British drama and comedy triumphed at the International Emmy Awards in New York on Monday night (21 November) with UK acts taking six out of the nine top honours.
Ray Winstone won Best Performance by an actor for his role as Vincent in Granada’s Vincent. Little Britain, Gordon Ramsay and Ray Winstone were all awarded at the ceremony. The BBC’s Life on Mars, the police drama which has been both a critical and commercial hit, won best drama series. It focuses on a detective played by John Simms who is transported back in time to 1973 where he must use dated police procedures to solve a serial killer mystery.
Maryam Hassouni, a Moroccan living in the Netherlands, won best actress for her portrayal of a Palestinian woman suspected of planning a terrorist attack in the Dutch TV production Offers.
Hosted by the comedian Graham Norton at the New York Hilton, the International Emmys also included a cast of international stars, including Katie Couric, Susan Sarandon, Christiane Amanpour, Rosie Perez, Roger Bart, Julianne Nicholson and Lorenzo Lamas who presented the International Emmy statue to the winners.
The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is the largest organization of global broadcasters, with over 500 members from nearly 70 countries and over 500 companies. The Academy was chartered with a mission to recognize excellence in television programming produced outside of the United States. The Academy is an independent organization that includes international television and media leaders who come together to exchange ideas, discuss common issues and promote new strategies for the development of quality global television programming.
The winners:
ARTS PROGRAMMING
Knowledge is the Beginning
A production of EuroArts Music International in co-production with ZDF/ARTE
Germany
Producers: Paul Smaczny, Dieter Schneider
Director: Paul Smaczny
Writer: Paul Smaczny
Cast: Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR
Ray Winstone, as Vincent
Vincent
Granada Drama and Comedy
United Kingdom
Accepting: Jamie Winstone (his daughter)
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS
Maryam Hassouni, as Laila
Offers
VARA Broadcasting Organization
The Netherlands
Accepting: Maryam Hassouni
CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE
Sugar Rush
A Shine Production for Channel 4
United Kingdom
Executive Producer: Julian Murphy
Producer: Johnny Capps
Director: Amanda Blue
Writers: Katie Baxendale (based on the novel by Julie Burchill)
Cast: Olivia Hallinan, Lenora Crichlow, Sara Stewart
COMEDY
Little Britain
BBC Comedy
United Kingdom
Executive Producer: Jon Plowman
Producer: Geoff Posner
Director: Declan Lowney
Writers: Matt Lucas, David Walliams
Cast: Matt Lucas, David Walliams
DOCUMENTARY
Hiroshima
A BBC/TFI/ZDF/Discovery Channel co-production in association with the Tokyo Broadcasting System, with thanks to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
United Kingdom
Executive Producer: Matthew Barrett
Producer: Paul Wilmshurst
Director: Paul Wilmshurst
Writer: Paul Wilmshurst
DRAMA SERIES
Life on Mars
Kudos Film & TV Ltd. for BBC Wales
United Kingdom
Executive Producers: Jane Featherstone, Matthew Graham
Producer: Claire Parker
Co-Created by Matthew Graham, Ashley Pharoah, Tony Jordan
Director: Bharat Nalluri
Series Directed by: Bharat Nalluri, John McKay, SJ Clarkson, John Alexander
Writer: Matthew Graham
Series Written by: Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan, Ashley Pharoah, Chris Chibnall
Cast: John Simm, Philip Glenister
NON-SCRIPTED ENTERTAINMENT
Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares
An Optomen Television Production for Channel 4
United Kingdom
Executive Producer: Patricia Llewellyn
Producer: Christine Hall
TV MOVIE/MINI-SERIES
Nuit Noire, October 17, 1961
Cipango
France
Producers: Thomas Anargyros, Edouard de Vesinne
Director: Alain Tasma
Original script by Patrick Rotman
Written with François-Olivier Rousseau, Alain Tasma
Cast: Clotilde Courau, Thierry Fortineau, Atmen Kelif, Vahina Giocante, Ouassini Embarek, Jean-Michel Portal, Florence Thomassin, Serge Riaboukine, Aurelien Recoing
