Media giant GMA Network raises the Philippine flag anew with five short-listed entries set to represent the country at the 2022 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards. GMA is the only local broadcast company that made it to this year’s list of finalists.
2021 finalist Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) returns to the NYF stage after its segment “Bestida ni Ranelyn (Ranelyn's Dress)” was nominated this year in the Documentary: Health/Medical Information category. The story featured six-year-old girl Ranelyn who longed to wear her favorite dress after being reduced to literally skin and bones due to poverty and severe malnourishment. Hosted by GMA News and Public Affairs pillar Jessica Soho, KMJS remains the most-watched public affairs program on Philippine TV and the most followed Philippine TV program on Facebook.
Long-running public affairs program I-Witness gets not just one but two nominations this year. Sandra Aguinaldo’s documentary “Virus Hunters” is gunning for a win under the Documentary: Science & Technology category, while “Koronang Tinik (Crown of Thorns)” by Atom Araullo makes it to the finalist spot in the Documentary: Climate Change & Sustainability category. Sandra’s documentary featured a group of experts’ ongoing study of bats and the diseases that humans can get from them. On the other hand, Atom’s story investigated the sudden increase in dap-ag or crown of thorns in the waters of Jose Panganiban in Camarines Norte.
Another work of Atom makes it to this year’s shortlist. Looking into the plight of children working amid the global pandemic, “The Atom Araullo Specials” earns another NYF nod, this time around for its “Munting Bisig (Young Arms)” documentary. Set to compete in the Documentary: Social Issues category, the episode saw Atom following the lives of children who put their lives at stake to help their family survive even if they get exposed to the COVID-19 virus.
Further making a mark on the global scene is the GMA Synergy-produced “Limitless: A Musical Trilogy,” which is competing in the Entertainment Special: Variety Special category. This three-part online musical experience is headlined by Asia’s Limitless Star Julie Anne San Jose. It features her journey of knowing not just more about the people around her but, more importantly, about herself. Her musical exploration kicked off via “Breathe,” where she traveled to Mindanao and was followed by “Heal,” which was shot in the Visayas. This April 9, Julie is set to show the world a new version of her in “Rise.”
The New York Festivals TV & Film Awards honors content in all lengths and forms from over 50 countries. In 2021, GMA Network won a Bronze Medal and five finalist certificates at the competition, giving the Philippines its most number of citations that year.