French Programs Lead International Emmy Awards

NEW YORK: French programs scored the most wins at last night's 43rd International Emmy Awards gala, which was hosted by Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef.

French programs led the night with three Emmys: arts programming was won by Illustre & Inconnu: Comment Jacques Jaujard a Sauvé le Louvre (The Man Who Saved the Louvre), Engrenages Saison 5 (Spiral Season 5) won for drama series and Soldat Blanc (White Soldier) was the winner in the TV movie/mini-series category. Brazilian programs scored two Emmys: nods went to Doce de Mãe (Sweet Mother) in the comedy category and Império (Empire) for telenovela.

Performance awards were presented to Maarten Heijmans in the Netherlands' Ramses and Anneke von der Lippe in Norway's Øyevitne (Eyewitness). The South African production Miners Shot Down won for best documentary, while the U.K.'s 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy won in the category of non-scripted entertainment. Arrepentidos: El Infierno de Montoya was the winner for non-English U.S. prime-time program.

Michael Douglas presented the International Emmy Directorate Award to Richard Plepler, the chairman and CEO of HBO. Elizabeth McGovern, who currently stars as Lady Cora in Downton Abbey, and the show's executive producer Gareth Neame presented the International Emmy Founders Award to Julian Fellowes, the creator, writer and executive producer of Downton.

"Television is a universal art form that transcends cultures, languages and borders," said Bruce L. Paisner, the president of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. "In light of recent terrible events, the International Academy is particularly proud to congratulate all of the winners—among which three from France—for shining a global spotlight on their cultural heritage with the Emmy."