International Emmy Kids Awards Winners

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the winners of the International Emmy Kids Awards online, with winning titles hailing from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Norway, the Netherlands and the U.K.

For the last few years, creatives, buyers and distributors from across the children’s content community have convened for one special night at MIPTV to honor the industry’s best at the International Emmy Kids Awards.

With the COVID-19 pandemic causing the cancellation of the Cannes market this year, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences opted to bring the announcement of the winners online this week. “The show must go on, so long as we do so responsibly—we think we found a way here,” said Bruce Paisner, president and CEO of the International Academy, on the decision to reveal the winners via a live stream. “We decided to keep the winners’ announcement for the same day the awards ceremony would have been held in Cannes,” Paisner added. “Although we cannot do it on-stage as usual, the International Academy, and our partners MIPTV, TV Kids and Ernst & Young, join us to congratulate the outstanding teams behind the winning programs. These programs entertain, educate and enlighten, with the high standard of quality we expect for our children and their communities at large.”

The winning programs hail from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Norway, the Netherlands and the U.K.

Zog from the U.K.’s Magic Light Pictures won for animation. Michael Rose, joint managing director at Magic Light, noted, “Martin [Pope, joint managing director] and I know this is a time of great international crisis, and we hope that Zog will bring some laughter and joy to children and families around the world.”

Lik Meg (Like Me) from NRK Super in Norway took the trophy for digital. “We hope this prize will give us the opportunity to continue to tell stories about difficulties and challenges that kids meet in their lives,” said screenwriter and director Anne Wisløff.

The winner in factual is Nosso Sangue, Nosso Corpo from Fox Lab Brazil/Your Mama. The producers thanked the show’s five protagonists, “who opened their hearts and their homes for us.”

Nachtraven (Nighthawk), which comes from Belgium’s De Mensen/Ketnet (VRT), won the Kids Emmy for non-scripted entertainment. This was the first International Emmy win for De Mensen.

In the preschool category, Australia’s Bluey, from Ludo Studios/ABC Australia/BBC Studios/Screen Australia/Screen Queensland, landed the win. Daley Pearson, a co-founder and director at Ludo, thanked the production team, broadcaster ABC and BBC Studios, among other partners, as well as the audience, “for welcoming Bluey into your living rooms.”

The Netherlands’ De Regels van Floor (Floor Rules), from NL Film & TV/VPRO, was awarded in the series category. NL Film Producer Kaja Wolffers said the win “proves that something typically Dutch like Floor can travel the world. We are proud that we have been allowed to produce so many episodes of this wonderful series.”

Jacqueline Wilson’s Katy, from BBC Children’s In-House Productions/CBBC, was recognized in the TV movie/mini-series arena. Helen Bullough, head of BBC Children’s In-House Productions, commented, “it’s a category full of content for which we have the deepest admiration and we’re so grateful to have been singled out.”

You can find out more about all the nominated programs and view reaction videos from the winning teams here.