Two More Telly Awards: JDC Videos Depicting Argentina And Israel Crises

New York, N.Y.-The 24th annual Telly Awards competition has awarded two of its three honors in the non-broadcast and non-profit film and video production category to videos documenting the work of the American Jewish Joint Distribution in Argentina and Israel.

Crisis in Argentina, a six and a half minute video documenting the JDC's support of Argentina's Jewish community as economic and political crises continue to engulf that country, won the Silver Telly Award. Keeping the Children Safe, a five and a half minute video on the day camps program which restored some sense of normalcy to 260,000 Israeli children in cities affected by terror, earned the Bronze Telly Award. Last year, JDC won the Gold Telly award in the same category for its first video on the crisis in Argentina.

"We're pleased that the work documented in these videos proved compelling enough to be recognized," stated Steve Schwager, JDC's Executive Vice President. "We hope these videos prove useful in getting the message out there that the programs are great, but need is greater, still."

The video, Crisis in Argentina shows the economic and political turmoil that have shuttered more than 70% of Jewish businesses there, cutting the income of 60,000 people below the poverty line. The video also provides a message of hope. JDC's food, clothing, medical, housing and employment programs have enabled many within this diverse community of Holocaust survivors, young mothers and businessmen to carry on. JDC needs $15.5 million to continue this critical work throughout 2003.

Keeping the Children Safe shows safe, joyous day camp programs experienced by 260,000 children in Jerusalem, Netanya, Hadera and other Israeli towns. The camps were made possible by the Israel Emergency Campaign of Jewish Federations across North America. The video highlights how children are dealing with the physical and emotional aftermath of terrorist attacks like the one at Netanya's Park Hotel that killed 18 people. Such attacks have killed more than 730 civilians since September 2000, including more than 124 children.

Both prizewinning videos were produced by Fly On The Wall Productions in New York, and are available on this website. To view Crisis in Argentina or Keeping the Children Safe, please go to the Media Resources section and look under either Argentina or Israel. The films may also be ordered on the Media Resources section.

Telly Awards are given annually by the broadcast industry to honor outstanding television commercials, video productions and commercial and noncommercial films. Silver and Bronze winners in other categories this year included National Geographic, HBO Video Productions, NASA, Goodwill Industries and Time Warner Films.

The two awards to the Joint Distribution Committee will be announced at the Telly Awards ceremony in Los Angeles in June.