Cinema/Chicago and the Chicago International Film Festival announced the winners of the 44th Hugo Television Awards at the Hugo Awards ceremony, emceed by Bob Sirott, Anchor of NBC5 News, at the Chicago Cultural Center to a sold-out crowd of advertising and television executives.

The Hugo Television Awards honored commercial production company SMUGGLER with the Commitment to Excellence Award. Renowned for its conceptual innovation, SMUGGLER has received much international acclaim, including the coveted Cannes Lion Grand Prix, the Palme d’Or and an Emmy®, among other accolades. The Commitment to Excellence Award in television production was also presented to Chicago’s own Kartemquin Films. For over 40 years Kartemquin has produced celebrated documentary programs for national networks including PBS, NBC, Cinemax, IFC, The Sundance Channel and The Learning Channel.

Finalists for the TV commercial honors were aired on WTTW11’s Image Union. Decided in an online public vote by audiences, the Audience Choice Award went to “Swear Jar” by DDB Chicago and the Whitehouse. DRAFTFCB received the Gold Hugo for Best Commercial for the Dow Chemical Company's “The Bond between Us All”, and the Gold Hugo for Best Commercial Campaign was awarded to Alturas Films’ The Montana Meth Project 2007 “I’d Never” Campaign.

HBO’s critically acclaimed dramatic series “Big Love” took home the Gold Hugo for Best Television Production. The series, featuring a remarkable performance by Bill Paxton, follows the daily life of a polygamist family. The Gold Hugo for Best Documentary was given to Dox Production’s “In the Shadow of the Moon”, a poignant film about the perilous voyages to the moon in the late 1960s and early 1970s and the courageous astronauts who undertook them.

Of this year’s competition Michael Kutza, Founder and Artistic Director of Cinema/Chicago, remarked, “For over 40 years I have watched the continued growth of our HUGO TV AWARDS, and I am particularly impressed by this year’s entrants and winners. This event itself sets the standard for all others to follow in Chicago. Congratulations to all involved.”

Jesse Berkowitz, the Hugo Television Awards coordinator commented, “I am thrilled with the outcome of this year's Hugo Television Awards. As The HUGOS continues to grow, I look forward to seeing more of the sort of extraordinary work that was entered in this year's Competition.

The Hugos, now its 44th year, celebrate the best in international television productions and commercials and pay tribute to the individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the medium.

For more highlights and award winners from the Hugos Awards Night, visit www.chicagofilmfestival.com.