United Media, Nova Broadcasting Group Organise Semi-Final Judging for International Emmy® Awards

A press release said that professionals from more than 10 countries across two continents gathered in the heart of Sofia to celebrate the art, culture, and achievements of the television and film industry. This marks the fourth consecutive year that United Media – a part of United Group, the region’s leading telecommunications and media company – has organised this prestigious event.

Following Dubrovnik, Athens, and Pula, Sofia became the latest stop on the global journey of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, bringing together prominent figures from the industry across the region.

The press release quoted Derek Nguyen, Director of Judging for the Emmy Awards, as thanking hosts United Media and Nova Broadcasting Group. “These events represent a crucial part of the competition for the International Emmy® Awards,” he said.

It also quoted Aleksandra Subotic, CEO of United Media, who said: “This region has become a hub for producing stories with global impact, and United Media proudly leads that trend. Our recent acquisition of a 50% ownership stake in Greece’s Alpha TV and its renowned production company Green Pixel has opened new opportunities to expand significant projects. Just last year, we invested €200 million in content production, with more than 60% of that amount allocated to local productions. In addition to scripted series, we are now proud to be developing documentary content, which plays a key role in telling authentic stories that educate, engage, and deeply resonate with audiences. After the successful launch of Nova Docu, our regional VOD documentary catalogue, we plan to increase investment in this segment next year. We remain committed to collaborating with the best creative talents to deliver stories that inform, inspire, and connect.”

United Media and Nova Broadcasting Group brought together professionals from the world of television, production, and the creative industry. This year’s jury members included:

• Natasa Buljan – Director of Content Development at United Media
• Viara Ankova – COO of Nova Broadcasting Group
• Sanja Tucman – Head of Production at Nova TV (Croatia)
• Martichka Bozhilova – Producer (Bulgaria)
• Viktor Chouchkov – Producer, Director, and Screenwriter (Bulgaria)
• Boya Harizanova – Director and Writer (Bulgaria)
• Gordan Kicic – Actor, Producer, and Director (Serbia)
• Zdrava Kamenova – Actress, Director, and Writer (Bulgaria)
• Ecija Ojdanic – Actress (Croatia)
• Filip Juricic – Actor (Croatia)
• Ivan Angelov – Screenwriter (Bulgaria)

The judging was followed by a gala dinner hosted by Bulgarian TV presenter Nikolay Doynov. The event was attended by Bulgaria’s Minister of Culture, Marian Bachev, as well as prominent Bulgarian and international actors, directors, producers, screenwriters, and partners.

For the fourth year in a row, United Media is participating in the selection process for the International Emmy® Awards. This distinguished role highlights the deep commitment of the leading media company, with more than 120 channels, to developing original content characterised by strong storytelling and high production standards.