Hamptons Doc Fest Honored With 'Serving New York' Award

Hamptons Doc Fest and its founder/executive director Jacqui Lofaro were honored on September 13 with a “Serving New York” award from the New York State Broadcasters Association for her commitment to serving the community. The awards ceremony took place at a luncheon at the Blackstone Steakhouse in Melville.

NYSBA is a nonprofit organization that represents the legal and legislative interests of over 400 television and radio stations.

“Our goal in local broadcasting is to serve our local communities. It’s absolutely essential for us to work together and to understand how important these local responsibilities are,” said NYSBA President David Donovan, in his opening remarks.

Nominating Hamptons Doc Fest for the award were NYSBA members Greg and Ernie Schimizzi, owners of WVVH-TV, Hamptons TV, who had launched their station in 1994 and were inducted into the NYSBA Hall of Fame in 2023.

“Greg and I are proud of our longstanding association with Hamptons Doc Fest since our start as your founding media sponsor,” said Ernie Schimizzi, “and we appreciate all the good work you do for the community. It is our pleasure to join with you as you receive this well-deserved recognition and the presentation of the famous NYSBA Crystal Bowl from New York State’s premier broadcast organization.”

“I am honored to accept this award on behalf of the dedicated Hamptons Doc Fest team, which has worked for the past 17 years to bring our documentary film community the very best,” said Lofaro. “And we invite all the media here today to head out to Sag Harbor, December 5 to 11, to join us at the Sag Harbor Cinema and the Bay Street Theater for an outstanding seven days of nonfiction films, awards and receptions in an historic, intimate setting where you can meet and mingle with top filmmakers.”

Some of the other Long Island media who received the NYSBA Crystal Bowl on September 13 for their work serving the community were Hofstra TV, WBLI, WBAB, WLNG, WALK, and WKJY.