INDUSTRY RECOGNITION ADDS TO GROWING AWARDS RECORD FOR MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA DOCUMENTARY
Los Angeles, CA — U S M S T, the groundbreaking documentary confronting the hidden epidemic of Military Sexual Trauma hosted by 9-time Emmy Award winner Deborah Duncan, has been awarded a prestigious Gold Telly Award in the General Documentary category at the 47th Annual Telly Awards.
Standing out among more than 15,000 global entries across six continents, a Gold Telly is awarded to less than three percent and represents the absolute highest tier of creative distinction within the industry. This year’s competition was evaluated by the Telly Awards Judging Council, an elite body of over 250 working industry leaders and executives from top-tier entertainment networks, streaming platforms, and digital studios worldwide—including visionaries from Netflix, BBC, and HBO.
“This Gold Telly validates what our team has believed from day one: that the urgent stories of MST survivors deserve to be elevated on the global stage,” said Executive Producer Brian Schoenborn. “Every elite industry accolade we receive isn’t just an honor for the film—it’s an open door for the survivors this project was built to empower.”
“As a filmmaker, the objective was to craft a cinematic space that honors both the intense vulnerability and the profound courage of these men and women,” added Producer and Director Pacifica J. Sauer. “To have our peers on the Judging Council recognize U S M S T with their highest honor proves that bold, compassionate documentary storytelling can pierce through systemic silence. This is a win for accountability and awareness.”
The Gold Telly win marks the film’s eighth major jury recognition and third competitive award win, joining a record that includes:
- Telly Awards 2026 — Gold Winner, General-Documentary
- Impact Docs Awards 2026 — Award of Excellence Special Mention, Top 10
- Hollywood Indie Festival 2026 — Winner, Best Film on Social Justice
- Social Justice Film Festival 2026 — Official Selection, Friday Night Headliner
- Believe Psychology Film Festival 2026 — Official Nominee, Best Documentary & Best Trauma
- Breaking Through the Lens 2026 — Honorable Mention
- ATL DOC 2026 — Scored 8.5/10 by Jury Panel
- Spotlight Documentary Awards 2025 — Scored 8.4/10 by Jury Panel
About U S M S T:
U S M S T is a 77-minute documentary on Military Sexual Trauma presented by 8B Media, Inc. The film is hosted by Deborah Duncan (9-time Emmy Award winner), directed and produced by Pacifica J. Sauer (6-time Emmy Award winner), and executive produced by Brian Schoenborn and Deborah Duncan. Additional producers include Deilia Ray Williams and Benjamin Hallock.
USMST.com
About the Telly Awards:
The Telly Awards is the premier award honoring video and television content across all screens. Established in 1979, the Tellys receive over 13,000 entries from all 50 states and 6 continents.
About 8B Media, Inc.:
8B Media, Inc. is an independent production company based in Los Angeles, California, working across film, television, and podcasts with a focus on social impact storytelling.
Media Contact:
Brian Schoenborn | bri@8bmedia.com | 818.858.9708
Pacifica J. Sauer | pac@8bmedia.com | 832.547.4929
Author: caLegion Contributor
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