Disinformation Explainer Video by Wienot Films and The Cipher Brief Wins Two Telly Awards

wienotfilms
Jun 3
3 min read

Updated: Jun 10

AUSTIN, Texas, June 3, 2025 – Wienot Films and The Cipher Brief are proud to share that our recent collaboration has been recognized with two Telly Awards in this year’s competition. The educational video, "The Disinformation Threat to Democracies," was honored in both the Explainer and Social Issues categories, winning two Silver Awards.

Now in its 45th year, the Telly Awards celebrate excellence in video and television across all screens. With thousands of entries from top-tier production companies, media platforms and creative agencies around the world, the Tellys remain one of the industry’s most respected benchmarks for video storytelling.

The nonpartisan video sheds light on a timely and critical issue: how authoritarian regimes use disinformation as a stealthy weapon to sabotage and destabilize democracies. In just a few minutes, the animation breaks down the sophisticated tactics used to sow division, discourage compromise and erode trust in institutions—all without firing a single shot. It’s guerrilla warfare for the digital age, and it’s happening all around us. In addition to explaining the dangers, the video outlines ways individuals and governments can counter the threat.

Suzanne Kelly, founder and CEO of The Cipher Brief, emphasized the importance of the message:

“Informing people about how disinformation campaigns work is one of the most important challenges of our time and is critical to future U.S. national security. We’re proud that this video helps explain the dangers and the tactics in a clear, compelling way, and we’re even more proud that this collaboration with Wienot Films is being recognized with two Telly Awards.”

Wienot Films founder and creative director Marc Strong added:

“This recognition is a testament to the passionate group of creatives at Wienot and to our amazing client, The Cipher Brief. I’m so grateful to work alongside such talented people and to collaborate with clients who are committed to tackling some of the most important foreign policy and national security issues of our time. This video felt less like a job and more like a calling.”

The collaboration with The Cipher Brief is the second in a video series exploring disinformation from a national security perspective. Its precursor, "The Disinformation Threat to America," was honored with two Telly Awards in 2024.

Bringing important content like this to life is at the heart of Wienot Films’ mission. The team is passionate about using animation and storytelling to inform, empower, and inspire—helping to make the world a better place, one explainer video at a time.

Watch the full video:

Missed the first video? Watch it here:

Disinformation explainer video by Wienot Films wins two Telly Awards — Educational Explainer Wins Two Tellys Awards

About The Cipher Brief

The Cipher Brief is an independent, non-partisan media organization focused on covering national security issues at an expert-level. Visit thecipherbrief.com to learn why they're becoming the most trusted source of national security news and analysis.

About Wienot Films

Wienot Films is a top-rated animation and explainer video production company that helps organizations simplify complex ideas through clear, compelling visual storytelling. Specializing in high-quality animated explainer videos, Wienot transforms information into engaging content that’s easy to understand and hard to forget. Based in Austin, Texas, with offices in New York and Australia, Wienot serves clients around the globe. From corporate explainers to nonprofit and educational campaigns, Wienot delivers award-winning animation production services that drive understanding and inspire action. Visit wienotfilms.com to learn more.