MANILA – GMA News TV’s Brigada won the One World Award in the US International Film & Video Festival in addition to its Gold Camera Award finish at the same Festival.
Brigada’s winning entry was entitled “Gintong Krudo” (Black Gold), a documentary to raise awareness for the estimated 5.5 million Filipino children considered child laborers. This is the first time the prestigious One World Award has been given to a Philippine TV network, GMA said in a press release.
The One World Award was established more than 25 years ago by the International Quorum of Motion Pictures Producers to honor a work that fosters international understanding. USIFVF medalists and certificate holders are all in the running for the One World Award, one of the grand prizes given at the Festival.
Brigada’s One World Award winning documentary tells the story of 12-year old Bisaya, who goes out to sea every morning with his friends, 11-year old Christian and 13-year old Ruben, to salvage crude oil dumped on the water by ships. When they find patches of oil spill, they dive in and collect the oil with a sponge, risking their health for about a dollar per pail of oil.
Micaela Papa, who reported the story, went as far as joining the children in the murky water to collect crude oil. Brigada is hosted by Jessica Soho, with Lee Joseph Castel as Program Manager and Harvey Bayona as Executive Producer.
Brigada was one of eight winning works for GMA Network at the US International Film and Video Festival – which included a Gold Award for Wagas, Silver Awards for State of the Nation with Jessica Soho, two episodes of Reel Time, Reporter’s Notebook and Front Row and a certificate for creative excellence for Picture Picture.
Brigada’s Gintong Krudo segment also won a Silver World Medal in the 2014 New York Festivals, and was a Finalist in the 2013 Japan Prize.
Kapuso viewers around the world may catch Brigada, bannered by multi-awarded broadcast journalist Jessica Soho, only on GMA News TV International.
