France wins big at Int’l Emmys

Canal+ legal drama Spiral won the coveted best drama prize at the 43rd International Emmy Awards in New York, in an evening dominated by French productions.

Spiral won the International Emmy for its fifth season

The producers of Spiral, which won for its fifth season, dedicated the win to “victims of despair and hate,” referencing the recent Paris terror attacks.

France also won the arts programming award for Ladybirds Film’s documentary The Man Who Saved the Louvre and in the movie/miniseries category for Canal+’s White Soldier.

Meanwhile, the UK’s 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy scooped the prize for non-scripted programme. The Sky series follows comedian Baz Ashmawy as he challenges his 70-year-old Irish mother to take on daring tasks.

Brazilian broadcaster Globo TV took home two gongs, winning the telenovela category for Empire as well as the comedy field for Sweet Mother.

Two special awards and 10 Emmy statues were presented by the international academy during the evening, which was hosted by Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef at the New York Hilton.

Academy Award-winning actor and producer Michael Douglas presented the International Emmy Directorate Award to Richard Plepler, chairman and CEO of HBO. Meanwhile, the International Emmy Founders Award was handed to Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes.

For a full list of winners, click here.