Poster of the documentary “Delikado.” Image: Facebook/Delikado Film
“Delikado,” a Filipino-made documentary that revolves around the plight of environmental activists in Palawan, was nominated for Outstanding Investigative Documentary at the 44th News and Documentary Emmy Awards.
Journalist Kara Alikpala, producer of the documentary, took to her Facebook account on Friday, July 28, to announce its recent milestone, which included a screengrab of “Delikado’s” receiving a nod from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS).
“STUNNED. Delikado is nominated for an Emmy!!!!!” she wrote.
“Delikado’s” official Facebook page said being nominated for an Emmy is a “smashing validation” of the documentary’s efforts to tell the story of the “legendary, inspirational land defenders of Palawan.”
“We have some brilliant and unexpected news! Delikado has been nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Investigative Documentary. What a smashing validation of the legendary, inspirational land defenders of Palawan! Thank you to the massive team around the world who came together to create ‘Delikado,’” the post read.
“And in particular right now our supporters and partners at PBS, POV and ITVS for believing in Team Delikado from the early days, and bringing the heroic feats of Palawan NGO Network Inc. and Nieves Cabunalda Rosento all the way across the Pacific and onto American TV screens,” the post further added.
Also nominated are HBO Max’s “Escape from Kabul,” Netflix’s “Fifa Uncovered,” Amazon Prime’s “Flight/Risk,” and Netflix’s “I Am Vanessa Guillen.”
“Delikado” tells the story of land defender Efren Balladares, Palawan NGO Network Inc. executive director Robert Chan, and former El-Nido mayor Nieves Rosento as fight to “save an island paradise” from people who threaten Palawan’s natural resources.
Aside from Alikpala, the documentary is a collaborative effort of Emmy-nominated filmmaker Marty Syjuco, Storytellers International Inc. co-founder Tom Bannigan, and Michael Collins, who serves as the producer, editor, and writer.
The enviro-thriller also received numerous accolades including the Sustainable Future Award at the 2022 Sydney Film Festival, Best Documentary at the 2022 Newburyport Documentary Film Festival, and Best Documentary and Best Cinematography at the Social Impact Media Awards 2023, according to its website.
The 44th News and Documentary Emmy Awards will be held at the Palladium Times Square in New York City, U.S. in September 2023. EDV