Vegas, April 14th - 19th.

Rose Anderson, Executive Director, New York Festivals International Radio Program & Promotion Awards

The wide variety, depth, and scope of the programming created by this year's Finalists are proof that excellence knows no boundaries.

New York Festivals® International Television & Film Awards, now in its 55th year of honoring the World's Best TV Programs & FilmsTM, announced the finalists for the 2012 competition. The Grand Jury, comprised of award-winning television and film industry experts, determined the shortlist from entries submitted from 40 countries worldwide. Trophies will be presented at the 2012 Television & Film Awards Ceremony on April 17th at the annual NAB Show in Las Vegas, April 14th - 19th.

Rose Anderson, Executive Director of NYF Television & Film Awards, had this to say about this year's entries: "The wide variety, depth, and scope of the programming created by this year's Finalists are proof that excellence knows no boundaries. Increasingly, as our world becomes more connected, it is no surprise that imaginative and innovative programming across all platforms engages a world-wide audience."

Shortlisted primetime promos include HBO's "Boardwalk Empire," "Big Love," and "Game of Thrones," along with Showtime's "Dexter," "The Borgias," "Nurse Jackie," and "Homeland." Primetime programs include: "History Detectives," Lion Television; "Gettysburg," The History Channel; and "The Kennedy's," Reelz Channel. On-going news stories earning Finalist status include multiple entries from CNN: "Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Coverage," "Egypt: Wave of Discontent," and "Mubarak Resigns." Shortlisted Docudrama and Documentary categories include: NDR/ARTE Germany, "The Children of Blankenese"; NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp), "Back From the Brink: Inside the Chilean Mine Disaster," and ZDF Germany, "On the Trail of Easy Rider - Born to be Wild."

ESPN led Sports Finalists with multiple entries including "Outside the Lines," "NASCAR Countdown - Dale Earnhardt Remembered: Ten Years Later," "SportsCenter," "2011 Rose Bowl," and "Indianapolis 500 Open: A Walk Through Time." The Golf Channel, "Being Graeme McDowell"; Kansas City Chiefs, "Chiefs Kingdom: Joplin"; MLB Network "All in One Place"; and the St. Louis Rams, "St. Louis Rams Open" also advanced.

Music themed Finalists demonstrated an expansive range among them: HBO's "Lady Gaga: Born This Way Backstage Acapella Featurette"; "Ray Charles' America" for The Awards Group on behalf of A&E; "Usher" for EPIX; and "The Beethoven Project" for Deutsche Welle DW-TV.

Programming commemorating the tenth anniversary of 9/11 receiving Finalist status include: "The Love We Make," Maysles Films; "CBS News 9/11 Ten Years Later - DeNiro"; "NFL September 11 Salute - 10 Years Later," The National Football League; "CNN Footnotes of 9-11"; "CNN's Live Coverage of the 10th Anniversary of 9/11"; "2011 National Memorial Day Concert," Capital Concerts; and "Remembering 9/11 - The 10th Anniversary," Accessible Media Canada.

Finalists proceed to a second round of judging to determine the Grand Trophy Award recipients, as well as Gold, Silver, and Bronze medalists.

A partial list of prominent media companies receiving Finalist status includes: 

•     ABC-TV Australia.
•     ABS CBN Corporation, Philippines
•     Astro Entertainment Sdn. Bhd, Malaysia
•     BBC Worldwide, United Kingdom
•     Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canada
•     CBS, USA
•     Channel One Russia, Russia
•     Channel News Asia, Media Corp PTE. LTD, Singapore
•     CNN, USA
•     CR TVE, Spain
•     Discovery Networks Latin America
•     Deutsche Welle DW-TV, Germany
•     ESPN, USA
•     Fox International Channels, Italy
•     Fuji Television Network, Inc., Japan
•     HBO, USA
•     Korean Broadcasting System, Korea
•     Lavin Santa Maria S.A., Spain
•     Lion Television, USA
•     National Film Board Of Canada, Canada
•     NBC Universal Global Networks Deutschland GmbH, Germany
•     NBC,USA
•     NDTV, India
•     Norvell Jefferson Productions, Belgium
•     Radio Television Hong Kong
•     RTE, Ireland
•     Showtime Networks, USA
•     Telemundo, USA
•     Televisa, Mexico
•     The Edge Picture Company, United Kingdom
•     Turner Broadcasting System Latin America, Argentina
•     Wilder, United Kingdom
•     ZDF, German Television, Germany

To view the complete list 2012 Finalists click here.

For information about New York Festivals and The NAB Show please visit: http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/, andhttp://www.nabshow.com/.