New York Festivals International Radio Program Awards announces finalists

“This year’s entries are inspiring, they embody creativity, innovation and brilliant storytelling,” said Rose Anderson, executive director of New York Festivals Radio Program Awards. “These exceptional programmes engage, entertain, inform and transport the listener and are a testament to the power of the human voice.”

Entries were judged by the 2016 Grand Jury on production values, organisation, presentation of information, creativity and use of the medium. All entries achieving finalist status proceed to the medal round to determine Gold, Silver and Bronze trophies.

RTÉ Ireland was a dominant force in this year’s competition with 31 entries moving on to the medal round. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation had 19 entries achieve finalist status and TBI media was next with 11 Finalists. The UK was out front with 88 entries achieving finalist status; the US saw 48 entries move forward; Ireland 41, followed by Canada with 32 Finalists. To view all the 2016 Radio Awards Finalist go here.

The newly launched documentary categories provided a platform for those with a distinctive voice and point of view.

Biography/Profiles category

• ‘30 Years Man And Boy, A Calmer Chameleon: The Boy George Story’ Magnum Opus Broadcasting, UK;

• ‘Arthur Miller - Speaking Of New York’ Just Radio Ltd, UK;
• ‘Digitising Rita’ RTÉ lyric fm, Ireland;
• ‘Encountering Marina Abramovic- Artist and Icon’ Robyn Ravlich, Australia;
• ‘Father Hood: The Holy Man and the Heist’ Newstalk/Independent, Ireland;
• ‘Ginsberg in India’ Freewheel Productions, Canada;
• ‘Good Morning Vietnam’ TBI Media, UK.
• ‘Lynn Hill: Twenty-First Century War Poet’ Prison Radio Productions, UK;
• ‘Mick Meaney - Buried Alive’ RTÉ Radio 1 Ireland;
• ‘Neil 'n' Dud - The Other Side of Dudley Moore’ Jazz FM, UK;
• ‘Peter Sellers: From Southsea To Stardom’ BBC, UK;

• ‘Steve, David And Goliath’ Australian Broadcasting Corporation;

Climate Change & Sustainability documentaries

This category recognised programmes that address critical issues of climate change and perspectives on sustainability awareness.

• ‘Bright Sparks: An Atmosphere for Change’ Athena Media, Ireland;

• ‘Game-Changing Climate Leadership: What Happens In California Doesn’t Stay in California’ Bioneers, USA.


• ‘In the Balance: The Climate Debates’ BBC, UK;

Music documentaries

• ‘Arts Technologica: Music’ Overtone Productions Ltd., UK;

• ‘Bring It On Home: Led Zeppelin in the West Midlands’ Birmingham City University, UK;
• ‘Sinatra in the UK 1953’ Trevro Dann’s Company, UK.
• ‘Somebody Did It Better, presented by Miss Moneypenny’ BBC, UK;
• ‘Sounds to Illustrate Dreams: The Lullaby: The Untold Stories of Lullabies’ KBS, South Korea;
• ‘The Grammys, turn to game music’ Busan English Broadcasting Foundation (BeFM) South Korea;
• ‘The Story of the Byrds’ Document Media Ltd, UK;

• ‘Vocal Chords: The Odyssey of the Voice with Iarla Ó’Lionáird’ Athena Media Ltd., Ireland

Audio books

Audio Books, launched in 2015, continued to showcase the rising trend in spoken entertainment.

• ‘Girl on the Train’ Penguin Random House UK;

• ‘HOOD: King's Command’ Spiteful Puppet Entertainment Ltd., UK
• ‘HOOD: Warriors' Harvest’ Spiteful Puppet Entertainment Ltd., UK
• ‘Spoon River’ Soulpepper Theatre Company, Canada;

• ‘Sunday Suspense Presents - The Hound of the Baskervilles’ Radio Mirchi, India

The awards ceremony will be held on Monday 20 June 2016 at Manhattan Penthouse in New York City.

For more visit http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/radio/.