Bonfils-Stanton Foundation’s Long Live the Art and Social Impact Artist Award Films Win Six Telly Awards, Including Gold for Non-Broadcast Excellence

Denver, CO – May 21, 2025 – Bonfils-Stanton Foundation is thrilled to announce that two of its original video projects—Long Live the Art and Introducing Our 2024 Social Impact Artist Award Honorees—have received major recognition in the 46th Annual Telly Awards, earning six total honors, including a Gold People’s Telly Award. These wins place the foundation alongside leading media innovators such as Pixar Animation Studios, NASA, ESPN, MTV Entertainment Studios, Telemundo, Adobe, Netflix, National Geographic Society, LinkedIn, the LA Clippers, Paramount, and The Walt Disney Company. The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens and platforms, judged by a prestigious council of industry leaders from streaming giants, broadcast networks, and production companies. This year marked a record-breaking number of entries from creators around the globe, reflecting the critical role video plays in shaping dialogue and driving social impact.

Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Awarded Projects and Categories: Long Live the Art

• Silver Telly – General: Craft-Directing

Honoring visionary leadership and storytelling through direction.

• Silver Telly – General: Social Impact

Recognizing work that drives social change and awareness.

• Silver Telly – General: Under $25,000

Celebrating outstanding productions created on smaller budgets.

• People’s Telly Silver – General: Film & Shorts

Chosen by public vote for excellence in short-form storytelling.

Introducing Our 2024 Social Impact Artist Award Honorees

• People’s Telly Gold – General: Non-Broadcast

The highest honor in its category, awarded by public vote for standout non-broadcast production.

• Silver Telly – General: Documentary – Short Form (Under 40 Minutes)

Highlighting non-broadcast content documenting people or events in under 40 minutes.

“We’re humbled by this recognition from The Telly Awards,” said Anthony Grimes, Director of Communications and Policy at Bonfils-Stanton Foundation and director of both projects. “Once the spark of a good idea fades, what’s left is grit, craft, and conviction. An award like this isn’t just a trophy—it’s a signal that story still moves the world, and that storytelling belongs at the center of how we shape it.”
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‍Long Live the Art, written and directed by Grimes with cinematography by Leland Schmidt and original score by Jared M. Fry, explores the metaphorical battle between artists and the ‘Voice of Doubt’ in the quest to save humanity. Introducing Our 2024 Social Impact Artist Award Honorees celebrates the foundation’s commitment to uplifting artists who engage in social practice to address urgent community issues.

“Three years ago, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation committed to strengthening our capacity to tell the stories of our vibrant, diverse cultural community and the artists and leaders who drive it,” said Gary Steuer, President and CEO of Bonfils-Stanton Foundation. “Anthony has brought to this work not just his skill as a communications professional, but also his artistry and talent as a director. While the Telly Awards are a welcomed and well-deserved recognition, the true reward is how these films help our community better understand and value the role of arts and culture—especially in these times."

“Our industry is experimenting with new technologies like never before, shaping truly compelling stories to draw attention to some of the world’s most pressing issues,” shares Telly Awards Managing Director Amanda Needham. “The Telly Awards is uniquely positioned to meet the industry where it’s actually making work, be that on television or TikTok.”

With more than 13,000 global entries, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation’s multiple wins—especially in directing, social impact, and budget-sensitive categories—underscore the value of intentional, mission-aligned content creation and storytelling.

For a full list of the 2025 winners, visit: www.tellyawards.com/winners

‍About Bonfils-Stanton Foundation

Bonfils-Stanton Foundation believes extraordinary arts and leadership are essential to a vibrant Denver. The Foundation’s mission is to invest in inclusive, diverse, and equitable arts and culture organizations and social sector leaders to create a thriving and just city. Through strategic grantmaking, impact investing, and bold advocacy, Bonfils-Stanton advances a more imaginative and equitable future. Since its founding, the Foundation has awarded more than $95 million in charitable support. Learn more at www.bonfils-stantonfoundation.org.

About The Telly Awards
The Telly Awards is the premier award honoring video and television across all screens. Established in 1979, The Telly Awards receives over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents. Entrants are judged by The Telly Awards Judging Council — an industry body of over 200 leading experts including advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks, reflective of the multi-screen industry The Telly Awards celebrates. Partners of The Telly Awards include NAB, RunwayML AIFF, ReelAbilities Film Festival, Film Fatales, FWD-Doc, Stash, Production Hub, Ghetto Film School, Future ofFilm, We Are Parable, Video Consortium, SeriesFest and Green The Bid. More information can be found at the Telly Awards Press Center: https://tlly.co/press

For media inquiries, contact:
Anthony Grimes
anthony@bonfils-stanton.org
303-642-6994