New York Festivals® International Television & Film Awards™ celebrated the World’s Best TV Programs & Films™ tonight at NAB in Las Vegas. 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: Opening Ceremony of the Games of the XXX Olympiad” (IOC/LOCOG/OBS/Done and Dusted/YLE); 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 6th year consecutive year and was recognized with 12 Gold World Medals, 20 Silver, 8 Bronze, and 22 Finalist Certificates. 

“Excellence, innovation and storytelling have always been ESPN hallmarks and we’re thrilled the NY Festivals Awards have again recognized these qualities and we are proud to again be named Broadcaster of the Year,” said John Wildhack, ESPN executive vice president, production. “Led by SportsCenter, Outside the Lines and E:60, our shows are distinguished by features that inform, entertain and often break new ground.”

The Edge Picture Company was honored with the title Production Company of the Year for the 7th year in a row. The London-based company earned 2 Gold World Medals, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze, and 6 Finalist Certificates.

“Here at The Edge, we’re deeply honoured to have been awarded the New York Festival’s Production Company of the Year, again for an amazing 7th year in a row.  For any production company this award is the ultimate accolade, and we’re overjoyed that our hard-work and commitment to corporate film-making continues to be recognised by this internationally respected and highly competitive Festival.  Thanks must go to all our hard-working teams and of course to our many clients, who continue to support our passion for pushing creative boundaries to produce inspirational films.”

Phil Blundell, director, The Edge Picture Company

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.

“Olympic Opening Ceremony” Done and Dusted, UK Special Events was awarded the Grand Trophy. The award-winning entry has become one of the most watched programs in history with an estimated 1 billion viewers worldwide.

 “Paul Simon's Graceland Journey: Under African Skies,” A&E, USA The Arts was honored with the Grand Trophy, and features Paul Simon as he travels back to South Africa on the 25th anniversary of his historic Graceland album.

 “Hatfields & McCoys,” History, USA Mini-Series was recognized with the Grand Award. The series, featuring an all star cast, led by Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton, chronicles the true story of a legendary family feud.

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.

The following prominent industry executives presented awards to this year’s winning entrants:  Chris Brown, NAB; Jodain Massad, Kansas City Chiefs; Roni Selig, CNN; Marco Frascarelli, and Mia Van Der Heyden, Temps Mort; Patrick Rutnam & Frederick-James Lobato, A Common Man; and Brian Schulz, Brooklyn Castle.

The newly launched Best Performance by an Actress/Actor category honored Troian Bellisario for “WIGS’ Lauren” with a Gold World Medal, and Julia Stiles for “WIGS’ Blue” with a Bronze in the Best Performance by an Actress category. Actress Maalaala Mo Kaya in “Remembering” ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation was honored with Finalist Certificate. Robert Taylor “Longmire” A&E received a Bronze World Medal; and Adam Zwar “Lowdown” ABC, Australia garnered a Finalist Certificate in the Best Performance by an Actor category.

 “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” 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, 5 Silver, 2 Bronze and 8 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 “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 ‘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” Weeds and “Mirrors” 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.  Other documentaries earning honors include “Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile” ITV Studio; “The World According to Lance” Australian Broadcasting Corporation; and “KBS Special- Kim Jong-il” Korean Broadcasting System garnered Silver Medals.

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 .

Photography from the ceremony will be available from Marc Bryan-Brown Photography. Visit: http://www.bryan-brown.com/nyf

All press inquiries should be directed to Gayle Mandel: gmandel@internationalawardsgroup.com, Ph: 1 212 643 4800.

About International Awards Group

International Awards Group (IAG) organizes advertising and programming competitions for the following brands: AME Awards® for the World's Most Effective Advertising™; Midas Awards® for the World’s Best Work in Financial Marketing & Advertising™; The Global Awards® for the World's Best Healthcare Advertising™; New York Festivals®; World's Best Advertising®; World's Best Radio Programs™ and World's Best Television & Films™. Entries to each of the competitions are judged around the world by panels of peers in their respective industries. For more information, go to www.InternationalAwardsGroup.com.

About the 2013 NAB Show

NAB Show, held annually in Las Vegas, is the world's largest electronic media show covering filmed entertainment and the development, management and delivery of content across all mediums. With nearly 90,000 attendees from 151 countries and more than 1,500 exhibitors, NAB Show is the ultimate marketplace for digital media and entertainment. From creation to consumption, across multiple platforms and countless nationalities, NAB Show is home to the solutions that transcend traditional broadcasting and embrace content delivery to new screens in new ways. Complete details are available at www.nabshow.com.

About NAB

The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America's broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.

About Production Hub

ProductionHUB, Inc. (www.prohub.com) is an online marketplace for broadcast TV, motion picture, pro video, live event, corporate & digital media production.