“I Was Actually There”
Two ABC Commercial's flagship programs, "Maggie Beer’s Big Mission" from Artemis Media and “I Was Actually There” from creator and Director Kirk Docker, have been nominated at the C21 International Format Awards in the highly competitive Factual Entertainment category.
Spurred by shocking findings from a recent Aged Care Royal Commission, "Maggie Beer’s Big Mission" is an ambitious world-first social experiment aimed at transforming the meals and dining experience at an aged care home, restoring health and joy to the residents and carers. Spotlighting a range of moments in history from the legendary to the less well known, “I Was Actually There” is a bold, new documentary series that explores defining moments of recent history through the eyes, ears and voices of those who witnessed them first-hand.
"Maggie Beer’s Big Mission" has received double recognition – with the show's charismatic host, Maggie Beer, receiving a nomination for the Best Host of a TV Format award, further cementing her status as a beloved figure in Australian television.
“ABC Commercial is proud to represent the international distribution of both programs, with this recognition being a testament to the exceptional creativity and commercial appeal of these programs. With strong early interest in the formats, we are excited to officially launch them at MIPCOM and congratulate the talented teams behind both shows on their well-deserved nominations” says Karen Quinn, Content Sales Manager.
ABC’s Head of Factual, Susie Jones says, “ABC is so proud of our factual output, and the recognition it’s receiving on the world stage. 'I Was Actually There' is a fresh, contemporary History series that is arresting in its authenticity, and explores pivotal moments that have defined our nation. Maggie Beer’s Big Mission tackles one of the most important issues of modern Australia – how we care for our elderly. It launched a much-needed campaign with heart, integrity and purpose. All of our factual series speak to critical national conversations that shape, reflect and define our nation and we’re thrilled that these original Australian series are being celebrated.”
“Artemis and Maggie Beer AO are thrilled to be nominated in these awards. We set out to create TV to inspire, entertain, and to create lasting change around good nutrition for older people” says Maggie Beer’s Big Mission' Executive Producer and recent recipient of a Business Enterprise Grant from Screen Australia, Celia Tait. “With Maggie’s extraordinary leadership and tenacity, our brilliant consultants, and the generosity of staff and residents at Meath Care who opened their doors to us, we’ve demonstrated a clear way forward to enrich the lives of our older citizens in aged care homes. Big thanks to our talented production team led by Laki Baker, and for the support from ABC, Screen Australia, and Screen West.”
“I Was Actually There” Executive producer and co-creator Kirk Docker says: “It’s an honour for the team to be nominated in these awards. In an era often defined by the loudest voices and the shortest attention spans, we have made a series that heads in the opposite directions, that understands how important it is to be mindful of our history and the narratives woven into its telling. With the backing of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Screen NSW, we remind viewers that the stories we tell ourselves about the past are made up of smaller, personal stories, of the experiences of living, breathing human beings, as different as we are the same. Docker Media is proud to have created a format we hope will travel beyond our borders, one we believe can be moulded to the individual contours of cultures and countries around the world.”