The Gotham Film & Media Institute has launched The Gotham/Variety Audio Honors, an initiative dedicated to recognizing what it says are the “boldest” voices in the ever-expanding world of audio storytelling. “As audio content reaches a pivotal point of engagement and innovation, it is crucial that we launch new platforms of recognition,” said Jeffrey Sharp, Executive Director of The Gotham.
The honorees were chosen by a panel of judges led by podcast producer Brittany Luse, who was named as the new host of NPR's It’s Been a Minute! podcast last month.
“The audio storytelling space is experiencing unprecedented creativity, and I’m thrilled to partner with The Gotham in highlighting some of the freshest, most original voices of this moment,” said Luse. “Our inaugural honors will recognize the efforts of truly original talents, creators who stand to make an impact in our industry for years to come.”
The ten winning shows, creators, and episodes of the inaugural The Gotham/Variety Audio Honors are:
Bag Ladiez (Cin Pim and Rafaela Uribe) – “Octavia was right…” (Listen Here)
Marijuanera: A Podcast for Potheads (Mala Muñoz and Diosa Femme) – “Soliloquy for Sad Girls” (Listen Here)
Misrepresented (Nikki Aggarwal) – “The Myth of the Pink City” (Listen Here)
Susto (Ayden Castellanos) – “MS-13’s Satanic History” (Listen Here)
Teenager Therapy (Gael Aitor, Kayla Suarez and Thomas Pham) – “Self-Deprecating Humor/How To Love Yourself” (Listen Here)
Girl Tales (Rebecca Cunningham and Georgina Escobar) – “Musings by Georgina Escobar” (Listen Here)
TransLash (Oliver-Ash Kleine, editor and lead producer) – “Trans Mothers Day” (Listen Here)
Out There (Sarah Dealy) – “Indoor Kid” (Listen Here)
Teleway 411 (Casper Cendre) – “Taylor Hearn” (Listen Here)
The 11th (Sai Sion) – “His Saturn Return” (Listen Here)
The Gotham/Variety Audio Honors are set to take place in person as a luncheon, panel discussion, and a staged presentation on October 14 in New York. The winners will also be featured in Variety’s New York Issue that will be published October 21.
“As an organization dedicated to celebrating and nurturing independent creators, we are proud to recognize these brilliant, innovative, and groundbreaking audio storytellers,” said Sharp.
The Gotham Film & Media Institute also celebrates emerging voices through its annual Podcast Certificate Program, Audio Forum projects at Gotham Week (now in its third year), podcast pitch events as well as year round film & TV labs, and programming and The Annual Gotham Awards, now in their 32nd year.