‘Ackley Bridge,’ ‘You Can’t Ask That’ among Diversify TV Excellence Awards nominees

Ackley Bridge

ABC’s You Can’t Ask That, Channel 4’s Ackley Bridge and BBC Three’s Jerk are among the nominees for MIPCOM’s third annual Diversify TV Excellence Awards.

The programmes are among 21 nominated titles – all of which have been broadcast in the past 12 months – that are being recognised for fair and accurate representation of BAME, LGBTQ+ and disabled communities.

The pre-selection jury includes members of the MIP Markets Diversity Advisory Board, along with a panel of TV experts, including Bunmi Akintonwa, CEO of Little Black Book Company Int.; Sahar Baghery, head of business development at Amazon Prime Video; Sean Cohan, president of Wheelhouse Entertainment and chief business officer for Wheelhouse Group; David Cornwall, MD of Scorpion Television; and Nick Smith, EVP of formats for All3Media International, among several others.

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.

The awards will be held on 14 October at The Carlton Hotel in Cannes.

The shortlist is as follows:

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 Origins of Pride
Production: CAPA
Distribution: Newen Distribution
Original Broadcaster: RMC Story France
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