New York Festivals names 2027 TV & Film Grand Jury for 70th anniversary year

New York Festivals TV & Film Awards has announced its 2027 Grand Jury, a global panel of more than 100 industry leaders who will judge this year’s entries online. The 70th-anniversary competition also adds new special awards tied to health, justice, and climate storytelling, with winners set for May 20, 2027.

Why it matters: - The 2027 Grand Jury brings together more than 100 executives and creatives from more than 25 countries to judge work across television, film, and digital media. - The jury’s global scope signals how the competition is positioning itself around international storytelling, cross-platform work, and industry recognition at scale. - The 70th anniversary year adds new and returning special awards that tie the competition to climate action, health awareness, and social justice.

What happened: - New York Festivals TV & Film Awards announced its 2027 Grand Jury on November 5, 2026. - The competition is celebrating 70 years of global storytelling in 2027. - The jury includes filmmakers, directors, journalists, executive producers, screenwriters, and other creative leaders from around the world. - Rose Anderson, Executive Vice President of New York Festivals, said the Advisory Board helps ensure the categories reflect the storytelling being created today. - Anderson said the board’s expertise gives the awards a “360-degree perspective” on a changing media landscape. - The 2027 Grand Jury represents organizations across news, documentaries, entertainment, sports, and corporate storytelling. - The jury will evaluate entries online. - Winners will be announced at the Storytellers Gala on Thursday, May 20, 2027.

The details: - The jury roster includes professionals from 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, 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 jury list published by New York Festivals includes more than 40 named judges from countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Japan, and the Philippines. - The WaterBear Award continues through a partnership with WaterBear, acquired in 2026 by Swiss non-profit OurFrame. - The WaterBear Award goes to the highest-scoring documentary across Climate Change & Sustainability, Environment & Ecology, and Nature & Wildlife. - New for 2027, New York Festivals and AwareNow Media are launching the AwareNow Award. - The AwareNow Award will honor storytelling that uses film, audio, and documentary to raise awareness and inspire action around health and medical issues. - The AwareNow Award will go to the highest-scoring submission across the Health/Medical Information Documentary and Health/Medical Documentary categories in the NYF TV & Film and Radio competitions. - JusticeAid is partnering with New York Festivals on The JusticeAid Award. - The JusticeAid Award will go to 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 storytelling and creative achievement across television, film, and digital media. - The competition says all entries will be judged by a global panel of more than 200 producers, directors, writers, and other creative media professionals. - Award-winning work will be featured in the TV & Film Awards Winners Gallery. - The 2027 eligibility window runs from September 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026. - The entry deadline is December 31, 2026. - The competition’s website is More information.

Between the lines: - The awards are broadening their relevance by linking recognition to topical, impact-driven categories instead of only craft and format. - The added special awards suggest the competition wants to reward work that can influence public awareness, not just entertain. - The online judging model and large international jury also reinforce the awards’ global positioning.

What's next: - New York Festivals will continue building out the 2027 Grand Jury list before the competition closes. - Entries must be submitted by December 31, 2026. - Winners will be revealed at the Storytellers Gala on May 20, 2027. - The winning work will then appear in the awards gallery and associated showcase materials.