David Bridges
Peacock’s acclaimed productions, “The Day of the Jackal” and “We Are Woman Elements,” have emerged as significant victors at this year’s prestigious Banff Rockie Awards International Program Competition, clinching the coveted awards for Best English-Language Drama and Best Comedy Series, respectively. Other notable winners included Fox’s iconic animated series “The Simpsons,” recognized for its excellence in the animated category, and the insightful Disney+ documentary “Jim Henson Thought Man,” celebrated for its contributions to arts and culture. These accolades highlight the impact and creativity of the media industry in various genres, showcasing a rich tapestry of storytelling and entertainment.
The United Kingdom triumphed at the awards, securing a remarkable total of 16 awards, the highest of any participating nation, while the United States followed with 9 awards. This year marked a significant change for the Banff World Media Festival, as it combined its esteemed Banff Gala Awards and the Rockie Awards International Program Competition into a single, grand ceremony for the first time, allowing for a more cohesive celebration of global talent and creativity in the media landscape. This merger signifies the evolving nature of the festival and its commitment to honoring excellence in various forms of media.
The Banff Gala Awards recognize “visionary executives, creatives, and changemakers who are shaping the global media landscape,” while the Rockie Awards International Program Competition is focused on honoring outstanding achievements in television and digital media. This year’s Rockie Awards featured an impressive lineup of 152 nominees from 22 countries competing across 30 diverse categories, showcasing a wide array of innovative programming and storytelling styles. The event serves as a platform for both emerging and established creators to gain recognition on a global stage, reinforcing the importance of creativity and diversity in media.
Gala honorees included the legendary composer Hans Zimmer, known for his work on acclaimed films such as “Dune: Part One,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” “No Time to Die,” “Gladiator,” and “Inception.” Zimmer received this year’s prestigious Career Achievement Award, celebrating his remarkable contributions to the film industry. Additionally, actor Stephan James, recognized for his performances in “If Beale Street Could Talk” and “Home,” was awarded the Canadian Award of Distinction, presented by the Canada Media Fund (CMF/FMC) and MadeNous. This accolade honors a Canadian whose body of work exemplifies outstanding achievement in the entertainment industry, highlighting the importance of Canadian talent on the international stage.
Moreover, Phil Rosenthal, celebrated for his work on “Somebody Feed Phil” and “Everybody Loves Raymond,” received the Award of Excellence, which acknowledges exceptional achievement through a body of work over an extended period of time. This recognition underscores Rosenthal’s significant impact on television and his contributions to the comedy genre. Additionally, South Korea was honored as this year’s “Country of Honor,” a distinction recognized by KOCCA President Hyun Suk Yoo. This designation reflects the growing influence of South Korean media and entertainment on the global stage, showcasing its dynamic storytelling and innovative productions.
Monday’s gala event, which took place at the picturesque Banff Springs Resort, was hosted by Priyanka, the vibrant winner of “Canada’s Drag Race” Season 1. The celebration was a night of glamour and recognition, honoring the diverse talents and creative contributions of individuals and organizations in the media industry. The winners of the International Program Competition were celebrated for their exceptional work, highlighting the ever-evolving nature of global entertainment and the importance of storytelling across various formats.
Celebrating Arts & Entertainment Excellence
Recognizing Outstanding Comedy & Variety Shows
“The Graham Norton Show” (So Television; UK)
Highlighting Competition Series & Game Shows
“The Traitors UK” (Studio Lambert, BBC; UK)
Exploring Engaging Docuseries
“Black Twitter: A People’s History” (Onyx Collective; USA)
Delving into Lifestyle Programming
“The Travel Show – Vietnam: Return to Banana Garden Market” (BBC; UK)
“The Jury: Death on the Staircase” (Northern Pictures; Australia)
Highlighting Children & Youth Programming
“My Life in Versailles” (Films Grand Huit, Mélusine Productions, Xilam Animation, France Télévisions, TV5 Monde, RTS Radio Télévision Suisse, CNC; France, Switzerland)
Animation for Preschoolers
“Tiddler” (Magic Light Pictures, BBC; UK)
Live Action for Kids
“Windcatcher” (<em_until Pictures, Every Cloud Productions, Australian Children’s Television Foundation, Stan, Screen Australia, VicScreen; Australia)
Live Action for Youth
“Remnants” (Ananey Studios, KAN; Israel)
Exploring Documentary & Factual Programming
Arts & Culture Documentaries
“Jim Henson Thought Man” (Imagine Documentaries, Disney Branded Television; USA)
Crime & Investigative Documentaries
“Sugarcane” (Impact Partners, Match Through Vi, Kassie Films, Hedgehog Films; Canada, USA)
Environmental & Wildlife Documentaries
“Silverback” (Off the Fence, BBC, France Télévisions, Featuristic Films; UK)
History & Biography Documentaries
“Hitler’s Jewish Soldier?” (SBS Australia, Screen Australia, Screen NSW, Mint Films; Australia)
Science & Technology Documentaries
“Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics” (White Pine Pictures; Canada)
Short Form Non-Fiction Documentaries
“Songs from Inside” (BBC World Service; UK)
Social Issues & Current Affairs Documentaries
“Hell Jumper” (Expectation Entertainment; UK)
Sports Documentaries
“30 for 30: Stolen Gold” (ESPN Films, UnTypical; Spain, UK, USA)
Innovative Podcasts Across Genres
Fictional Podcasts
“Purple Heart Warriors” (Catherine Bailey Productions, BBC; UK)
Non-Fiction Podcasts
“Searching for Hobey Baker” (ESPN, Ross Greenburg Productions, Silver Sound; USA)
Diverse Scripted Content Across Formats
Animated Series Highlights
“The Simpsons” (twentieth Television Animation; USA)
Best Performance in a Comedy Series
David Mitchell, “Ludwig” (Big Talk Studios, That Mitchell and Webb Company, BBC; UK)
Best Performance in a Drama Series
Marisa Abela, “Industry” (Bad Wolf, HBO, BBC; UK, USA)
Best Use of Music in a Series
“Tree on a Hill” (Pren ar y Bryn) (Fiction Factory, S4C, BBC Cymru Wales, All3Media International, Creative Wales; UK)
English Language Comedy Series
“We Are Lady Parts” (Working Title Television, Universal International Studios, Universal Studio Group; UK, USA)
Non-English Language Comedy Series
“Vestiaires” (AMI-Télé, Radio-Canada; Canada)
English Language Drama Series
“The Day of the Jackal” (Carnival Films, Universal International Studios, Universal Studio Group; UK)
Non-English Language Drama Series
“Distinct Society” (Blachfilms; Canada)
Feature-Length Film Highlights
“Out of My Mind” (Big Beach, Participant, Everywhere Studios, Disney Branded Television; USA)
Limited Series Achievements
“Lost Boys & Fairies” (Duck Soup Films, All3Media International, BBC, Creative Wales; UK)
Short Form Fiction Highlights
“My Dead Mother” (LoCo Motion Pictures, Bell Media, Blue Ant Media; Canada)
Special Awards Recognizing Exceptional Talent
Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Achievement
“Hell Jumper” (Expectation Entertainment; UK)
Carrie Hunter Rising Talent Prize
Marushka Almeida, Nisha Khan, Rabiya Mansoor, “Get Up, Aisha” (iThentic Inc, Window Dreams Productions; Canada)
Prix Francophone for Excellence
“Young People” (Être ado) (KOTV; Canada)
Rogers Prize for Excellence in Canadian Content
“Leonard Cohen: If It Be Your Will” (Peacock Alley Entertainment; Canada)
The complete list of winners from the Rockie Awards International Program Competition is available HERE.
Cameron Steel
Clara Hastings
