MIPCOM CANNES announced the 2023 winners for the 7th MIPCOM CANNES Diversify TV Awards, the industry’s only awards to champion and promote diversity and inclusion in television internationally.
Following submissions from 27 countries, 8 winners were announced from a longlist of 24 nominees live in Cannes during the awards ceremony, which took place in the Palais des Festivals and was hosted by international journalist and anchor Femi Oke.
The 2023 Diversify TV Awards winners are:
Representation of Disability – Non-Scripted
Inside our Autistic Minds (UK)
Original Broadcaster: BBC Two
Distributor: BBC Studios
Production Company: BBC Studios
Representation of Disability – Scripted
About Antoine (Canada)
Original Broadcaster: Club illico, TVA
Distributor: Amuz Distribution
Production Company: ComediHa!
Representation of LGBTQIA+ – Scripted
Nights in Tefía (Spain)
Original Broadcaster: ATRESplayer
Distributor: Buendia Estudios Canarias
Production Companies: Buendia Estudios Canarias with the participation of Atresmedia TV
Representation of LGBTQIA+ – Non-Scripted
Lotus Sports Club (Cambodia)
Original Broadcaster: TVK National Television of Cambodia
Distributor: Dutch CORE
Production Company: Document Our History NOW and RoCK
Representation of Race and Ethnicity – Scripted
Little Bird (Canada)
Original Broadcaster: Bell Media and APTN
Distributor: Fremantle
Production Companies: Rezolution Pictures, OP Little Bird
Representation of Race and Ethnicity – Non-Scripted
The Swap (Australia)
Original Broadcaster: SBS Australia
Distributor: No Distributor
Production Company: Southern Pictures
Representation of Diversity in Kids Programming – Pre-School
Reu and Harper’s Wonder World (UK)
Original Broadcaster: Channel 5
Distributor: Channel 5 and Doc Hearts Ltd
Production Company: Doc Hearts Ltd
Representation of Diversity in Kids Programming – Older Children
Phoenix Rise (UK)
Original Broadcaster: BBC iPlayer
Distributor: Sinking Ship
Production Company: BBC Studios Kids & Family
The Behind The Scenes Impact
Deborah Williams OBE (UK) CEO, Creative Diversity Network (CDN)
This special recognition award was presented for Williams’ three decade career driving change in perceptions of disability and increased inclusion across television, film and theatrical industries as an artist, activist and latterly an influential policy maker and executive.
The Diversify TV Awards are organised by MIPCOM CANNES in collaboration with founding partner Diversify TV, and in association with Founding Presenting Partner A+E Media Group and Data Presenting Partner Gracenote
. 2023 Awards Partners also include All3Media International, Iron Mountain, Telefilm Canada and The Canada Media Fund, OUTtv, The United Nations Media Compact, D.I.M.E.S., and Lightboat Media among other supporting partner companies and organisations.
Finalists were short-listed by the MIP Markets Diversity Advisory Board and Short List Jury, composed of a peer group of international industry professionals, with winners chosen by a Final Round Jury of leading advocacy organisations and specialised publications within Diversity and Inclusion including GADIM, GLAAD, SCOPE and the Minority Rights Group.
Amongst those presenting awards at the ceremony were award-winning Muslim playwright and performer Bilal Baig, and celebrated Paralympian and documentary maker Ellie Simmonds OBE.
To be eligible, programmes submitted were required to provide a fair and balanced representation of Race & Ethnicity, LGBTQIA+ and Disabled communities; show a positive impact; stand out in originality and excellence in terms of storytelling, casting and production values; challenge stereotypes and to have aired the past year. A total of 165 submissions were received for the 2023 edition.