“Questioning the Constitution,” a 2008 documentary produced by the University of Virginia Center for Politics and the Community Ideas Stations, has received the Award of Excellence, given annually by the International Academy of Visual Arts (IAVA). The Award of Excellence is the IAVA’s highest distinction. The organization receives more than 9,000 nominations each year for its communicator awards from companies and agencies of all sizes – giving these prizes one of the largest nomination pools in the world.
The documentary “Questioning the Constitution” takes an in-depth look at constitutional reform. The film explores the development of the American Constitution, how it has been interpreted through the years, and goes on to question whether the document should be reformed. Featured commentators in “Questioning the Constitution” include UVA Center for Politics director Larry J. Sabato, former Senate Majority Leader Robert J. Dole, NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, RNC Chairman Michael Steele, ACLU President Nadine Strossen, and constitutional scholar A.E. Dick Howard. The film was made by Mason Mills, the award-winning producer/director of “Wilder: An American First,” which he also created in partnership with the Center for Politics.
The IAVA is an invitation-only body consisting of top-tier professionals from a who’s who of acclaimed media, communications, advertising, creative, and marketing firms. Its members include executives from organizations such as Alloy, Brandweek, Coach, Disney, “The Ellen Degeneres Show,” Estee Lauder, Fry Hammond Barr, HBO, Monster.com, MTV, Polo Ralph Lauren, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Victoria’s Secret, Wired, and Yahoo!. This is the 15th year that the organization has given out its Award of Excellence.
“We are truly delighted to have received this prestigious international award,” said Sabato. “We hope this distinction from the IAVA will encourage more Americans to think about important constitutional questions and possible reforms.” In his widely acclaimed book, A More Perfect Constitution, Sabato delves further into constitutional reform by proposing a comprehensive series of modifications to the nation’s founding document.
- For more information on “Questioning the Constitution” please visit http://www.ideastations.org/constitution/.
- For more information on the IAVA’s communicator awards and the Award for Excellence please visit http://www.communicatorawards.com/awards/.