For 70 years, New York Festivals has been woven into the fabric of broadcasting’s award-winning history—celebrating the ideas, creativity, and people who have shaped our industry across generations.

From landmark work such as My Octopus Teacher  by Off the Fence B.V./The Sea Change Project/A Netflix Original Documentary, Peaky Blinders  by Caryn Mandabach Productions/Tiger Aspect Productions, All Creatures Great and Small  by Playground Entertainment/Screen Yorkshire, The Last Dance  by ESPN, and Opening Ceremony of the Games of the XXX Olympiad  by IOC / LOCOG / OBS / Done And Dusted / YLE, our international award-winning juries have guaranteed that New York Festivals maintains its place as a global stage for ideas that redefine what storytelling can be.

We have seen breakthrough storytelling in Fleabag- Series 2  by Two Brothers Pictures/BBC Three/Amazon Prime Video, cinematic craft in Terra Mater’s  David Attenborough's Light on Earth, and cultural impact in Diana: In Her Own Words  by 1895 Films. We have celebrated innovation in TV Globo’s Olympic Studio - Paris 24, imagination in “The Roosevelts: An Intimate History”  by Florentine Films and enduring viewer favorites such as 30 for 30  by ESPN and Super Bowl 50  by CBS Sports.

These are not just programs. They are milestones in the evolution of our industry—work that has challenged conventions, shifted perspectives, and inspired generations of creatives world-wide.

While trends may come and go, excellence never goes out of style. Since 2011, we’ve recognized some of the driving forces in the broadcasting industry – hands-on leaders with a body of work that has made a lasting impression.  They include Ken Aagaard, Stephen Capus, Donna de Varona, David Hill, The Kalb Report, Greg MacGillivray, Geoffrey Mason, Albert Maysles, David Mazza, Seán McManus, The National Press Club, Tony Petitti, Connor Schell, Molly Solomon, Lesley Visser, and Susan Zirinsky. 

For the 2027 award season, we invite you and your organization to be part of that continuing history.

The content landscape has changed dramatically. New platforms, new technologies, AI, new voices, and new ways of connecting with audiences are redefining what great storytelling looks like. Yet one thing remains constant: great ideas deserve to be recognized.

New York Festivals was created to champion work that moves the industry forward—not simply the biggest names or biggest budgets, but the ideas that demonstrate originality, craft, courage, cultural relevance, and impact.

For seven decades, filmmakers, networks, production companies, innovators, and storytellers from around the world have entered their best work into New York Festivals. Their work has become part of our collective creative history.

We would like your work to be part of the next chapter.

If you believe that the work you and your teams are creating today deserves to be seen, debated, celebrated, and remembered, I hope you will participate in the 2027 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards.

The industry continues to evolve so does New York Festivals. Our commitment remains the same: to discover and celebrate the work that deserves to stand the test of time.

The 2027 competition is open now, and we invite you and your creative teams to join that continuing history.

We look forward to seeing what you create next.

Ellen Smyth
CEO
New York Festivals