Jury Insights Interview
Andrea Florence
 

We are thrilled to present an exclusive interview with Andrea Florence, an Emmy award-winning Executive Producer renowned for her exceptional work in high-rating factual shows across global broadcasters and platforms. In this interview, Andrea shares her valuable insights from her recent experience as a jury member for the documentary categories at the 2024 US International Awards. She discusses the documentaries that stood out to her the most, offering a glimpse into what makes a truly remarkable production in today's competitive landscape.

Thank you for being part of the 2024 US International Awards Jury! You and your fellow jury members watched a huge number of entries. How would you describe the overall quality of the entries?

My selection included a wide range of shows: some beautifully crafted with high production values, amazing photography, and witty scripts, while others were incredibly powerful and emotionally charged.

Please tell us more about your judging process.

When I judge, I find it essential to be in a quiet environment with no time pressures. To ensure fairness, I always begin by reviewing the background information to understand the context thoroughly. I believe in the importance of careful consideration, often revisiting sections of the performances and adjusting my scores as needed. Only after watching all the assigned videos, I finalize my scores.

Which submissions impressed you the most or still stick in your mind and why?

There were many powerful shows, but two documentaries from the Danish Broadcasting Corporation still stick in my mind. The documentary "This Tuesday I'm going to die" stays with me – it’s both heart-rending and thought-provoking, and it brings to light the many issues arising from assisted dying.

The other documentary, "CARTWHEELS & HEADACHES - A Children's Hospice from the Inside," though very sad, was very sensitively filmed and gave a portrait of amazing people working in this area.

Was it difficult to choose a Grand Award Winner?

Each had its own particular strength, making the final choice incredibly difficult. It took some time and repeated viewings to decide the final scores.

2024 US International Awards: Announcing the Winners

The 2024 edition of the prestigious US International Awards has concluded, celebrating outstanding achievements in corporate videos, online & social media videos, and documentaries & reports. This year's big winners include 80s Creative, Saudi Ministry of Culture (both Saudi Arabia), DR - Danish Broadcasting Corporation (Denmark), TVN Warner Bros. Discovery (Poland), 1Camera (Netherlands), and Switzerland Tourism.

Celebrating outstanding achievements in visual storytelling, the winner announcement highlights a diverse range of projects that have captivated audiences, including a tourism spot with tennis pro Roger Federer and comedian Trevor Noah, a multi-awarded campaign promoting Saudi Coffee, and emotionally moving documentaries on sensitive subjects such as euthanasia and war crimes against Ukrainian women.

This year, the competition saw a remarkable array of entries from around the globe. "Each entry demonstrated a unique blend of creativity and technical skill, making the jury's task of selecting winners both challenging and rewarding," said Alexander V. Kammel, Director of the US International Awards.

Among the big winners are the Grand Award winners, which produced the best entry within a main category, and the Specialty Award winners, such as Best Production Company of the Year and Best Agency of the Year. These exceptional entities and their remarkable works have risen above the competition, leaving an indelible mark on their respective fields.

Specialty Award Winners

Production Company of the Year: 80s Creative (Saudi Arabia)

Client Company of the Year: Saudi Ministry of Culture (Saudi Arabia)

Agency of the Year: 80s Creative (Saudi Arabia)

TV Network of the Year: DR - Danish Broadcasting Corporation (Denmark)

Film School of the Year: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg (Germany)

Grand Award Winners

Corporate Videos: "The Power of Together" - 1Camera for Achmea (Netherlands) 

Online & Social Media: "Grand Train Tour of Switzerland. The Ride of a Lifetime" - TUNA production AG in cooperation with WIRZ Group for Switzerland Tourism (Switzerland)

Documentaries & Reports: "What if the war ends tomorrow" - TVN Warner Bros. Discovery (Poland)

Documentaries & Reports: "This Tuesday I'm going to die" - DR Danish Broadcasting Corporation (Denmark)

Student Videos: "Delivery for Mr. Frogula" - Nadia Zimmermann from Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg (Germany)

 

The 2024 US International Awards not only celebrate outstanding achievements but also serve as a showcase of the best international video productions. The full list of the 2024 US International Awards winners can be found at www.usinternationalawards.com.

The 2025 edition of the US International Awards are already on the way and will open call for entries in September later this year.

Social Media

Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn: @usinternationalawards
Twitter: @usintawards
Hashtag: #usinternationalawards
 

About the US International Awards

The US International Awards honor the world’s best branded video productions and documentaries. The awards, formally named US International Film & Video Festival, have been taken over and re-branded in 2021 by Filmservice International, Europe’s biggest organizer of corporate film festivals. With the original festival having a fifty-five yearlong background within the industry of corporate videos and documentaries and the expertise of Filmservice International, the renewed US International Awards joyously start into this new era. 
 

Contact

Marlene Marcher
Awards Manager
US International Awards
Managed by Filmservice International
Schaumburgergasse 18
1040 Vienna, Austria