Several GMA Network executives were selected to be part of the 49th International Emmy Awards and the 2021 New York Festivals (NYF) TV and Film Awards juries.
Senior Vice President for News and Public Affairs Marissa L. Flores was invited as one of the Final Round jurors at the 49th International Emmy Awards. She evaluated this year’s entries in the News & Current Affairs category.
Flores has been instrumental in GMA becoming the Philippines’ most awarded and most credible broadcast news organization over the years.
Joining Flores as Final Round jurors were First Vice President for Program Management Jose Mari R. Abacan and Vice President of Worldwide Division Roxanne J. Barcelona.
Since 2007, Abacan has been invited by the Emmys to share his expertise. This year, he judged entries from four countries in the Comedy category during the final round. Barcelona, who has been a judge for the International Emmys for 15 years, was a judge in the finals of the Drama Category in this year’s Emmys.
In charge of the worldwide distribution of GMA’s drama and entertainment programs, Barcelona paved the way for the Network to be recognized as the primary source of Filipino content in over 26 countries and in four continents.
The Emmys also recognized the expertise of GMA News pillar Jessica Soho, who was tapped to be part of the Emmys’ First Round Jurors. A two-time recipient of the highly prestigious George Foster Peabody Award, Soho hosts the network’s top-rating and trending program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.
Earlier this year, both Flores and Soho were named to the 2021 New York Festivals TV and Film Awards Grand Jury together with GMA’s First Vice President for Public Affairs Nessa Valdellon.
Over the years, Flores has been regularly invited to join the Grand Jury. She has been a long-time member of NYF’s Advisory Board as well. As head of GMA’s Public Affairs, Valdellon led the organization that produced some of the country’s most ground-breaking and compelling public affairs programs and specials. She was at the helm of GMA News TV’s launch in 2011, which was rebranded to GTV this year. Aside from judging for NYF Awards for TV, Valdellon has been invited as well as to evaluate entries in Asian Academy Awards (AAA’s). The international award-giving body recognizes programs and personalities that excel in representing and promoting Asian content and creativity. Valdellon is now on her third year as juror for the AAA’s.
Flores, Valdellon, and Soho joined award-winning directors, producers, writers, actors, and other creative media professionals from across the globe during this year’s NYF Awards.
Meanwhile, The World Between Us esteemed director Dominic Zapata and GMA Entertainment Group head writer John Roque were likewise part of the International Emmy Awards’ First Round and Semi-Finals Jurors, respectively.
The International Emmy Awards is an annual event organized by the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences while the New York Festivals TV and Film Awards competition recognizes TV programs and films from all over 50 countries.