Format

On a stunning sunny day in Cannes, just ahead of the start of MIPCOM on Monday, C21 hosted the International Format Awards. The night saw major wins for All3Media-owned Studio Lambert, Channel 4, Fremantle, and Banijay.

Studio Lambert took home two big prizes: its adaptation of Squid Game: The Challenge won Best Competition Reality Format. This show, produced for Netflix in collaboration with The Garden, turns the globally popular South Korean drama into a gripping competition reality series. The second award was for the UK version of The Traitors, based on a Dutch format and produced for BBC One. This show, also a product of Studio Lambert, was crowned Best Returning Format.

The evening also saw standout wins for other industry giants. Fremantle secured Best Comedy Format for its Portuguese show Freeze, airing on TVI. Meanwhile, Banijay was awarded Best Studio-Based Format for Upside Down, a Dutch show produced by Endemol Shine Nederland for Videoland.

In an industry facing economic pressures and fewer commissions, the night brought welcome recognition for smaller independent companies. UK indie Screendog Productions triumphed in the Factual Entertainment category with The Jury: Murder Trial, a hybrid drama-factual format that aired on Channel 4 and is distributed by Blue Ant Studios.

Channel 4’s youth-oriented E4 brand also won big, clinching Best Reality Format with Underdog: Josh Must Win, produced by STV Studios’ Primal Media.

Other notable awards included Best Brand-Driven Format for Dreamspark’s YouTube show Poker Society, and the Multi-Platform award for Pausoka’s Instagram/TikTok show Itsatsita. Kafas, Dark Money India, produced by Applause Entertainment with Madiba Entertainment, and based on an original concept from The Forge, claimed Best Scripted Format.

Banijay Rights CEO Cathy Payne was honored with this year’s Gold Award, recognizing her decades of leadership in the distribution business. Presenting the award, MIPCOM director Lucy Smith acknowledged Payne’s contributions to the industry. Payne reflected on her achievements, highlighting the collaborative efforts of her sales and creative teams at Banijay.

In her acceptance speech, Payne said, “It’s a privilege to receive this award, but it truly belongs to the team at Banijay Rights and Banijay Entertainment, especially Lucas Green and James Townley, who have created globally successful formats.”

Payne also addressed the current challenges faced by the industry: “The last 18 months have been tough, with the impact of streaming recalibration, economic struggles, and the rise of digital platforms. But no matter how content is consumed, it’s our job to adapt and make deals work. I’m proud to be an Australian woman in an industry I love.”

For the full list of nominees in each category of the International Format Awards, click here.

photo @c21media