Media giant GMA Network has asserted its leadership in content production anew, securing five of the six shortlisted Philippine entries at the prestigious 2025 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards.
Set to represent the country in the News Program: Newscast category is the special coverage of GMA Integrated News’ ‘24 Oras’ on Super Typhoon Carina (Typhoon Gaemi) and Habagat (Southwest Monsoon). Amid the non-stop rainfall and flooding in July 2024, GMA Integrated News teams braved the super typhoon to deliver much-needed information across all platforms for Filipinos. GMA’s flagship newscast kept viewers informed as Carina and habagat swept through the country. In 2024, GMA Integrated News’ “Sundo: A GMA Integrated News Documentary” took home the Bronze Medal in the News Program: News Documentary/Special category.
Multi-awarded news magazine program ‘Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS)’ returns to the NYF stage as it earns a finalist slot in the Documentary: Environment & Ecology category for its episode “Minahan sa Homonhon Island” (Nickel and Dime: The Cost of Mining in Homonhon Island). It unveiled the devastating effects of large-scale mining in Homonhon Island in Guian, Eastern Samar. The episode sparked discussions online as host Jessica Soho flew to Guiuan, Eastern Samar to personally investigate the issue.
‘The Atom Araullo Specials’ is again shortlisted this year, this time for the controversial documentary “Pogoland” under the Documentary: National Affairs category. Last year, the public affairs program took home the World Gold Medal for “Batas Bata” (Child’s Game) in the Documentary: Social Justice category.
Securing a nomination at the New York Festivals is GMA Pictures’ and GMA Public Affairs’ first-ever investigative documentary film, “Lost Sabungeros,” which is competing in the Documentary: Investigative Journalism category. Directed by Bryan Brazil, the controversial docu-film seeks to investigate and find answers regarding the disappearances of over 30 cockfighters who were abducted in various incidents since 2022.
The multi-awarded and highly-acclaimed film “Firefly” continues to elevate the Philippine film industry on the global stage as it makes it to the shortlist in the Films: Feature Films category. Produced by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs, ‘Firefly’ won the most awards at the inaugural Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) in Hollywood, California, including the highly coveted Best Picture honor. It also took home Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, and three nominations. ‘Firefly’ won Best Picture, Best Screenplay, and Best Child Actor among its 15 nominations, at the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival.
The 2025 TV & Film Awards Shortlist includes a diverse range of engaging primetime entertainment, documentaries, investigative journalism, sports coverage, promos, streaming media, and brand image films. The shortlisted entries were selected by an international grand jury of industry experts. Winners will be announced during the New York Festivals 2025 Storytellers Gala virtual event on May 22. For more updates about GMA Network, visit www.gmanetwork.com and www.gtv.ph.
