Telly Awards Adds 56 Microseries Categories for 48th Season

The Telly Awards has added 56 new microseries categories to its 48th annual competition, opening submissions for the fast-growing vertical-video format alongside its first partnership with streaming platform ReelShort.

The new track covers both genre fields and craft specialisms, from vertical cinematography and vertical clipping to voice acting and narration. The expansion arrives after last year's record haul: 14,000 entries from 55 countries at the 47th annual edition. Variety took six honors there, including a gold award for "Variety's Behind the Show with Emily Longeretta" in the Social Video: Media & Entertainment category.

"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."

What do the new craft categories cover?

The craft list reads like a full production-credit roll. It includes:

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

Vertical cinematography and vertical clipping (the trimming of horizontal footage into portrait-format clips) get their own categories. That is a telling signal. The Tellys now treat the phone screen as a primary canvas, not a byproduct.

Which genres made the cut?

The general categories run from the expected to the very online. Drama, comedy, documentary and animation sit alongside:

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

The list continues with narrative, non-scripted, procedural, public interest and awareness, reality, romance, romantasy, sci-fi and fantasy, social impact, sports, telenovela, workplace culture and young adult. Yes, romantasy — a romance-fantasy hybrid genre — now has an award slot. The Tellys are not hedging on where audiences have gone.

Who judges, and who partnered?

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

ReelShort, the vertical streaming platform, joins as a partner alongside the Nonfiction Hotlist. Its global head of content, Sophie Xiong, framed the stakes plainly.

"Vertical video isn't the future of storytelling. It's the present," Xiong said 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."

When are the deadlines?

Entries are open now at tellyawards.com/enter. The early entry deadline is Dec. 11; the final deadline will be announced later.

The Tellys already honor series, commercials, branded content, film and shorts, social video, generative AI and immersive/interactive work. With 56 microseries categories and a vertical-native platform as partner, the awards have effectively declared the format an industry rather than a trend. Expect other prize bodies to follow, or to look conspicuously behind.