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Reed MIDEM announced the shortlist of programmes in the running for the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards 2020.

The 4th annual MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards will be held on Tuesday 13 October from 18.00 to 19.30, in Paris and will be live streamed worldwide on MIPCOM Online+. Under the umbrella of this year’s Change For Good programme, the awards are dedicated to championing and promoting diversity and inclusion in all its forms across the international television industry.

The 21 nominated programmes, selected from a record number of entries for consideration this year, have been recognized by the Pre-Selection Jury for providing a fair and accurate representation of BAME, LGBTQ+ and disabled communities. They are also seen as standing out for originality and excellence in terms of storytelling, casting and production values, challenging stereotypes, and showing a positive impact.

This year will also feature a special prize, the Variety Creative Change Award, which will be presented to Creator, Showrunner, Executive Producer, Writer and Star of HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show, Robin Thede. This award is given to an individual who uses their platform in the arts to create inclusive stories. Recently, Thede signed a multi-year deal with Warner Brothers Television to create content for multiple Warner Media properties.

The winners will be announced at the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards ceremony, presented in association with founding partner Diversify TV, and this year welcoming new partners All3Media as sponsor of the LGBTQ+ category, FilmRise and Telefilm Canada/Canada Media Fund who join A+E Networks as presenting partners, and a new media partnership with Variety.

French singer, DJ, actor and LGBTQ icon Kiddy Smile, will host this year’s event, in a partnership curated by Midem, the leading international event for the global music community, who have supported Kiddy Smile on his journey to becoming one of the most exciting artists of today’s music scene. US media mogul and best-selling author Wendy Williams will give the opening remarks for the ceremony, touching on her inspiring journey to success as an African American woman and both the unique and universal challenges she faced along the way. A stellar line-up of talent will also take part in the Awards including Actor, Writer, Director, Producer and CEO of Unstoppable Film and Television Noel Clarke; Actor, Filmmaker, and Entrepreneur Ravi Patel and Actor and Recording Artist, Young Dylan.

The Pre-Selection Jury includes members of the MIP Markets Diversity Advisory Board, along with a panel of industry experts. They include: Bunmi Akintonwa, CEO, Little Black Book Company; Mounia Aram, CEO, Mounia Aram Company; Sahar Baghery, Head of Business Development, Amazon Prime Video; Kay Benbow, Children’s Media Specialist; Bruna Capozzoli, Advisor & Content Creator; Patrick Connolly, SVP, Programming and Marketing, AMC Networks International; David Cornwall, Managing Director, Scorpion Television; Mark Garner, EVP Global Content Sales & Business Development, A+E Networks; Sallyann Keizer, Managing Director, Sixth Sense Media; Wincie Knight, Senior Director, Global Inclusion Strategies, ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI), EMEA; David Levine, Global Content Strategist; André Renaud, SVP Global Format Sales, BBC Studios; Sam Renke, Actress, Presenter, Writer and Disability Rights Campaigner; Shabnam Rezaei, Co-Founder & President, Big Bad Boo Studios; Nick Smith, EVP Formats, All3Media International; Deborah Williams, CEO, The Creative Diversity Network (CDN); Nacer Zorgani, Media Independent Advisor & Writer

The winning programmes will be chosen by charitable organisations and specialized publications that campaign for equality and inclusion, including Fondation Mozaïk, GADIM, GLAAD, Mencap, Minority Rights Group, OutRight Action International, SCOPE, Show Racism the Red Card, and Stonewall.

The shortlist features a broad selection highlighting a variety of new and established voices and talent from around the world, from major linear and non-linear broadcasters, representing 21 countries across all continents. Themes tackled include stories of political betrayal, the fight for sexual freedom, transgender issues, addiction, teen mental health and the impact of Covid-19, all underpinned by powerful storytelling and plenty of humour, as well as the ongoing challenges faced in the fight for equality.