The following is a statement from Rudaw Media Network regarding the achievement:
Rudaw Media Network has recorded two major achievements at the 2026 Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards, with two episodes of the Unfinished Stories program, presented by prominent Rudaw journalist Hevidar Ahmed, receiving honors.
Unfinished stories: Future of Hezbollah won a Dolphin Trophy in the Current Affairs category. Meanwhile, Unfinished Stories: End of Mesopotamia received a Finalist Certificate in the Environment, Ecology and Sustainability category.
The red-carpet ceremony for the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards will be held on September 24, 2026, in Cannes, France, where Rudaw will officially receive its award.
The Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards were established in 2010, with an annual awards ceremony held in Cannes, France. The festival evaluates productions by television broadcasters, production companies and media agencies. Only a select number of shortlisted productions become winners of the Dolphin Awards.
To date, some of the world’s most prominent media organizations have been honored at the festival, including Bloomberg Media, Voice of America, Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle and Warner Bros. Discovery.
Rebaz Ali, Director of Production at Rudaw Media Network, said: "This award is the result of the tireless work of our talented staff in the production department and a testament to Hevidar Ahmed’s excellence as a distinguished investigative journalist. It also reflects our success in telling the important stories of our region to the world. We are proud to represent Kurdish media on the international stage and will continue producing impactful content of the highest standards."
Unfinished Stories is one of Rudaw Media Network’s field programs, conducting in-depth investigations into issues whose impacts continue to be felt, while also connecting domestic and regional issues with international political and environmental developments.
This is the third international award that Unfinished Stories has received in less than a year. The program previously won both a Telly Award and a Gold Stevie Award at the International Stevie Awards.
This achievement once again reaffirms Rudaw’s influential position as a leading media organization on the global stage.
Rudaw Media Network will continue telling the stories of the region according to the highest professional standards and introducing Kurdistan’s journalists to the world.
Rudaw Media Network
August 8, 2026
