Sci-Fi Bulletin: Exploring the Universes of SF, Fantasy, Horror and Spy-fi!

B7 Media, Bafflegab and Spiteful Puppet have all once again triumphed at this year’s New York Radio Awards.

B7’s The Space Race, narrated by Star Trek: Voyager actor Kate Mulgrew won Gold for Best Documentary – Science and Technology, while Bafflegab’s adaptation of MR James’ The Ash Tree won Gold for Best Drama Special. Spiteful Puppet’s adaptation of Passport to Oblivion, starring former 007 George Lazenby, won Bronze for Best Drama Special.

Bafflegab’s Simon Barnard told Sci-Fi Bulletin, “The judges at these awards must have a thing for folk horror – we won Gold in 2018 for Blood on Satan’s Claw, again in 2019 for A View from a Hill, and again for this! Was really proud of this one – huge thanks to Matthew for writing such a brilliant script, to Reece, Amanda, John and Margaret for turning in such brilliant performances, and to Simon and Edwin for their brilliant sound design and music.”

Writer Matthew Holness added, “I’m delighted that ‘The Ash Tree’ has received a Gold award at the 2020 New York Radio Awards. It was a huge privilege to work with such a talented cast and I’m grateful to Bafflegab for the opportunity to adapt the work of M R James for a modern audience.”

For B7 Media, producer Andrew Mark Sewell said of his award, “Ever since I watched the Apollo 11 Moon landing as a child I’ve been inspired and fascinated by humankind’s exploration of space. Making the docudrama series ‘The Space Race’ was a long-held ambition and one that wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment of our fellow producers Richard Hollingham and Sue Nelson at Boffin Media. It was a truly Herculean team effort co-ordinated by our very own Mission Control, series line producer, Helen Quigley. Winning this accolade from the New York Radio Festival is a tribute to the incredible creativity and dedication of the B7/Boffin team and of course the generosity of everyone who gave up their valuable time to contribute to the series.”

Spiteful Puppet producer and director Barnaby Eaton-Jones told SFB, “Passport To Oblivion was a passion project and, as with these type of productions, when the rest of the cast and crew share that passion it’s really humbling to be presented with an award for it. To cheekily draw George Lazenby back into the world of espionage, but with a character who wasn’t like his version of 007, was the hook to hang this all on. Thanks to the Festival for the award and to Gary and Andrew at Spiteful Puppet for their continuing belief in the nonsense I present them with.”