Arizona Public Media receives 32 individual Rocky Mountain Emmy® Award Nominations

The Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) announced today that AZPM has received 32 individual Rocky Mountain Regional Emmy® award nominations for 15 projects across 10 categories, more project nominations than any other public media organization in the region which includes Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and El Centro, California.

Notable is the nomination for the feature documentary OSIRIS-REx: To Bennu and Back, the follow-up to the 2016 documentary OSIRIS-REx: Countdown to Launch. Arizona Illustrated continues its reputation of excellence with 14 nominations in categories including arts and entertainment, science and environment, education, DEI, health and medicine, and societal concerns.

“I want to congratulate all of the individual nominees as well as the people behind the scenes whose work makes their work possible,” said Jack Gibson, AZPM Chief Executive Officer. “I am proud of the efforts put forth by our talented staff and gratified to see their work continuously recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.”

The AZPM projects and nominees are:

CULTURAL / TOPICAL / HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY

OSIRIS-REx: To Bennu and Back A one-hour documentary revealing the incredible challenges, surprises and human triumphs of the nearly twenty year space mission, OSIRIS-REx.

John Booth, Producer
Christopher Conover, Producer
Bryan Nelson, Producer
Nathan Huffman, Photographer

INSTRUCTIONAL

John is Colorblind Witness five individuals use corrective glasses that allows them to see colors that they never detected before.

Cáit NíSíomón, Producer
John DeSoto, Editor
Robert Lindberg, Photographer
Eryka Dellenbach, Photographer
Diana Cadena, Photographer

ARTS / ENTERTAINMENT SHORT FORM CONTENT

Andrew Rush: The Etcher As a teaching artist, the 93-year-old explores how to broaden each person’s notion of what drawing can be..

Özlem Ayse Özgür, Producer / Videographer

Barbara Rogers Barbara Rogers is a force of nature, a loving mother and a prolific artist living in Tucson whose work explores the ideas of paradise, life, destruction, vulnerability and beauty.

Özlem Ayse Özgür, Producer / Videographer

CRIME / JUSTICE CONTENT

Don't Bring Guns to Mexico As gun violence and smuggling in Mexico increases so does the number of Americans arrested for trafficking.

Liliana Soto, Producer

DIVERSITY / EQUITY / INCLUSION SHORT FORM CONTENT

Navajo Weavers Sisters Barbara Teller Ornelas and Lynda Teller Pete are 5th-generation master Navajo weavers born for the To’aheedliinii (Two Waters Flow Together Clan). Both have been weaving since a very young age and are internationally acclaimed for their tapestries.

Özlem Ayse Özgür, Producer / Videographer
Diana Cadena, Photographer
Nathan Huffman, Photographer
Danny Sax, Editor

DIVERSITY / EQUITY / INCLUSION LONG FORM CONTENT

Flowers and Bullets What began as friends helping each other grow backyard gardens in Tucson's Barrio Centro neighborhood has grown into a vibrant community space.

David Fenster, Producer
Eryka Dellenbach, Photographer

EDUCATION / SCHOOLS CONTENT

Red Herring Puppets Puppeteer Lisa Aimee Sturz, the founder of the Red Herring Puppets, welcomes us into her world.

Özlem Ayse Özgür, Producer / Videographer
Robert Lindberg, Photographer

ENVIRONMENT / SCIENCE SHORT FORM CONTENT

SPACEWATCH SPACEWATCH is a NASA-funded program at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Lab that was founded in 1980 to keep track of hazardous asteroids and comets in our solar system that might pose an impact threat to Earth.

Bryan Nelson, Producer
Danny Sax, Photographer

Beaver River In this story, we look at beaver reintroduction efforts on the San Pedro River in Southern Arizona and Northern Sonora. Before they were trapped to extinction, there were so many beavers on the San Pedro that it was called the Beaver River.

David Fenster, Producer

Bobcats Among Us Bobcats are thriving in metropolitan Tucson in spite of the community's growth in the Sonoran Desert.

Tony Paniagua, Producer
Nathan Huffman, Photographer

HEALTH / MEDICAL CONTENT

Parent Provided Care Arizona Parents of children with disabilities receive funding and certified training to be Direct Care Workers for their own minor children.

John DeSoto, Producer
Eryka Dellenbach, Photographer

SOCIETAL CONCERNS CONTENT

Al & Hannah Al Foul, was a celebrated musician both locally, nationally, and abroad who passed away in May 2022, after a long battle with cancer. One of his last wishes was for his wife Hannah to raise awareness of an end-of-life option that is not available to people in Arizona, an option that would have prevented much of his suffering in his final days.

Cáit NíSíomón, Producer
Nathan Huffman, Photographer

Rancho Feliz In the border community of Agua Prieta, Sonora, a binational effort is opening doors and opportunities for many low-income people. "Rancho Feliz" is a non-profit organization that is building new homes for families in the town, and helping many children go to school. Both donors and beneficiaries of the programs say they feel more hope and optimism for the future of the region.

Tony Paniagua, Producer
Nathan Huffman, Photographer

Winners will be announced at a ceremony on November 16. For a full list of nominees in the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter go to rockymountainemmy.org.