Mipcom 2023: The Diversify Tv Awards Nominees are confirmed

Mipcom Cannes announced the nominations for the 2023 Diversify TV Awards, and unveiled details about this year’s Awards Ceremony, scheduled to be held on day two of the 39th International Co-Production & Entertainment Content Market 16-19 October in Cannes. The only awards to recognize the promotion of Diversity and Inclusion in television internationally, 165 submissions were this year received from 27 countries.“Progress in Diversity and Inclusion will come from showing not telling," Lucy Smith, Director of Mipcom Cannes and Mipjunior said. 

A total of nine winners will be announced live in Cannes including the ‘Behind The Scenes Impact’ award , honoring a person or team whose influence, actions and vision from behind the scenes stands as an inspiration in the field of Diversity and Inclusion. This year, the award will be presented to the CEO of the UK’s Creative Diversity Network (CDN) Deborah Williams OBE, in recognition of a three decade career driving change in perceptions of disability and increased inclusion across television, film and theatrical industries as an artist, activist and latterly an influential policy maker and executive.“These awards showcase an amazing breadth of programs and people that have furthered authentic representation across the world over the last year, to an influential industry audience from over 100 countries," Smith said. "To be shortlisted is a significant accolade, but as important, is how this may inspire those attending to emulate this in their own way.”

The 7th Diversify TV Awards are organized by Mipcom Cannes in collaboration with founding partner Diversify TV and in association with Founding Presenting Partner A+E Networks and Data Presenting Partner Gracenote. 2023 Awards Partners also include All3Media International, Iron Mountain, Telefilm Canada and The Canada Media Fund, OUTtv, The United Nations Media Compact, D.I.M.E.S., and Lightboat Media among other supporting partner companies and organisations. The awards will be presented during a new prime time slot on the MIPCOM CANNES program on Tuesday 17 October from 12.00 – 1:00 pm and will again be hosted by international anchor and diversity advocate Femi Oke. Open to all MIPCOM delegates, the awards ceremony will be staged in the Grand Auditorium of the world-renowned Palais des Festivals in Cannes and followed by a cocktail reception. 

Deborah Williams’ work as a disabled artist has spanned work in front of and behind the scenes, in television, film and theater and as the architect of influential policies across the wider creative industries; including advising the UN and UNICEF on the rights of disabled people within cultural activities and drawing up the British Film Institute (BFI)’s diversity standards, which have since adopted widely by organisations including BAFTA and AMPAS. As CEO of the UK’s CDN, Williams has led the non-profit broadcaster-funded organisation to support the country’s television industry in promoting, celebrating and sharing best practice around diversity since 2016. 

"I am honored to be presented with this award by Diversify TV and Mipcom Cannes," Deborah Williams OBE said. "As someone who has fought long and hard to highlight how attracting the best talent from the widest range of backgrounds can only make our industry more creative and more successful, it means a great deal to see this work recognised with an incredible award. Increasing diversity on and off-screen is a global challenge, so I take great pleasure in this first international recognition of work that is having an international impact."

Femi Oke, who returns for a second year as host, has reported, produced and presented for broadcasters including CNN International, Sky, National Geographic, NPR, Al Jazeera English and the BBC. A regular moderator at global forums and conferences, Oke has facilitated on behalf of the United Nations, World Bank and European Commission and is the Co-Founder of Moderate The Panel, an agency dedicated to sourcing diverse event hosts, a collective of diverse international moderators.

Finalists were short-listed by the MIP Markets Diversity Advisory Board and Short List Jury, composed of a peer group of international industry professionals, with winners to be chosen by a Final Round Jury of leading advocacy organisations and specialised publications within Diversity and Inclusion including The ADHD Foundation, APF France Handicap, GADIM, GLAAD, Minority Rights Group International, ODA, Scope, Show Racism the Red Card and True Colors United.

The 2023 Diversify TV nominations are as follows: for Representation of Disability - Non-Scripted, which include "Inside our Autistic Minds" in the UK, "The Roads of Ae-rin and Woo-ryeong" in South Korea, "Disability & Abortion: The Hardest Choice" in the UK. Representation of Disability - Scripted includes "About Antoine in Canada, "Aspergirl" in France, "Simple" in Spain, "Older Children Phoenix Rise" from the UK, "Supa Team 4" in South Africa, "Ghostwriter" in Canada, "Dog Squad" from the UK, "Reu and Harper's Wonder World" from the UK, and "Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes" from USA.

The representation of LGBTQIA+ - Non-Scripted includes "Queerstralia" in Australia, "Lotus Sports Club" in Cambodia, "Naked Education" in the UK. For Representation of LGBTQIA+ - Scripted include" Nights in Tefía" from Spain, "About Sasha" in France, "She Loves to Cook," and "She Loves to Eat" in Japan.

The representation of Race and Ethnicity – Non-Scripted includes "The Swap" in Australia," "Folau in Australia," "Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World" in the UK The representation of Race and Ethnicity - Scripted include "Riches" in the UK, "Little Bird" from Canada and "Sam - A Saxon" from Germany.