The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the winners of the International Digital Emmy Awards at a ceremony attended by over 300 international executives from the television, broadband, and mobile industries. The Awards is organised in partnership with Reed MIDEM and sponsored by the Bell Fund of Canada.
Australia’s dirtgirlworld… dig it all bagged the award for Best Digital Program: Children & Young People, Canada’s Guidestones triumphed in the Best Digital Program: Fiction category while The Netherlands’ Entertainment Experience clinched the Best Digital Program: Non-Fiction award.
Dirtgirlworld… dig it all (a co-production in collaboration with mememe productions, dirtgirlworld productions and Screen Australia), which airs on ABC2, is a transmedia project that believes little things, and little kids, can make a big difference in the world. The project features apps kids can use in nature and cameras to capture what they discover.
Creator Cate McQuillen told Australia’s ABC News that she is extremely happy about the win considering how competitive the international market has been.
Guidestones (co-produced by Canada’s 3 o’clock. tv and iThentic) is the story of two journalism students who uncover a global conspiracy while investigating an unsolved murder. Inspired by true events, the series explores the mystery of the Georgia Guidestones, a monument in rural Georgia inscribed with directions for rebuilding civilisation after the apocalypse.
“The creation of truly innovative storytelling is key to audiences embracing the Guidestones phenomenon and we are delighted with this extraordinary recognition from the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences,” said Guidestones’ Executive Producers Catherine Tait, Jonas Diamond and Jay Ferguson, after their win.
The Netherlands’ Entertainment Experience (co-produced by FCCE and Ziggo) combines a TV series, social media and undiscovered talent before ending with two movies. Entertainment Experience can be followed in real time through Interactive TV, VOD, social media and the official website. The title was sold to FCCE China and Heilongjiang TV last year as a format, following the success of the original programme.
Singapore-based Refinery Media’s Supermodelme is one of this year’s nominees in the Non-Fiction category. The reality competition series, also “Highly Commended” at last year’s Asian Television Awards, is the only Asian representative at the Digital Emmys. “The experience was incredibly humbling for me because, to be recognised internationally for your work is a very rewarding and proud moment for me. One would think that a small company from a small country would not be able to make a difference or be noticed, but that is the beauty of the internet,” Karen Seah, Executive Producer of Supermodelme and CEO of Refinery Media, tells TV ASIA Plus.
