Two UC Berkeley Journalism Students Nominated for Television Academy Foundation Award

Two University of California, Berkeley, students have been nominated for the Television Academy Foundation’s 45th College Television Awards. Zane Karram (director/producer/writer) and Kelsey Oliver (director/producer/writer) received a nomination in the Nonfiction Series category for a project they created titled Strangers on Our Land.

The annual awards show recognizes and rewards excellence in student-produced programs nationwide. Winners in the competition will be announced by television stars at the red-carpet awards ceremony on March 28, 2026, at the Television Academy in North Hollywood, California.

Strangers on Our Land is a nonfiction project focused on a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, a federally-recognized tribe that occupies tribal lands in Southwestern Arizona, Raymond Mattia, who was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents outside his home on May 18, 2023.

“I chose to tell this story because Raymond Mattia’s death revealed far more than a single act of violence, it exposed the daily reality of surveillance, militarization and eroded sovereignty that the Tohono O’odham community endures,” said Karram. “Once I met his family and saw the depth of their grief, resilience, and love for him, it became clear that this film needed to center their voices, not the headlines. As a filmmaker, I feel a responsibility to document stories that are overlooked or misunderstood. This film was my way of honoring Raymond’s life and helping broaden awareness of the challenges Indigenous communities continue to face today.”

“It is an honor to know that members of the Television Academy saw value in this story and believed it deserved recognition,” said Oliver. “It motivates me to continue telling stories that amplify communities whose experiences are too often overlooked.”

Open to undergraduate and graduate students, the annual College Television Awards are regarded as one of the most distinguished and high-profile steppingstones for careers in television and media. Emulating the Emmy Awards selection process, College Television Award entries are judged by Television Academy members. Criteria for the awards reflect industry standards of excellence, imagination and innovation. Nominees were selected from over 185 entries from colleges nationwide by Television Academy members.

Attending nominees of the 45th College Television Awards will participate in two days of professional development events with media and industry leaders and a special screening of their projects for Television Academy members prior to the awards show on March 28.

Tickets to the ceremony are $25 for students with ID and $50 for general admission. To purchase tickets, visit TelevisionAcademy.com/cta/tickets.