Toronto’s Associated Producers Wins the Prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award from the Overseas Press Club of America
New York, NY, April 30, 2007 --(PR.com)-- The Overseas Press Club of America (OPC) has awarded their prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Television Documentary on international affairs to Toronto based film production company Associated Producers for Sex Slaves, an investigation into the multi-billion dollar world of sex trafficking of women from the former Soviet Union.
According to the OPC, the documentary was recognized for its “first-rate reporting and forceful storytelling”. On Thursday, April 26, 2007, hundreds of members of the international press gathered at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City to honor the recipients of this year’s OPC awards. This year, the awards were presented by CBS anchor Katie Couric. In awarding Associated Producers the Edward R. Murrow prize, the OPC stated:
“Sex Slaves represents everything a winner should have; a strong dramatic story, riveting characters, amazing access, good journalism, and professional execution. This portrait of modern day slavery is made possible by the most compelling use of undercover cameras in recent memory. Worthy of the name Murrow.”
Sex Slaves aired on Frontline on Feb.7, 2006 to the highest ratings since the Iraq war. The film premiered on the CBC and Channel 4 in the UK and has since aired in over 30 countries. The company recently made international headlines with The Lost Tomb of Jesus, an investigation into a first century Jerusalem tomb purported to belong to Jesus of Nazareth.
Sex Slaves director, Ric Esther Bienstock said “Felix Golubev, Simcha Jacobovici and I are all so proud to be the recipients of this award, which bears the name of one of the most respected journalists in history; a man who symbolized freedom of the press. It is humbling to be in a room with so many notable journalists working for the most influential publications on the planet. We were determined to put sex trafficking in prime time and we have been overwhelmed by the incredibly positive response to the film.”
Sex Slaves has screened at over 20 international film festivals and has already garnered numerous international awards including the British Broadcast Award for Best Documentary, a Royal Television Society Award, a Gracie Award and Best of the Festival at the U.N. Documentary Film Festival. The film was also nominated for the British Academy Award for Best Documentary.
Sex Slaves was written and Directed by Ric Esther Bienstock, and produced by Bienstock, Felix Golubev and Simcha Jaxcobovici. Executive Producers are Simcha Jacobovici and Brian Woods. Produced for PBS by David Fanning and Ken Dornstein.
Associated Producers Ltd. has produced programming for most major broadcasters around the world. It has won almost every available industry award including; two back-to-back U.S. Emmys for "Investigative Journalism", The DuPont Columbia Award, the Gold Medal at Nyon, three Cable Aces, five Geminis and one Genie. AP films have also been featured at many international film festivals including; the Toronto International Film Festival, the Chicago Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival. In 2005, AP was awarded the American Overseas Press Club Award for best overseas reporting. In 2006, it garnered the British Broadcast Award for Best Documentary Program. As the company continues to grow, AP remains committed to innovation, excellence and entertainment. For more information on the film or award, please contact Kat Johnson.
http://www.apltd.ca/sexslaves
Shauna Jaeger
Publicity Coordinator
Tel: 416.504.6662 x294
sjaeger@apltd.ca
###
According to the OPC, the documentary was recognized for its “first-rate reporting and forceful storytelling”. On Thursday, April 26, 2007, hundreds of members of the international press gathered at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City to honor the recipients of this year’s OPC awards. This year, the awards were presented by CBS anchor Katie Couric. In awarding Associated Producers the Edward R. Murrow prize, the OPC stated:
“Sex Slaves represents everything a winner should have; a strong dramatic story, riveting characters, amazing access, good journalism, and professional execution. This portrait of modern day slavery is made possible by the most compelling use of undercover cameras in recent memory. Worthy of the name Murrow.”
Sex Slaves aired on Frontline on Feb.7, 2006 to the highest ratings since the Iraq war. The film premiered on the CBC and Channel 4 in the UK and has since aired in over 30 countries. The company recently made international headlines with The Lost Tomb of Jesus, an investigation into a first century Jerusalem tomb purported to belong to Jesus of Nazareth.
Sex Slaves director, Ric Esther Bienstock said “Felix Golubev, Simcha Jacobovici and I are all so proud to be the recipients of this award, which bears the name of one of the most respected journalists in history; a man who symbolized freedom of the press. It is humbling to be in a room with so many notable journalists working for the most influential publications on the planet. We were determined to put sex trafficking in prime time and we have been overwhelmed by the incredibly positive response to the film.”
Sex Slaves has screened at over 20 international film festivals and has already garnered numerous international awards including the British Broadcast Award for Best Documentary, a Royal Television Society Award, a Gracie Award and Best of the Festival at the U.N. Documentary Film Festival. The film was also nominated for the British Academy Award for Best Documentary.
Sex Slaves was written and Directed by Ric Esther Bienstock, and produced by Bienstock, Felix Golubev and Simcha Jaxcobovici. Executive Producers are Simcha Jacobovici and Brian Woods. Produced for PBS by David Fanning and Ken Dornstein.
Associated Producers Ltd. has produced programming for most major broadcasters around the world. It has won almost every available industry award including; two back-to-back U.S. Emmys for "Investigative Journalism", The DuPont Columbia Award, the Gold Medal at Nyon, three Cable Aces, five Geminis and one Genie. AP films have also been featured at many international film festivals including; the Toronto International Film Festival, the Chicago Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival. In 2005, AP was awarded the American Overseas Press Club Award for best overseas reporting. In 2006, it garnered the British Broadcast Award for Best Documentary Program. As the company continues to grow, AP remains committed to innovation, excellence and entertainment. For more information on the film or award, please contact Kat Johnson.
http://www.apltd.ca/sexslaves
Shauna Jaeger
Publicity Coordinator
Tel: 416.504.6662 x294
sjaeger@apltd.ca
###
Contact
Associated Producers Ltd.
Kat Johnson
416.504.6662 x250
www.apltd.ca
Kat Johnson
416.504.6662 x250
www.apltd.ca
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