The 2019 MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards were held at the Carlton hotel last night, in partnership with A+E Neworks and Diversify TV.
After thanking selecting partners and jury (details below), presenter Bazeli Mbo welcomed A+E Neworks’ Patrick Vien, who told guests: “you’re all standing up for our global commitment to diversity; I can’t think of anything more important than that.” And then, it was on to the winners!
The winner of the award for Representation of LGBTQ+ – Scripted was Vida, a STARZ Originals series about two Mexican-American sisters rebuilding their mother’s business. dream hampton and Brie Miranda Bryant (Executive Producers of Surviving R Kelly) gave the award to STARZ International’s Superna Kalle.
The winner of the award for Representation of LGBTQ+ – Non-Scripted was Transkids, about teenagers undergoing gender transformation in a country where Orthodox Jewish religion is the law. dream hampton and Brie Miranda Bryant gave the award to MetFilm Sales’ Vesna Cudic.
The winner for Representation of Disability – Scripted was Jerk, about an American art school dropout who knows having cerebral palsy means he can get away with almost anything. Stevie Salas announced the prize; the winners couldn’t make it this evening, but below is star Tim Renkow’s acceptance speech. Jerk is produced for the BBC by Ash Atalla’s Roughcut TV, in co-production with Primal Media.
“I’d like to thank god for giving me this debilitating disability that makes me eligible for this award!” – Tim Renkow, star of BBC/@Roughcut_TV‘s Jerk, won the “Representation of Disability – Scripted” prize at #MIPCOM‘s @diversifytv Awards. Here’s his acceptance speech. Bravo! pic.twitter.com/Zbomovg4D0
— MIP Markets – Live from MIPCOM 2019! (@mip) October 16, 2019
Taking the prize for Representation of Disability – Non-Scripted was If There’s Room for Two, a travelogue show where mentally handicapped presenters Pablo Pineda and “El Langui” discover the best restaurants in Spain. Actress Genevieve Barr gave the award to Onza Entertainment’s Jessica Ortiz & TVE’s Milagros Mayi García.
The winner for Representation of Race & Ethnicity – Scripted was Isoken, about a Nigerian woman who decides to marry a white Englishman. Miguel Angel Silvestre gave the award to TRACE’s Betty Sulty Johnson.
The winner for Representation of Race & Ethnicity – Non-Scripted was Breaking the Taboo – Racism and Resistance, about social and racial inequality in Brazil. Actress Maimie McCoy gave the award to GNT’s Mariana Koehler.
The winner for Kids Programming was The Bravest Knight, a Hulu Originals animated series about two princely dads telling their adventures to their adoptive daughter. Reed MIDEM’s Laurine Garaude gave the award to show creator, Big Bad Boo Studios’ Shabnam Rezaei, noting that it was also a finalist in the 2017 MIPJunior Pitch.
Bravo to all our winners, jury members and partners: you’re all amazing!
Thus year’s jury members were Little Black Book Company’s Bunmi Akintonwa; Amazon Prime Video’s Sahar Baghery; Wheelhouse Group’s Sean Cohan; Scorpion Television’s David Cornwall; Sonar Entertainment’s David Ellender; Sixth Sense Media’s Sallyann Keizer; The Walt Disney Company’s David Levine; all3media International’s Nick Smith; Popcorn Digital’s Bruna Capozzoli; Nonpanic Banijay’s Francesco Tocci; AMC’s Patrick Connolly; CDN’s Deborah Williams; Big Bad Boo Studios’ Shabnam Rezaei; Mounia Aram Company’s Mounia Aram; and YouTube Kids’ Cédric Petitpas.
Special thanks to selecting partners Gadim Media & Disability, glaad, ILGA Europe, Minority Rights Group International, Race Equality Foundation, Scope, Show Racism the Red Card and Sporting Equals.
See photos of all winners in our Twitter thread: and more about the Diversify TV Excellence Awards, including all the finalist trailers, here. See you next time!
