We are incredibly proud to share that our short film project, Thoughts Become Things, has won two awards at the 47th Annual Telly Awards. A Gold Telly for Original Score category and a People’s Telly Silver in the General Film and Shorts category. Two trophies. One six-minute Bermudian poetry film. And a music producer, Derek G. Simmons, whose music has now been recognised by one of the most respected awards in the film and television industry.
Established in 1979, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring video and television content across all screens. The 47th Annual Telly Awards received over 13,000 entries from around the world including work from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Winners are judged by the Telly Awards Judging Council, an industry body of over 250 leading experts from organisations including Adobe, Netflix, HBO, IMAX, BBC, and Meta Creative Shop. Past winners include CNN, NASA, The Walt Disney Company, National Geographic Society, HBO, Netflix, Sony Music Entertainment, and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. To have Thoughts Become Things standing alongside that company is something we do not take lightly.
The Gold Telly in the Craft: Original Score category is a judge decided award honoring powerful and emotive original musical compositions. This award belongs entirely to Derek G. Simmons. From the very beginning Derek’s music has been the emotional heartbeat of this film and this recognition confirms what we have always known. His work is world class.
The People’s Telly Silver in the General Film and Shorts category is decided entirely by public vote. This one belongs to everyone who voted for us, shared the link, and rallied behind this project. Coming second in a global public vote alongside entries from organisations and creators with significantly larger audiences is a genuine achievement and we are grateful for every single vote cast.
Thoughts Become Things has now received recognition at both the Webby Awards and the Telly Awards in the same season. Combined with 22 international film festival selections across 11 countries and 10 previous awards, these two Telly wins bring our total award count to 12 and add two of the most prestigious names in the industry to the film’s growing legacy.
This project started as a poem. It grew into a short film, a 12-track soundtrack, and a companion mini-documentary. And now it has a Gold Telly Award for the music that holds it all together.
The journey continues. And the ancestors are still guiding the way.
PRESS RELEASE
‘Thoughts Become Things’ Wins Two Telly Awards
Thoughts Become Things, the six-minute short poetry film produced by Bermudian creative company SJD World Ltd, has won two awards at the 47th Annual Telly Awards.
A spokesperson said, “The wins bring the project’s total award count to 13 and mark another significant milestone in what has become one of the most decorated independent film projects ever produced in Bermuda by Bermudians.
“The film received a Gold Telly Award in the Craft: Original Score category, recognising the outstanding musical score composed by Bermudian music producer Derek G. Simmons specifically for the film. It also received a Silver People’s Telly in the General Film and Shorts category, an award decided entirely by public vote.
“Established in 1979, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring video and television content across all screens, receiving over 13,000 entries globally each year. Winners are judged by an industry council of over 250 leading experts from organisations including Adobe, Netflix, HBO, IMAX, BBC, and Meta Creative Shop. Past winners include CNN, NASA, The Walt Disney Company, National Geographic Society, HBO, Netflix, Sony Music Entertainment, and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.
“For Bermudian music producer Derek G. Simmons, the Gold Telly for Original Score recognises the music he composed specifically for the short film itself. That original score has since inspired a broader creative expansion, a separate 12-track soundtrack that grew out of the project and is now available on all major streaming platforms.”
He said, “Scoring Thoughts Become Things was one of the most meaningful projects of my career. The music had to honour a tradition that has been part of Bermuda for generations while also serving the emotional journey of the film. To have that work recognised with a Gold Telly Award makes me proud to represent Bermuda on this stage.” – Derek
A spokesperson added, “The Telly wins come just weeks after Thoughts Become Things received two recognitions at the 30th Annual Webby Awards, widely regarded as the Oscars of the internet. Where the Webby Awards honour excellence in digital and internet content, the Telly Awards specifically recognise outstanding video and film content across television and all screens. Two different stages. Two different industry bodies. The same six-minute Bermudian film.
“At the Webby Awards the full Thoughts Become Things project, encompassing the short film, the companion mini-documentary Decoding Thoughts, and the original soundtrack, was nominated in the Creators: Art, Culture and Music category, placing it in the top 11% of more than 13,000 global entries. The short film itself also received a Webby Honoree distinction in the Independent Short Film category, recognising the technical craft and execution of the film, placing it in the top 25% of all entries. Thoughts Become Things is now believed to be the first Bermudian project to receive both Webby and Telly recognition in the same year.
“What makes these recognitions particularly meaningful is what the project represents. Every creative decision on Thoughts Become Things was made by a Bermudian. Written, Produced and narrated by Bermudian creative Stephan Johnstone. Directed and filmed by Bermudian cinematographer Marq Rodriguez. Scored by Bermudian music producer Derek G. Simmons. Developed in direct collaboration with six of Bermuda’s active Gombey troupes.
“The project’s social impact runs deeper than the accolades. Of the $32,458 spent on the project to date, nearly 80% has gone directly back into the Bermudian community, including $5,550 paid to Gombey troupes and cultural organisations, $16,505 to local Bermudian artists across film, music, photography, set design, and production, and $3,823 spent with local Bermudian businesses. Bermudian culture, paid for by Bermuda, seen by the world.
“The team is currently in development on a music video featuring a track from the Thoughts Become Things soundtrack. The video will serve as the fourth visual installment of the project, extending its themes through music and poetry. SJD World is still actively seeking sponsors to help fund the music video production and continued international outreach to represent Bermuda on the Global stage.”
“These two Telly Awards mean the world to our team,” said Stephan Johnstone, Founder and Creative Director of SJD World Ltd. “The Gold Telly for Derek is especially meaningful. He poured everything into that score and to see it recognised at this level by an industry body that has honoured NASA, Netflix and the Smithsonian is something we are deeply proud of. This project started as a poem. It is now a Gold Telly Award winning score, a Silver People’s Telly winning film, and a piece of Bermudian culture that has traveled to 22 festivals across 11 countries. We are not done yet.”
