ABS-CBN winner at NY fest

MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs led the winners from the Philippines at the prestigious New York Festivals (NYF) International TV and Film Awards 2011 by taking home two medals for the documentary program Storyline and eight finalist certificates. 

Storyline, which airs on ABS-CBN every Wednesday and on ANC every Thursday, bagged a Silver World Medal in the Biography/Profiles category and a Bronze World Medal in the Community Portraits category. Storyline was also awarded a finalist certificate in the Social Issues/Current Events category.

Rounding up the winners from the Kapamilya network’s news and current affairs division are Bloodbath in Manila, TV Patrol’s coverage of the Manila bus siege, and Ces Oreña-Drilon’s docu-drama I Survived, which both received finalist certificates.

Storyline, now on its second year, is the first current affairs show in the country without a host, relying on narrative and cinema to tell its stories. The thematic series was created by filmmaker Paolo Villaluna and writer Patricia Evangelista.

Evangelista, who produces Storyline along with other ANC human rights documentaries, writes the show’s narrative through the voices of its storytellers. The same independent production team that built the show in May of 2008 remains largely intact, with this year’s medals adding to the bronze for the 2010 Best Music Video Ako ang Simula.

Meanwhile, the New York Festivals also awarded top caliber drama Dahil May Isang Ikaw starring Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa, and phenomenal fashion-serye Magkaribal topbilled by Gretchen Barretto and Bea Alonzo with finalist certificates in the newly introduced Telenovela category.

The promotional spot titled Altar, created by ABS-CBN Creative Communications Management for the fire prevention month, was also named finalist for the Copywriting: Promotion Spot category.

With a total of eight finalists, two of which winning medals, ABS-CBN Corp. is the country’s biggest winner at this year’s New York Festivals. The New York Festivals World’s Best Television & Films recognize the World’s Best Work in news, sports, documentary, information and entertainment program as well as in music videos, infomercials, promotion spots, openings and IDs.