Maximum Effort & Wildstar Films for National Geographic
Widely praised by judges for its unique format, this first-time collaboration between wildlife TV company Wildstar Films and talent-led company Maximum Effort (founded by Ryan Reynolds) brought joy to viewers young and old.
The programme tells the story of Mother Nature’s unsung animal heroes in a unique genre mash-up of wildlife and comedy. It combines quirky framing and graphics devices with factual content in a bid to get younger audiences engaged with the wonders of the natural world.
Judges complemented the programme’s creativity and fresh twist on the nature documentary. One judge said: “In a genre where it has proven really difficult to find original ways of storytelling, this show knocks it out of the park with its hilarious and enlightening approach.”
Underdogs’ clear comedic voice and high quality cinematography spoke to judges, with several describing the show as “perfect”.
More than half the production team, including three out of five directors, were female. They worked with local talent and offered opportunities for diverse young filmmakers from overseas to learn craft skills. Judges also praised the show for its efforts to appeal to a neurodiverse audience.
SHORTLISTED
Adolescence
Warp Films, Matriarch Productions & Plan B for Netflix
Netflix’s four-part drama has been hailed as a landmark achievement in television, gathering widespread critical acclaim and sparking national conversations. The drama shines a light on the role of online misogynistic content in youth violence and was commended for its technical ambition and agenda-setting world impact.
Code of Silence
Mammoth Screen for ITV1
Mammoth Screen’s ground-breaking drama put the Deaf experience at the centre of the story, both on and off screen. Rose Ayling-Ellis stars and helped develop an accurate depiction of lip-reading that combines phonetic subtitles with carefully mixed sound. An accessible set and inclusive crew brought authenticity to the series.
Smoggie Queens
Hat Trick Productions for BBC
This Middlesbrough-centred sitcom from Hat Trick describes itself explores the shifting identities of an ex-industrial town and its LGBTQ+ community. It combines mainstream appeal with an authentic local voice to spotlight a region rarely seen on screen.
The Assembly
Rockerdale Studios for ITV1
Rockerdale Studios’ ground-breaking interview show for ITV1 sees a cast of autistic and learning-disabled interviewers grill the UK’s most loved celebs. With a focus on forging genuine connection and giving agency to those often portrayed with pity, this entertaining format was praised by for its authenticity.
The Donald Trump Show
72 Films for Channel 4
Taking American soap opera as inspiration, 72 Films set out to cut a current affairs documentary as real-life drama for Channel 4. Experienced documentary editors combined tongue-in-cheek pre-titles with a filmic narrative tone to offer audiences a fresh take on a story they thought they knew.
AWARD SPONSORED BY MAIDSTONE STUDIOS
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