For the second consecutive year, United Media has been invited by the Emmy Awards Academy to participate in the selection and nomination process during the semi-finals stage, with last year’s event held in Dubrovnik.

United Media, the leading media company in Southeast Europe, hosted the selection process for two semi-final rounds of judging for the International Emmy® Awards in collaboration with Nova and Atena.

The jury members gathered in Athens to discuss the nominations in two categories: Best Actress and Best Actor.

Among the jury members were renowned directors, actors, producers, editors, TV professionals, and other leading global and regional experts from the world of production, television, film, and art. Nataša Buljan, United Media’s Director of New Format Development and Editor of New TV Development, Zrinka Jankov, Chief Editor of Nova TV in Croatia; Vyara Ankova, one of Bulgaria’s most popular TV professionals with extensive experience in media and television arts; Zrinka Cvitešić, Croatian film, television, and stage actress; and Agapi Kefalogianni, Director of Novacinema channel of Nova in Greece, were among the jury members who contributed to the selection of finalists for this prestigious award.

The winners of the 51st International Emmy® Awards will be announced at the award ceremony in New York on November 20, 2023.

This is the second year in a row that United Media has been invited by the Emmy Awards Academy to participate in the selection and nomination process during the semi-finals stage, while last year’s event was held in Dubrovnik.

This year’s semi-finals round culminated in an extraordinary event held at Zappeion Hall in Athens, bringing together professionals from the film, television, and creative industries, further confirming Greece’s reputation as a developing market that recognizes excellence in television.

Victoriya Boklag, Executive Director of United Group, emphasized: “The fact that we are hosting the semi-finals judging for the International Emmy Awards for the second consecutive year highlights our commitment to providing premium content to our 40 million viewers in eight Southeast European countries. We invest 300 million euros annually in content, including 100 million euros in production, bringing added value to the creative industries across Europe. Our focus on high-quality and original content sets United Group apart. We are extremely proud to contribute to the vibrant cultural sector in the country through another successful partnership with the International Emmy Awards. Greece is a strategically vital market for our Group, where we have already invested 1.8 billion euros. Furthermore, we are on track to complete our announced 2 billion euro program by 2027, of which 400 million euros have already been invested. Although we are happy about our achievements, we in United Group are deeply saddened by the tragic events that have occurred in Greece. United Group actively stands with those in need of assistance. To that end, Nova has launched a 1 million euro aid program for the affected areas.”

Aleksandra Subotić, Executive Director of United Media, said about the organization of the judging process: “It is an exceptional honor to organize the judging for the prestigious Emmy Awards – and being chosen to do so – we see it as recognition of our leadership position in the media industry. We are committed to being excellent at what we do, and that is not just a slogan but the key to our success.

Production is a very important part of our business. So far, we have created 40 series and 7 films that have been internationally recognized. Our work has been showcased at renowned festivals such as those in Cannes and Locarno, and our participation in the judging for the Emmy Awards confirms the top quality of the content we produce.

What really sets us apart is the international recognition we have received for our series and films. They have not only captivated audiences in the region but have also been noticed on a global level. Thanks to our international sales team, the series and films we have produced have been shown in over 50 countries.

We will continue to invest in high-quality content and look forward to sharing new stories with the audience.”

Nathaniel Brendel, Sr. Dr. of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Emmy® Judge, said: “We thank the city of Athens, the Athens Film Office, United Media, and Nova for hosting this semi-finals judging and bringing together all the jury members. This is a key part of the competition for the International Emmy Awards.”

About United Media

United Media, the media arm of United Group, is the leading media company in Southeast Europe.

With 55 channels broadcasted in 8 countries and strong digital platforms, it annually produces over 40,000 hours of original content distributed to a market of more than 40 million people through leading international operators. The company also offers a unique advertising solution through ad sales and precise targeting towards the selected channels’ audience. Additionally, the company has a successful digital portfolio of 30 web portals, 6 newspapers, 2 magazines, and 5 radio stations.

Source: Showbuzz