MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards 2019 Open for Submissions

The call for entries for the third edition of the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards is now open.

Organized by Reed MIDEM, the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards are dedicated to championing and promoting diverse and inclusive content. Eligible programs must provide a fair and accurate representation of BAME, LGBTQ+ and disabled communities, stand out for originality and excellence in storytelling, casting and production values, challenge stereotypes and show a positive impact. The winning shows will be chosen by charitable organizations and specialized publications that campaign for equality and inclusion. The deadline for submissions is July 22.

At MIPCOM 2020, the diversity and inclusion program will feature major personalities who are speaking out to create more opportunities and enhance visibility for diverse talent. Further, it will highlight experts who are demonstrating diversity’s positive impact and support a series of networking events. The Diversify TV Excellence Awards, a key part of MIPCOM’s diversity and inclusion program, will be held on Monday, October 14 during the market, which takes place in Cannes, France from October 14 to 17.

Laurine Garaude, director of the television division at Reed MIDEM, said: “As the global TV industry event, one of MIPCOM’s missions is to push the agenda to encourage equal and positive representation—both in front of and behind the camera. We are so delighted to launch the third edition of the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards, which has quickly become one of the main highlights of the event.”

David Levine, VP of kids’ programming in Europe, Africa, the U.K. and Ireland at Disney Channel UK, added: “Not only is inclusion the right thing to do, it makes good business sense since diverse companies perform better and diverse content can appeal to broader and wider audiences. One only need look at the success of Black Panther and Captain Marvel to recognize this. Diversity and globally-inclusive viewpoints should be the norm and the baseline expectation in the kids’ content industry—our viewers are increasingly expecting this—and programming needs to keep up with this evolution in order to be relevant to today’s parents and kids.”