Associated Producers’ acclaimed documentary “Sex Slaves”
garners an Emmy Award for Outstanding Investigative Journalism

NEW YORK CITY (September 24, 2007) – Toronto based film production company Associated Producers has just won an Emmy Award from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) for the documentary Sex Slaves. This investigation into the multi-billion dollar world of sex trafficking of women from the former Soviet Union has garnered many international awards including a British Broadcast Award for Best Documentary in the U.K., and an Edward R. Murrow Award in the U.S.

The award for Outstanding Investigative Journalism was handed out to Producer/Director Ric Esther Bienstock and fellow producers Felix Golubev and Simcha Jacobovici at a ceremony in New York. The awards ceremony took place at the Sheraton hotel in New York City and was attended by more than 1000 prominent members of the news and documentary industry. Ted Koppel was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award.

Sex Slaves aired on Frontline on Feb.7, 2006 to the highest ratings since the Iraq war. The film premiered on the CBC and Channel 4 in the UK and has since aired in over 30 countries.

"My aim was to put a human face on this headline grabbing story", says Bienstock (the film’s producer/director/wrtier). "It was a challenging film to make, and I’m absolutely thrilled that we’ve been able to bring the tragedy of human trafficking to a prime-time audience. And now to be recognized by my peers in the industry is truly an honour."

Sex Slaves has screened at over 20 international film festivals and has already garnered numerous international awards including the British Broadcast Award for Best Documentary, a Royal Television Society Award, a Gracie Award and Best of the Festival at the U.N. Documentary Film Festival. The film was most recently awarded the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award from the Overseas Press Club of America. The film was also nominated for the British Academy Award for Best Documentary.

Sex Slaves was written and Directed by Ric Esther Bienstock, and produced by Bienstock, Felix Golubev and Simcha Jacobovici. Executive Producers are Simcha Jacobovici and Brian Woods. Produced for PBS by David Fanning and Ken Dornstein.

For more information on the film or Award, please contact: Kristen De Filippis at Associated Producers. kdefilippis@apltd.ca or 416.504.6662 x 294

Download Emmy Award Press Release here (.pdf format)

Toronto’s Associated Producers nominated for an Emmy Award for “Sex Slaves”

NEW YORK CITY (July 18, 2007) – Toronto based film production company Associated Producers has just been nominated for the coveted Emmy Award from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) for the documentary Sex Slaves.  This investigation into the multi-billion dollar world of sex trafficking of women from the former Soviet Union has already won a British Broadcast Award for Best Documentary in the U.K., and an Edward R. Murrow Award in the U.S.

The nominations were announced on July 18, 2007.  The nomination for the “Best Investigative Journalism” is one of the most competitive awards in broadcast journalism.

The awards will be presented Monday, September 24, 2007 at a ceremony in New York City, attended by more than 1000 prominent members of the news and documentary industry. Of this year’s nominees, Peter Price (President/CEO NATAS) said:

“This year’s entries were particularly impressive-both in quality and breadth of reporting. This is the night we honor the men and women who play important roles in helping us understand some of the most compelling and complex issues of our lives as well as revealing some of the most interesting stories of our times.”

Sex Slaves aired on Frontline on Feb.7, 2006 to the highest ratings since the Iraq war.  The film premiered on the CBC and Channel 4 in the UK and has since aired in over 30 countries. The company recently made international headlines with The Lost Tomb of Jesus, an investigation into a first century Jerusalem tomb purported to belong to Jesus of Nazareth.

"My aim was to put a human face on this headline grabbing story", says Bienstock (the film’s producer/director). "We worked with cops and pimps, secret agents and social workers to get inside a criminal world that is filled with lies, treachery and violence. We are all so honoured to have our work recognized by what is arguably the most important award in broadcasting."

Sex Slaves has screened at over 20 international film festivals and has already garnered numerous international awards including the British Broadcast Award for Best Documentary, a Royal Television Society Award, a Gracie Award and Best of the Festival at the U.N. Documentary Film Festival. The film was most recently awarded the prestigious Edward R Murrow Award from the Overseas Press Club of America. The film was also nominated for the British Academy Award for Best Documentary.

Sex Slaves was written and Directed by Ric Esther Bienstock, and produced by Bienstock, Felix Golubev and Simcha Jacobovici. Executive Producers are Simcha Jacobovici and Brian Woods. Produced for PBS by David Fanning and Ken Dornstein. 

For more information on the film or Award, please contact: Kristen De Filippis at Associated Producers. kdefilippis@apltd.ca or 416.504.6662 x 294

Download Emmy Award Press Release here (.pdf format)

Toronto’s Associated Producers wins the prestigious
Edward R. Murrow Award from The Overseas Press Club of America

NEW YORK CITY (April 26, 2007) - The Overseas Press Club of America (OPC) has awarded their prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Television Documentary on international affairs to Toronto based film production company Associated Producers for Sex Slaves, an investigation into the multi-billion dollar world of sex trafficking of women from the former Soviet Union.

According to the OPC, the documentary was recognized for its “first-rate reporting and forceful storytelling”.  On Thursday, April 26, 2007, hundreds of members of the international press gathered at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City to honor the recipients of this year’s OPC awards. This year, the awards were presented by CBS anchor Katie Couric. In awarding Associated Producers the Edward R. Murrow prize, the OPC stated:

“Sex Slaves represents everything a winner should have; a strong dramatic story, riveting characters, amazing access, good journalism, and professional execution. This portrait of modern day slavery is made possible by the most compelling use of undercover cameras in recent memory.  Worthy of the name Murrow.”

Sex Slaves aired on Frontline on Feb.7, 2006 to the highest ratings since the Iraq war.  The film premiered on the CBC and Channel 4 in the UK and has since aired in over 30 countries. The company recently made international headlines with The Lost Tomb of Jesus, an investigation into a first century Jerusalem tomb purported to belong to Jesus of Nazareth.

Sex Slaves director, Ric Esther Bienstock said “Felix Golubev, Simcha Jacobovici and I are all so proud to be the recipients of this award, which bears the name of one of the most respected journalists in history; a man who symbolized freedom of the press. It is humbling to be in a room with so many notable journalists working for the most influential publications on the planet.  We were determined to put sex trafficking in prime time and we have been overwhelmed by the incredibly positive response to the film.”

Sex Slaves has screened at over 20 international film festivals and has already garnered numerous international awards including the British Broadcast Award for Best Documentary, a Royal Television Society Award, a Gracie Award and Best of the Festival at the U.N. Documentary Film Festival.  The film was also nominated for the British Academy Award for Best Documentary.

Sex Slaves was written and Directed by Ric Esther Bienstock, and produced by Bienstock, Felix Golubev and Simcha Jaxcobovici. Executive Producers are Simcha Jacobovici and Brian Woods. Produced for PBS by David Fanning and Ken Dornstein.

For more information on the film or Award, please contact: Kristen De Filippis at Associated Producers. kdefilippis@apltd.ca or 416.504.6662 x 294