Grand Trophies go to ESPN, USA, Temolo Productions for Biography Channel, USA, and ReelzChannel, USA
BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi | April 19, 2012
The 55th New York FestivalsÂŽ International Television & Film Awardsâ˘, announced this yearâs winning entries at the 2012 awards ceremony Tuesday, April 17th at the annual NAB Show in Las Vegas. The Grand Jury honored the Worldâs Best TV Programs & Filmsâ˘Â and awarded three prestigious Grand Trophies to the following companies: ESPN, USA; Temolo Productions for BIO, The Biography Channel, USA; and ReelzChannel, USA.
ESPN earned the title of Broadcaster of the Year for the fifth consecutive year, and The Edge Picture Company, England was honored once again with the title of Production Company of the Year. In total, the 2012 Grand Jury awarded 119 Gold World Medals, 145 Silver, 102 Bronze, and 331 Finalist Certificates for their outstanding work.
In addition to earning Broadcaster of the Year and a Grand Trophy, ESPN swept the awards, taking home 20 Gold World Medals, 14 Silver, 9 Bronze, and 18 Finalist Certificates. The Edge Picture Company also figured prominently in the winnerâs circle. The London-based company was honored with 4 Gold World Medals, 5 Silver, 3 Bronze, and 12 Finalist Certificates.
NYFâs Production Company of the Year award is the ultimate accolade for any corporate production company, and as such, at The Edge we feel extremely privileged to have been awarded this again, for the 6th year in a row.  We always say that the most important judges of a film are its intended audience, but weâre overjoyed that the value of producing memorable, high quality work is also recognised by such a prestigious and internationally competitive event,â commented Faye Haggerty, Marketing and PR Manager, The Edge Picture Company.
This yearâs spotlight was on Geoffrey Mason, Senior Production Specialist for ESPN, who was honored with the NYF Television & Film Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. Jodi Markley, Senior Vice President/Operations for ESPN, presented the award. Mason is one of sports televisionâs most accomplished executives with more than 40 years of domestic and international production experience including: the FIFA World Cup, seven Olympic Games, six World Cups, and multiple Americaâs Cup races.
ESPN, USA earned the Grand Trophy for âIndianapolis 500 Open: A Walk Through Timeâ in the Television - Promotion/Open & IDs category. The sports opener commemorates the 100th year of the Indy 500. The award-winning entry takes the audience to the emotional core of Indyâs racing heritage and culminates with a glimpse into the future of Indy. âIndianapolis 500 Open: A Walk Through Timeâ also earned 2 Gold Awards, 3 Silver and 1Bronze.
âI want to thank the NY Festivals for this recognition of ESPN's efforts in journalism, storytelling and production,â said John Skipper, ESPN president. Â âWe strive for excellence in all our content for fans, and it is gratifying to see the efforts of our employees valued. Â In addition, we are thrilled at the tribute to Geoff Mason and his lifetime of accomplishment. Â Geoff is a longtime friend of ESPN. Â His work has distinguished and inspired all of us.â
Temolo Productions for BIO, The Biography Channel, USA was honored with the Grand Trophy for âRay Charles' Americaâ in the Biography/Profiles category. The entry chronicles the life and times of Ray Charles, singer, composer, and bandleader credited with the early development of soul music.
The ReelzChannel, USA was recognized with the Grand Trophy for âThe Kennedysâ in the Television âEntertainment Special category. The mini-series, a Muse Entertainment Production in association Asylum Entertainment, relives the public and private triumphs and tragedies of the Kennedy clan.
âHaving had the privilege of being home to âThe Kennedysâ, one of the most extraordinary mini-series ever televised, everyone at REELZ tips their hat once again to the cast, crew and creators who brought to life the story of one of Americaâs most iconic families,â said Stan E. Hubbard REELZCHANNEL CEO. âThe Grand Trophy from New York Festivals is a particularly prestigious honor for our partners Muse, Asylum Entertainment and Joel Surnow, who together set the bar for our continued pursuit of excellence in all that we do.â
Each award segment was presented by prominent industry executives, including: Chris Brown, Executive Vice President of Conventions & Business Operations for NAB, USA; Sharon Burden, Senior Advisor/Cybersmart Programs with Australian Communications and Media Authority, Australia; CheeK, creator/ writer of The Kitchen Musical, executive Vice President and Creative Director of Group Entertainment, Singapore; Rob Howell, Supervising Producer, CNN Productions, USA; Jay Kossoff, Vice President & Executive Producer, The Golf Channel, USA; Maribel Martinez, Creative Director, Televisa S.A. de C.V. Mexico; Jodain Massad, Producer, Kansas City Chiefs, USA; and Simon Witter, Director for ZDF German Television, Germany.
The recently launched Heroes category, recognizing stories of ordinary people whose acts of heroism touched the lives of others, had multiple entrants earning awards: ESPNâs âOutside the Lines - The Man in the Red Bandannaâ and âE:60 Josiah's Timeâ earned a Gold Award; and Canadian Broadcasting Corporationâs âThereâs Something About Earlâ received a Bronze. Campaigns honored in the new in 2012 Green Promotion category include: Cartoon Network Latin America âGreen Campaignâ received a Silver World Medal and i-CABLE Entertainment Limited, âSave The World: Conserve Energyâ garnered a Finalist Certificate.
The trend in Online Programming resulted in the Grand Jury awarding the following companies: âThe Test Tube with David Suzukiâ created by National Film Board of Canada, and âWho Will Save Dina Foxx?â created by ZDF German Television each took home a Gold World Medal.  âWelcome to Pine Pointâ National Film Board of Canada, and âFood For Thought: Behind Treme Season 2â HBO Creative Services for HBO; âCNN Freedom Projectâ CNNi for CNN; and â13,854 secondsâ ZIGGY mediahouse GmbH for client Audi earned Silver World Medals. Bronze Medalists include: âThanks Making of Videoâ DDB Chicago for client State Farm; Boardwalk Empire Facebook Trailer, HBO; âDestination Oneâ Red Bull Media House GmbH; âChiefs Kingdom: Joplinâ, Kansas City Chiefs;  âElite Athlete Workoutsâ sponsored by Dodge for Yahoo! Sports.
Entertainment entries receiving Medalist status include: âThe Bomberâ FILM.UA, Ukraine; and âThe Kennedysâ ReelzChannel, USA and The âKitchen Musicalâ The Group Entertainment, Singapore each were honored with a Gold World Medal. âThe Greatest Loveâ Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), Republic of South Korea took home Silver Awards.  âOperation Checkmate - Operaci?n Jaqueâ TVE - Pentagrama Films, Spain; âSungkyunkwan Scandalâ Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), Republic of South Korea; and âEast West 101, Season 3â Knapman Wyld Television each received Bronze Awards.
The Grand Jury awarded the following Documentaries Gold World Medals: âOn the Trail of Easy Rider - Born to be Wild,â ZDF German Television, Germany; âMundos Extremos Ep 2 Menonitas: Tradiciones Violadas,â Discovery Networks Latin America, USA; and âUnforgettable -Three Family Portraitsâ Fuji Television Network, Inc. Silver Award winners include: âThe Beethoven Project,â Deutsche Welle DW-TV, Germany; âHistory Detectives,â Lion Television, USA; âThe Love We Make,â Maysles Films, USA; and âRunning To America,â for The Marathon Project, created by Goodoil Films, Australia.
Promoâs and Promotional Programs scored high. HBOâs âGame of Thronesâ earned a Gold World Medal, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze, and Finalist Certificate. Other HBO winners include âBig Love,â âBoardwalk Empire,â âCurb Your Enthusiasm,â and âHung.â Showtimeâs âHomelandâ garnered a Gold World Medal, 2 Silver, a Bronze, and a Finalist Certificate. Other Showtime winners include: âThe Borgias,â âDexter,â and âNurse Jackie.â Starz took home a Gold World Medal for âBoss.â âSpartacus: Gods of Arena,â and âCamelot,â each earned Silver; and âTorchwood Teaseâ and âCamelot Show Openâ each received Bronze.