Zambezi and FIN Studios Celebrate Sports Emmy Nominations with ESPN and NFL

Zambezi and its production division, FIN Studios, are celebrating two coveted Sports Emmy nominations for ESPN’s “Inner Baller”, nominated for Outstanding Promotional Announcement, and NFL Flag’s “Let’s Play”, nominated for Outstanding Public Service Content.

Directed by Aimee Hoffman, "Inner Baller" features rising hoop stars Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, and Kiki Rice as they tap into their "Inner Ballers," the young girls who fell in love with the game and still exist within each of them as a source of strength and inspiration. The campaign was designed to promote the ESPN original series, Full Court Press, sponsored by State Farm, and shot to feel like an extension of each episode. Following the premiere, it continued to run on ESPN, ABC, the ESPN app, ESPN+, and Hulu.

The promotional campaign was created by ESPN CreativeWorks and Disney CreativeWorks Solutions with production, VFX, and finishing handled by FIN Studios, and editorial by Betty Jo Moore & Sophie Solomon at Final Cut.

Earlier this year, "Inner Baller" was recognized with three Silver Clio Sports awards and a Gold Clio Entertainment award.

For the NFL, “Let’s Play” was created in partnership with Zambezi to champion the growing opportunities in flag football, especially for high school girls. Featuring NFL stars Justin Herbert and CeeDee Lamb, viral content creator @ishowspeed, and current Flag Football athletes—including Flag World Championship participants Ava Wallace and Brooklyn Hill—the campaign stirred up cultural momentum just ahead of the NFL Flag Championships in 2024, and expands the sports reach by showcasing the excitement, inclusivity, and opportunities flag football opens up for young players, particularly off the field. Produced by FIN, the spot was directed by Jess Colquhoun, the work highlights the sport’s skill and athleticism through dynamic camera work and energetic transitions. 

The impact was tangible: the NFL now supports over 1,800 leagues nationwide with more than 700,000 players, especially expanding access for high school girls. As a result, the NFL was named a Fast Company 2024 Brands That Matter honoree. Following the campaign’s launch, it generated 57.24 million media impressions and an impressive 99.9% positive sentiment, garnering buzz across sports and streaming communities alike. 

Take a closer look at the work for ESPN and NFL below: