Telly Awards Adds Microseries Competition Track, With Dozens of New Categories (EXCLUSIVE)

As the Telly Awards opens submissions for its 48th annual competition, it has added an entire track for the fast-growing microseries industry. The Telly Awards has added 56 new categories in the microseries space, covering both general fields and for craft.

“Great stories move you regardless of format — whether it’s a documentary, a brand campaign or a new vertical series,” said Amanda Needham, managing director of the Telly Awards, in a statement. “We’re including microseries and generative AI this season because formats evolve – but what makes a great story doesn’t.”

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The Telly Awards focuses on video production from around the world, including series, commercials, branded content, film and shorts, social video, generative AI, immersive/interactive and more. Last year, the Tellys received 14,000 entries from 55 countries — a new record. (Variety won six honors at the 47th annual Telly Awards — including a gold award for “Variety’s Behind the Show with Emily Longeretta,” which won in the Social Video: Media & Entertainment category.)

The new microseries craft categories include 2D animation, 3D/CG animation, art direction, color grading, digital environments, directing, drone and aerial cinematography, editing, motion graphics and design, original score, production design, sound and sound design, use of animation, use of archival footage, use of comedy, use of generative AI, use of stock footage, vertical cinematography, vertical clipping, virtual art direction, visual effects, voice acting and narration and writing.

General categories include action and adventure, animation, beauty and personal care, book adaptation, branded entertainment, comedy, creator and host, culture + lifestyle, DEI: diversity, equity and inclusion, documentary, drama, education and discovery, entertainment, food and beverage, game show and competition, historical, holiday and seasonal, horror and thriller, journalism and news and LGBTQ+.

Also: narrative, non-scripted, procedural, public interest and awareness, reality, romance, romantasy, sci-fi and fantasy, social impact, sports, telenovela, workplace culture and young adult.

The Telly Awards also announced new members for its judging council: Kerry Easter, head of marketing, Fremantle U.K.; Nathan Isherwood, head of Whalar Studios, Whalar Group; Joel Meyer, exec VP, Lionsgate Television; Patricia Ramella, senior director, brand, marketing & digital, Latin America, Paramount; and Sabrina Telle, creative strategy director, Laika.

As it dives deeper into the microseries world, the Telly Awards also signed vertical streaming platform ReelShort on as a partner (along with the Nonfiction Hotlist).

“Vertical video isn’t the future of storytelling. It’s the present,” said ReelShort global head of content Sophie Xiong in a statement. “We’re seeing the format evolve across genres, talent and established IP, creating new ways for audiences to experience stories they already love and discover new ones. Partnering with the Telly Awards is an opportunity to celebrate that evolution and recognize the creators and stories moving the format forward.”

The 48th Annual Telly Awards entries can be found at tellyawards.com/enter; early entry deadline is Dec. 11, with a final deadline to be announced at a later date.