The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has won two international diversity awards at the annual Marché International des Programmes de Communication (MIPCOM) held in Cannes earlier this month.
One award was for the political drama, Total Control and the other for the short children’s film, And Then Something Changed.
The Indigenous-led Total Control, produced by Blackfella Films and starring Deborah Mailman (pictured) and Rachel Griffiths, won the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Award for Representation of Race and Ethnicity, defeating United States nominated series Twenties and Penny Dreadful: City of Angels.
And Then Something Changed, produced by Sticky Pictures as part of the DisRupted funding program to support Australian creatives with disability, won the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Award in the Kids’ Programming category, beating the United Kingdom’s Pablo and Canada’s Lockdown.
The ABC series were the only Australian winners in the Diversify Awards which recognise outstanding television programs that create more opportunities for diverse talent and demonstrate the positive impact of diversity across the global media landscape.
Head of Drama, Entertainment and Indigenous content at the ABC, Sally Riley said of Total Control that it was great to see diverse Australian writers, directors, actors and producers getting international recognition.
“Total Control really struck a chord with our audiences because they were seeing a powerful Indigenous woman on screen fighting for what she believes in,” Ms Riley said.
Head of Children’s at ABC, Libbie Doherty said And Then Something Changed was a “wonderful and clever film about the inaccessibility of the world.
“Breakout newcomer, Theo Watson-Bonnice delivered a standout performance around his character, Luis,” Ms Doherty said.
“Huge congratulations to all the team behind the scenes, including Eliza Hull and Sticky Pictures, Donna Andrews and Stu Connolly.
“We are thrilled this film has been recognised,” she said.
Both films are available now on the ABC’s iview service.
