Tokyo – Japanese broadcaster NHK has announced the winners of the 2012 Japan Prize, a contest that not only recognizes the highest quality educational TV programs and websites, but also serves as a forum that offers producers, broadcasters and educators from around the world a platform to discuss and exchange ideas on the further development of educational broadcasting.

Winning the Grand Prix award this year is Wrinkles, a Spanish animated film based on Paco Roca’s award-winning graphic novel of the same title, which tells the story of the friendship between two old men in a retirement home. The film also won in the Welfare Education Category, receiving The President of NHK Prize.

Other winners include Tord’s Garage (Pre-School Category), by the Norwegian Broadcasting Company (NRK); My Farm-My Classrom (Primary Category), from Indian TV network Doordarshan India; Deaf Jam (Youth Category), from the Independent Television Service (ITVS) and City Lore in the United States; NHK’s The Cosmic Shore (Continuing Education Category); and Submarine’s The Alzheimer Experience (Innovative Media Category).

Receiving Special Awards include Aria TV’s Angak, Bangak and Clola Sangak (ABC), for The Maeda Prize; Hibrida’s Another Night On Earth (The Japan Foundation President’s Prize); and Zhengjiang Satellite TV’s Blossom with Tears (The UNICEF Prize).