Shortlist Unveiled for Mipcom Diversify TV Excellence Awards

Reed MIDEM announces the shortlist of programmes in the running for the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards 2019.
 
Dedicated to championing and promoting diverse and inclusive content that can make an impact on wide audiences, the third edition of the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards will be held on Monday 14 October 2019, at the Carlton Hotel, Cannes, France. The awards are part of the world’s entertainment content market, MIPCOM, which takes place in Cannes from 14-17 October.
 
The 21 nominated programmes, all of which have been broadcast in the past 12 months, have been recognized by the Pre-Selection Jury for providing a fair and accurate representation of BAME, LGBTQ+ and disabled communities. They are also seen as standing out for originality and excellence in terms of storytelling, casting and production values, challenging stereotypes, and showing a positive impact.
 
The winning programmes will be chosen by charitable organisations that campaign for equality and inclusion, including GADIM, GLAAD, ILGA-Europe, Minority Rights, Race Equality Foundation, SCOPE, Show Racism the Red Card, and Sporting Equals, and will be announced at the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards ceremony, an invitation-only event for some 200 leading TV executives, held in partnership with A+E Networks and Diversify TV.
 
The Pre-Selection Jury includes members of the MIP Markets Diversity Advisory Board, along with a panel of TV experts. They include: Bunmi Akintonwa, CEO, Little Black Book Company Int.; Mounia Aram, CEO, Mounia Aram Company; Sahar Baghery, Head of Business Development, Amazon Prime Video; Bruna Capozzoli, Creative Director, Popcorn Digital; Sean Cohan, President, Wheelhouse Entertainment & Chief Business Officer, Wheelhouse Group; Patrick Connolly, SVP, Programming and Marketing, AMC Networks International; David Cornwall, Managing Director, Scorpion Television; David Ellender, President, Global Distribution & Co-productions, Sonar Entertainment; Nick Smith, EVP Formats, All3Media International; Sallyann Keizer, Managing Director, Sixth Sense Media; David Levine, GM, Disney Channels UK; Cédric Petitpas, YouTube Family Partnerships, YouTube KIDS; Shabnam Rezaei, Co-Founder, Big Bad Boo; Francesco Tocci, Head of Documentary and Format Department, Nonpanic (Banijay); and Deborah Williams, CEO, The Creative Diversity Network (CDN)
 
The shortlist features an eclectic selection highlighting a variety of voices and talent from around the world, from major linear and non-linear broadcasters representing 11 countries across all continents. Themes tackled include love, friendship, family, heritage, and humour, as well as challenges and issues of inequality.
  
The shortlisted programmes are:
 
MIPCOM Diversify TV’s Excellence Award for Representation of LGBTQ+ – Scripted
 
The Bold Type
Production: Universal Television
Distribution: NBCUniversal International Distribution
Original Broadcaster: Freeform
Country: USA
 
Vida
Production: Big Beach and Chingona Productions in association with STARZ Originals
Distribution: Lionsgate Television
Original Broadcaster: STARZ
Country: USA
 
Younger
Production: Darren Star Productions, Jax Media and TV Land
Distribution: Endemol Shine International
Original Broadcaster: TV Land
Country: USA
 
MIPCOM Diversify TV’s Excellence Award for Representation of LGBTQ+ – Non-Scripted

The Spark, The Origins of Pride
Production: CAPA
Distribution: Newen Distribution
Original Broadcasters: Histoire TV/RMC Story
Country: France
 
Transkids
Production: Medalia Productions
Distribution: MetFilm Sales – International Sales Agent
Original Broadcaster: YesDocu (DBS)
Country: Israel
 
You Can’t Ask That
Production: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Distribution: ABC Commercial
Original Broadcaster: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Country: Australia
 
MIPCOM Diversify TV’s Excellence Award for Representation of Disability – Scripted
 
Jerk
Production: Roughcut TV
Distribution: BBC
Original Broadcaster: BBC 3
Country: UK
 
Perfect World
Production: KANSAI TV
Distribution: KANSAI TV
Original Broadcaster: KANSAI TV
Country: Japan
 
This Close
Production: Super Deluxe, Killer Films
Distribution: AMC Studios International
Original Broadcaster: Sundance TV
Country: USA
 
MIPCOM Diversify TV’s Excellence Award for Representation of Disability – Non-Scripted
 
If There’s Room for Two
Production: TVE, Onza Entertainment, Fisherman Media
Distribution: TVE
Original Broadcaster: TVE
Country: Spain
 
No Drama – Bernarda Alba
Production: Canal Encuentro
Distribution: Canal Encuentro
Original Broadcaster: Canal Encuentro
Country: Argentina
 
No Vacancy: Vancouver’s Housing Crisis
Production: Accessible Media
Distribution: Accessible Media
Original Broadcaster: Accessible Media
Country: Canada
 
MIPCOM Diversify TV’s Excellence Award for Representation of Race and Ethnicity – Scripted
 
Ackley Bridge
Production: The Forge
Distribution: all3media international
Original Broadcaster: Channel 4
Country: UK
 
Isoken
Production: TRIBE85 PRODUCTION
Distribution: Trace Content Distribution
Original Broadcaster: Africa Magic
Country: Nigeria
 
Kiss Me First
Production: Kindle Entertainment and Balloon Entertainment
Distribution: Lionsgate
Original Broadcasters: Channel 4, Netflix
Country: UK

MIPCOM Diversify TV’s Excellence Award for Representation of Race and Ethnicity – Non-Scripted
 
African Diaspora Diaries
Production: BBC Africa TV/Digital
Distribution: BBC
Original Broadcaster: BBC World News / BBC News Channel / BBC IPlayer
Country: UK
 
Breaking the Taboo – Racism and Resistance
Production: Globosat Programadora / Spray Filmes
Distribution: Globosat Programadora
Original Broadcaster: Globosat Programadora
Country: Brazil
 
The Curry House Kid
Production: Swan Films
Distribution: all3media international
Original Broadcaster: Channel 4
Country: UK
 
MIPCOM Diversify TV’s Excellence Award for Kids’ Programming

Rainbow Stories
Production: Hopster Studios, Cloth Cat Animation
Distribution: Hopster
Original Broadcaster: Hopster
Country: UK
 
The Bravest Knight
Production: Big Bad Boo Studios
Distribution: Big Bad Boo Studios
Original Broadcaster: Hulu
Country: USA
 
What It’s Like
Production: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Distribution: ABC Commercial
Original Broadcaster: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Country: Australia
 
The MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards are part of the Diversity & Inclusion Programme featuring events and conferences at MIPCOM and the preceding kids’ content market, MIPJunior.
 
At MIPCOM, these include:
 
MIPCOM Media Mastermind Keynote & Variety Vanguard Award: RuPaul Charles, host and Executive Producer of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” – Monday 14 October. Since 2009, RuPaul Charles has executive produced and hosted the reality competition series “RuPaul’s Drag Race”, for which he received six Primetime Emmy Awards in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. At MIPCOM, he will accept the Variety Vanguard Award, which recognises television industry leaders who have made a significant contribution to the global business of entertainment. “’RuPaul’s Drag Race’ is a show about queer people, by queer people, for queer people. Our message of love, inclusion and acceptance has connected with sweet, sensitive, creative souls around the world,” said RuPaul.
 
Measuring the Impact of Diversity on Audience Potential – Wednesday 16 October
As recent hit films and TV series have shown, diverse and inclusive content has a tremendous impact not only on audience satisfaction, but on financial success. Experts from research agencies and content makers 3Vision, Parrot Analytics, A+E Networks and AMC Networks International will discuss how measuring this type of data – from development to distribution – can help producers and broadcasters leverage this information to test their shows, predict audience reach, and discover how it translates into sales. 
 
At MIPJunior:
 
Visibility of LGBTQI+ Representation in Kids’ Content – Sunday 13 October 
On the heels of last year’s successful conversation on diversity and inclusion, this year’s group discussion will feature an in-depth focus on the representation of the LGBTQI+ community in kids’ content. As 2019 marks the 50^th anniversary of the historic Stonewall riots in NYC, how can we, as an industry, move forward and make demonstrable change? In this interactive session, broadcasters and producers will share best practices and lead the way forward.
 
Celebrating the Power and Beauty of Diversity – Sunday 13 October
In partnership with Telefilm Canada and Canada Media Fund 
Four Canadian producers (Big Bad Boo Studios, Tobo, IM4, JerryCo Animation) will share bold approaches in storytelling that bridge differences and transcend barriers.
 
The Rising Power of Female Superheroes – Saturday 12 October
Presented by Cartoon Networks
DC Super Hero Girls series creator Lauren Faust will discuss developing a new generation of female superheroes, breaking gender stereotypes and the representation of girls in kids’ entertainment.

 
About Reed MIDEM – Founded in 1963, Reed MIDEM is an organiser of professional, international markets that are essential business platforms for key players in the sectors concerned. These sectors are MIPTV, MIPDOC, MIPCOM, MIPJUNIOR in Cannes, MIP China in Hangzhou and MIP Cancun in Mexico for the television and digital content industries; MIDEM in Cannes for music professionals; Esports BAR in Cannes and in Miami for the esports business; MIPIM in Cannes, MIPIM UK in London, MIPIM Asia Summit in Hong Kong and MIPIM PropTech Summit in New York for the real estate industry; MAPIC in Cannes, MAPIC Russia in Moscow, MAPIC Italy in Milan, MAPIC China Summit in Shanghai and IRF brought by MAPIC in Mumbai for the retail real estate sector.
 
About Reed Exhibitions – Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading event’s organiser, with over 500 events in over 30 countries. In 2018 Reed brought together over seven million event participants from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa and organised by 38 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. www.reedexpo.com