RFE/RL’s “Desperate Honeymoon” Documentary Wins New York Festivals Awards
RFE/RL’s video documentary “Desperate Honeymoon” won Silver and Bronze medals at the New York Festivals International Television and Film Awards ceremony in Las Vegas on Tuesday, April 19.
WASHINGTON – RFE/RL’s video documentary “Desperate Honeymoon” won Silver and Bronze medals at the New York Festivals International Television and Film Awards ceremony in Las Vegas on Tuesday, April 19.
The documentary follows a newlywed Syrian couple as they flee their war-torn country and make the fraught journey to Europe in pursuit of a new life. It personalizes a story often told in terms of numbers and statistics, portraying the individual choices made by two migrants in their own words.
Said RFE/RL Editor-in-Chief Nenad Pejic, “These awards are an acknowledgement of our journalists’ ability to combine professionalism and authenticity to tell the most important stories of our time.”
The documentary, produced by RFE/RL multimedia editor Ray Furlong and cameraman Roman Kupka, was released as a long-form video and in shorter segments tailored for digital platforms in English and Russian languages, attracting almost half a million views on social networks globally.
The Silver Medal was awarded in the Magazine Format/Information Program category, and the Bronze was given in the category of Current Affairs.
“Hidden Armenians,” a short documentary produced by RFE/RL’s Armenian Service depicting the lives of Armenians whose families have lived for generations in Turkey, received a Finalists’ Certificate in the category of History and Society.
The New York Festivals International Television and Film Awards honor programming in all lengths and forms from over 50 countries. First presented in 1957, the awards celebrate exceptional and innovative programs being created today on all continents by the television and film industries.