As the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards prepares to mark seven decades of honoring global storytelling, the organization has unveiled its 2027 Grand Jury — a massive panel of more than 100 top industry figures representing over 25 countries. This year’s jury draws from a cross-section of the world’s most influential media outlets and production houses, underscoring the awards’ enduring relevance in a rapidly shifting entertainment landscape.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, November 5, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The New York Festivals Television and Film Awards, celebrating 70 years of innovation in global storytelling, has announced its distinguished 2027 Grand Jury.
The panel brings together acclaimed filmmakers, directors, journalists, executive producers, screenwriters, and other creative leaders from around the world. The 2027 Grand Jury reflects the breadth of talent shaping today’s evolving television and film landscape. Drawing on their collective expertise, these industry professionals will evaluate work across platforms, recognizing outstanding storytelling, creative vision, and innovation.
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“Every year, we work with our Advisory Board – all industry thought leaders – to make sure that our categories recognize the innovative storytelling being created today. With their collective wealth of hands-on knowledge, their commitment to excellence and the proven mastery of their craft, we gain a 360-degree perspective into our ever-changing and interconnected world. The insights into the paths to the future from this international brain trust ensures that NYF’s TV & Film Awards will continue to honor world-wide excellence across all platforms,” said Rose Anderson, Executive Vice President, New York Festivals.
The 2027 TV & Film Awards Grand Jury represents leading media organizations and creative companies across news, documentaries, entertainment, sports, and corporate storytelling.
This year’s jury includes professionals from some of the industry’s most respected organizations, including BBC, Al Jazeera Media Network, Radio-Canada, NBCUniversal Telemundo, Fuji Television, ZDF, Mediacorp, France Télévisions, CBC, GMA Network, Blackfella Films, ESPN, CGTN, nautilusfilm GmbH, Movistar Plus+, SP Televisão S.A., Phoenix Satellite Television, RTHK, Zeitsprung Pictures, The Edge (a Zinc Media Group company), FORTUNE Brand Studio, KNN, The Walt Disney Company, TV Globo, Beach House Pictures, TRT World, The National Football League, MBC East-Gangwon, Paramount Creative EMEAA, Casual Films, TI ComNet, and RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana.
The 2027 TV & Film Awards Grand Jury
- Monica Albuquerque, Vice President of Original Content, The Walt Disney Company, Brazil
- Béatrice Alquier, Promotion et Direction Artistique des Antennes – France Télévisions, France
- Neil Cairns, Head of Features, CGTN Europe, United Kingdom
- Jae Un Chin, General Director, KNN, South Korea
- Nick Canner, Creative Director, The Edge (a Zinc Media Group company), United Kingdom
- Katie Clark, Head of Creative Talent, Scotland, Media Zoo Ltd, United Kingdom
- Eduardo Calvet, Editor, TV Globo, Brazil
- Daniel Carriere, Science Reporter, Radio-Canada, Canada
- Sofia de Fay, Writer/Director, UAE
- Jeremy JP Fekete, Director & Filmmaker, Germany
- Walter Fernandez, Editor-in-Chief CNA & Chief Sustainability Officer, Mediacorp, Singapore
- Reshma Ghost, Filmmaker & Founder, Blue Petal Films, India
- Megan Gilbert, Executive Director, Commercial Marketing & Guardian Labs, The Guardian USA
- Michael Gray, Series Executive Producer, BBC, United Kingdom
- Melanie Haft, Managing Director & Head of Production, nautilusfilm GmbH, Germany
- Jacob Hickey, Head of Factual, Blackfella Films, Australia
- Walter Ingrassia, Head, Marketing and Promotion Unit, Rai Fiction. RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana, Italy
- Sarah Jenner, Executive Producer, Plastic Pictures, United Kingdom
- Natalie Jowett, Managing Director, JusticeAid, USA
- Yuka Kitayuguchi, International Relations, Fuji Television Network, Inc., Japan
- Mark Klusener, Program Manager, TRT World, Turkey
- Jun-Ho Lee, Investigative Reporter & Documentary Director, MBC East-Gangwon, South Korea
- David Lennon, Senior VP, FORTUNE Brand Studio, USA
- Brian Lockhart, Senior Vice President, Original Content, ESPN, USA
- Pedro Lopes, General Director of Content at SPTV Group & Chief Creative & Strategy Officer at SPi, SP Televisão S.A., Portugal
- Maribel Martinez, Founder & Creative Director, Diecinueve36, Mexico
- Jodain Massad, Director, Development & Innovation, NFL Films, National Football League, USA
- Nick Olle, Senior Supervising Producer, 101 East, Al Jazeera, Malaysia
- Moritz Polter, Managing Director & Executive Producer, Windlight Pictures GmbH, Germany
- Duncan Preston, Head of Global Creative Services, Al Jazeera Media Network, Qatar
- Stefan Scholz, Head of Media, brandscape GmbH, Germany
- German Sela, Head of Brand, Movistar Plus+, Spain
- Jessica Soho, Broadcast Journalist, GMA Networks, Philippines
- Jay Soo, Chief Commercial & Creative Officer | APAC, Casual Films, Singapore
- Abram Sitzer, Head of Content, Beach House Productions, Singapore
- Vanda Tan, General Manager, Wa Wa Pictures Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Alitor Tapia Pulido, Head, Creative Development Original Content, Movistar Plus+, Spain
- Francis Toral, Head of Integrated News Division, ABS-CBN Corporation, Philippines
- Toshie Yoshida, President, TI ComNet, Japan
- Li Zhang, Deputy Director of Chief Editor’s Office, Phoenix Satellite Television, Taiwan
To view the 2027 Grand Jury to date, visit: https://tvf.newyorkfestivals.com/
The 2027 competition will celebrate storytelling that drives awareness and inspires action through signature special awards.
The WaterBear Award, presented through an ongoing partnership with WaterBear, acquired in 2026 by the Swiss non-profit OurFrame, honors filmmakers whose visionary work encourages audiences to protect our planet. The award will be presented to the highest scoring documentary across Climate Change & Sustainability, Environment & Ecology, and Nature & Wildlife.
New for 2027, New York Festivals partners with AwareNow Media to present the AwareNow Award, recognizing powerful storytelling that uses film, audio, and documentary to raise awareness and inspire action around health and medical issues. The award will be presented to the highest-scoring submission across the Health/Medical Information Documentary and Health/Medical Documentary categories in the NYF TV & Film and Radio competitions.
Formed to promote justice through the arts and public engagement, JusticeAid has partnered with New York Festivals to present The JusticeAid Award for the highest scoring submission across all Social Justice categories in the NYF TV & Film and Radio competitions.
Since 1957, New York Festivals TV & Film Awards has recognized outstanding storytelling and creative achievement across television, film, and digital media. Celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2027, the competition honors the vision, innovation, and craft of the men and women creating compelling content for audiences around the world across all viewing platforms.
All entries will be judged online by the TV & Film Awards Grand Jury, a global panel of more than 200 producers, directors, writers, and other creative media professionals. Award-winning work will be showcased in the TV & Film Awards Winners Gallery.
The 2027 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards will announce its winners at the Storytellers Gala on Thursday May 20, 2027. The virtual event will feature global highlights, winners’ acceptance speeches, and behind-the-scenes commentary from some of the industry’s most respected storytellers.
The 2027 TV & Film Awards eligibility window runs from September 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026. The deadline for entering this year’s competition is December 31, 2026.
To view the 2026 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards winners’ showcase, information about the TV & Film Awards, and to enter the 2027 competition visit: https://tvf.newyorkfestivals.com/.
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Why it matters: With a jury spanning more than 25 countries and a 70-year legacy, the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards continues to set the standard for recognizing excellence across the global media landscape. The introduction of new special awards — including the AwareNow Award for health storytelling — signals a growing emphasis on content that not only entertains but also drives social and environmental impact.
