers. In a world seemingly beset by rising bigotry and extremism, Al Jazeera English continues its mission in providing a wider scope of information, insight and understanding. These awards are a testament to the quality of our journalism and the value of our goal to tell important stories from around the world. Behind every award is a multi-talented and multi-cultural team of dedicated individuals whose creativity and commitment come together in the shared aim of listening to, and telling people’s stories.”

The Edge Picture Company, UK, earned the title of Production Company of the Year for the 11th year running. The production company was in the spotlight, earning a total of 6 Gold World Medals, 5 Silver World Medals, 1 Bronze, and 9 Finalist Certificates.

Phil Blundell, executive producer for The Edge Picture Company said, “The New York Festivals is without doubt the top international showcase for corporate films. To win an award here is something that any client or producer should truly cherish and feel very proud of.”

Tony Petitti, Chief Operating Officer of Major League Baseball was honored with the 2017 New York Festivals® Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Petitti’s career path is the definition of excellence and for almost three decades he has been a top figure in the world of sports television serving in numerous leadership positions at major networks.

Fox Networks Group Latin America was recognized with the 2017 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 Latin America-based network earned 2 Gold World Medals, 5 Silver World Medals, 3 Bronze World Medals and 2 Finalist Certificates.

“The entertainment experience is evolving everyday and the viewers are more and more demanding. It’s a big challenge for us, creatives and marketers. Here at FOX Networks Group Latin America we know that we have to keep surprising our fans and we’re always looking for the big idea. We’re very proud of our talented team across all the region,” said André Takeda, VP Creative Services at Fox Networks Group Latin America. “Winning this award is not only an honour, it’s a recognition for all our passion for creativity and innovation.”

“We are very proud of our creative team that strives year after year to continue to delight our audiences through the creativity and innovation that always characterizes the values and quality of the brands and contents of FOX NETWORKS GROUP LATIN AMERICA,” said Diego Reck, SVP & Chief Marketing Officer, Fox Networks Group Latin America.

Prominent industry executive and international award-winners presented trophies to winners attending the 2017 ceremony from around the globe: Chris Brown, executive vice president of NAB Conventions and Business Operations USA; Ken Aagaard, Executive Vice President, Innovation and New Technology, CBS Sports; Clayton Conservani and Carolina Barcellos, Correspondents “Planeta Extremo”, TV Globo Brazil; Regina Reyes, Senior Vice President, News & Current Affairs, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., Philippines; Jo-Ann Demers Director and Martyne Bourdeau, Producer, Radio-Canada, Canada; Lee Camp, Host of Redacted Tonight and Simone Del Rosario, Journalist, RT America, USA; and Camilla Ziedorn, Reporter/Producer, TV4 / Nyhetsbolaget, Sweden.

Blockbuster documentaries were in the winner’s circle, Gold Medalists include: “Before the Flood” (National Geographic)  produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and Fisher Stevens,  “Years of Living Dangerously” (National Geographic) series produced by James Cameron, National Parks Adventure” (MacGillivray Freeman Films) narrated by Robert Redford, “The Circus: Inside The Greatest Political Show on Earth” (Showtime), “Europe´s Last Nomads” (INTERSPOT FILM GMBH), “ Dawn of Humanity” and “Inside Einstein’s Mind” (WGBH’s PBS series NOVA), “Louder Than Words”(Newseum), WE THE VOTERS: 20 Films for the People (Vulcan),and “Fighting ISIS” and “State of Surveillance” (Vice on HBO).

Primetime entertainment was center-stage with Drama series, TV movies and mini-series all striking Gold.  Dramas earning Gold Medals: “Jean” (TVNZ) the drama about New Zealand’s most famous aviatrix, Jean Batten; “Victoria” (ITV UK) British television’s drama chronicling the early life of Queen Victoria; and “Killing Reagan” (National Geographic) drama. Mini-series taking home the Gold: “Roots” (History Channel); and “Harley and the Davidsons” (Discovery Channel).  Additional Gold World Medalists include the comedy series “Workin' Moms” (CBC/ Wolf and Rabbit Entertainment) and TV movie “Duel of the Brothers - Adidas vs. Puma. (Zeitsprung Pictures GmbH).

Gold World Medal winning Sports programming and promos played out on the world stage: “MLB Network Presents: The Bird,” and “Maverick and Ortiz,”  and “Intentional Talk” (MLB Network), “Eu Me Movo” (SPORTV), “2016 Summer Olympics,” and “Paralympics 2016” Channel 4.

ESPN saw multiple entries earn Gold for special event coverage and sports programming including:  Outside the Lines, ESPN’s investigative series “Tyler Sash,” SportsCenter, the network’s flagship series for “SC Featured - Pin Kings,” “World Cup of Hockey” and “Chicago Cubs World Series Anticipation Feature.”

NBC Entertainment’s promos earned top honors, Gold Medalists include; TIMELESS “Time Has Come” and America's Got Talent “Simon of the Lambs.” Additional promos taking home the Gold: The Affair Trailer – “Cages” (Showtime Networks) and “Woodcut Posters” (National Geographic).

Network news reporting on headline issues took home Gold World Medals: “Syria on the Run” (GloboNews/ Globo TV), “Trump: America's Next President?” (SKY British Television), “Fault Lines: The Dark Prison” (Al Jazeera English), “Smart Consumer Reports” (Korean Broadcasting System, “China Stories II The vanishing shadow” (Radio Television Hong Kong),”Virus in the System” (ANTENA 3), “Libya Heat” (RT), “Death on a Comet” and “Jupiter: Close Encounter” both for (Discovery Channel Canada).

Corporate Image Films earned top honors. The Edge Picture Company scored 6 Gold World Medals:” The Future of World Trade,” “Cyber Enabled Blackmail,” “One Million Futures,” “Strength in Agility,” and “Everyday Heroes.” Additional Corporate Films include Gold Medal winners: “Sensualite” Norvell Jefferson, and “Volvo Trucks Baby Film” Medien Manufaktur GmbH. “Deeper than Blue,” “The Energy Within Campaign,” and “Running Man” (PSONA Films) also earned Gold World Medals. 

The newly launched Best Use of Technology category celebrated the creative technological advancements in content creation that enhanced the viewing experience. Gold World Medalists include:  “Play the Guggenheim” Guggenheim Museum; “Halcyon” Syfy; and “Globo Olympic Studio” Globo.  In addition, “Rio 2016: SportTV Olympic Coverage” SportTV also earned a Bronze World Medal.  

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. “Before the Flood” (National Geographic) was honored with the Gold UNDPI Award, “Warmer” (ABS-CBN Corp.) was recognized with a Silver UNDPI Award, and “Rights of the Child” (Discovery Learning Alliance) received a Bronze.

New York Festivals 2017 International Television & Film Awards ceremony and acceptance speeches will be available for viewing on the TV & Film Awards website. To view this year’s winner’s showcase click HERE.