C21 Drama Awards 2026 finalists announced

The finalists have been announced in C21’s International Drama Awards, which are voted for by the world’s leading scripted commissioners and buyers from more than 500 entries across 12 categories.

The winners will be announced at the International Drama Awards Ceremony between 6pm and 7pm on December 3 as part of Content London 2026. Visit the awards page here.

Non-English-Language Drama Series finalists:

Burden of Justice
Produced by: Strive Stories
For: SVT
Distributed by: DR Sales

Portobello
Produced by: Our Films and Kavac Film in collaboration with Arte France, Rai Fiction and The Apartment Pictures
For: HBO Max
Distributed by: HBO Max

Snake Killer
Produced by: Nordisk Film Production
For: Prime Video
Distributed by: Reinvent Yellow

Still Breathing
Produced by: Rubicon TV
For: NRK
Distributed by: DR Sales

The Lost Station Girls
Produced by: Itinéraire
For: Disney+
Distributed by: Disney+

The Uniform
Produced by: Miso Film
For: DR (Denmark)
Distributed by: Fremantle

English-Language Drama Series finalists:

Down Cemetery Road
Produced by: 60Forty Films in association with Apple
For: Apple TV
Distributed by: Apple TV

DTF St. Louis
Produced by: HBO in association with Elephant Pictures, Bravo Axolotl, Aggregate, Escape Artists and MGM Television
For: HBO
Distributed by: HBO

Heated Rivalry
Produced by: Accent Aigu in association with Bell Media’s Crave
For: Crave
Distributed by: Sphere Abacus

Legends
Produced by: Tannadice Pictures, in association with Lion Television
For: Netflix
Distributed by: Netflix

Pluribus
Produced by: Sony Pictures Television in association with Apple
For: Apple TV
Distributed by: Apple TV

Prisoner 951
Produced by: Dancing Ledge Productions
For: BBC One
Distributed by: Fremantle

Casting of a Drama Series finalists:

Andy Pryor – Tip Toe
Produced by: Quay Street Productions
For: C4
Distributed by: ITV Studios

Jina Jay – The Night Manager S2
Produced by: The Ink Factory, Character 7, Demarest Films, Hangtime, 127 Wall and Nostromo Pictures
For: BBC / Prime Video
Distributed by: The Ink Factory

Kelly Valentine Hendry – Rivals
Produced by: Happy Prince, a part of ITV Studios
For: Disney+
Distributed by: Disney+

Nikki Barrett, Nathan Toth and Julie Harkin – My Brilliant Career
Produced by: Jungle Entertainment
For: Netflix
Distributed by: Netflix

Nina Gold – Down Cemetery Road
Produced by: 60Forty Films in association with Apple
For: Apple TV
Distributed by: Apple TV

Oliva Scott-Webb – Legends
Produced by: Tannadice Pictures, in association with Lion Television
For: Netflix
Distributed by: Netflix

TV Movie finalists:

Disclosure
Produced by: W&B Television GmbH
For: Das Erste/SWR
Distributed by: Bavaria Film GmbH

Finding Father Christmas
Produced by: Big Talk Studios and South Shore Productions
For: Channel 4
Distributed by: Sphere Abacus

Olivia
Produced by: Florida Film
For: Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF)
Distributed by: ZDF

Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards
Produced by: Wonderhood Studios
For: Channel 5
Distributed by: Fox Entertainment Global

Remember Me
Produced by: Making Prod and M2thep Entertainment
For: TF1
Distributed by: TF1 Studio

Whale Shark Jack
Produced by: Cottesloe Films and Southern Light Films
For: Stan
Distributed by: Australian Children’s Television Foundation

Comedy-Drama Series finalists:

Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Produced by: A24 in association with Apple
For: Apple TV
Distributed by: Apple TV

Ms. X
Produced by: Plus6Four Entertainment and South Pacific Pictures, in co-production with Dynamic Television
For: BINGE (Australia)
Distributed by: Dynamic Television

Settling
Produced by: South Pacific Pictures in association with All3Media International
For: Three
Distributed by: Banijay Rights

Tall Tales & Murder
Produced by: Avalon Entertainment
For: RTE
Distributed by: Avalon Distribution

Widow’s Bay
Produced by: Apple Studios / Chum Films
For: Apple TV
Distributed by: Apple TV

Young Sherlock
Produced by: Motive Pictures, Inspirational Entertainment, and Marc Resteghini Production
For: Amazon Prime
Distributed by: Amazon MGM Studios

Individual Performance in a Comedy-Drama Series finalists:

Elle Fanning – Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Produced by: A24 in association with Apple
For: Apple TV
Distributed by: Apple TV

Jemaine Clement – Alice and Steve
Produced by: Clerkenwell Films
For: Disney+
Distributed by: Disney+

Matthew Rhys – Widow’s Bay
Produced by: Apple Studios / Chum Films
For: Apple TV
Distributed by: Apple TV

Nicola Walker – Alice and Steve
Produced by: Clerkenwell Films
For: Disney+
Distributed by: Disney+

Siobhan Cullen – Babies
Produced by: Snowed-In Productions, The Money Men in Associations with All3Media International
For: BBC One
Distributed by: Banijay Rights

Individual Performance in a Drama Series finalists:

Alan Cumming – Tip Toe
Produced by: Quay Street Productions
For: C4
Distributed by: ITV Studios

David Tennant – Rivals
Produced by: Happy Prince – ITV Studios, for Disney+
For: Disney+
Distributed by: Disney+

Michael Chernus – Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
Produced by: Universal Global Television, a division of Universal Studio Group
For: Peacock
Distributed by: NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution

Peter Capaldi – Criminal Record S2
Produced by: Tod Productions and STV Studios in association with Apple
For: Apple TV
Distributed by: Apple TV

Pilou Asbæk – Snake Killer
Produced by: Nordisk Film Production
For: Prime Video
Distributed by: Reinvent Yellow

Sarah Snook – All Her Fault
Produced by: Carnival Films
For: Sky Atlantic
Distributed by: NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution

Digital-First Drama Series finalists:

21 Dager
Produced by: NRK
For: NRK TV
Distributed by: NRK

Beyond Silence
Produced by: SPi
For: RTP PLAY
Distributed by: RTP PLAY

Boardroom to Bedroom
Produced by: Inter Medya
For: Kami Shorts
Distributed by: Inter Medya

Homebodies
Produced by: Mad Ones
For: SBS
Distributed by: SBS

Ina Series (Australia)
Produced by: Sweet Mess Productions
For: YouTube
Distributed by: Sweet Mess Productions

Libre dès maintenant saison 2
Produced by: Groupe Fair-Play
For: Ici tou.tv extra
Distributed by: Groupe Fair-Play

Mini-Series finalists:

A Better Man
Produced by: Maipo Film in collaboration with ARTBOX for NRK in co-production with ZDFneo
For: NRK
Distributed by: Beta Film

Gomorrah: The Origins
Produced by: Sky Studios and Cattleya
For: Sky Atlantic (Italy)
Distributed by: Sky Studios

My Brilliant Career
Produced by: Jungle Entertainment
For: Netflix
Distributed by: Netflix

Reykjavík Fusion
Produced by: ACT4
For: Síminn
Distributed by: Wild Sheep Content

Tip Toe
Produced by: Quay Street Productions
For: C4
Distributed by: ITV Studios

Welcome to Kingston-Falls
Produced by: Encore Television & Lynx Films
For: Radio-Canada (Tou.TV Extra)
Distributed by: Encore Television-Distribution inc.

Returning Comedy-Drama Series finalists:

Amandaland S2
Produced by: Merman Television
For: BBC One
Distributed by: BBC / Lionsgate

Big Mood S2
Produced by: Dancing Ledge Productions
For: Channel 4
Distributed by: Channel 4

Colin From Accounts S3
Produced by: Easy Tiger Productions
For: Binge / FOXTEL
Distributed by: CBS Studios

Ludwig S2
Produced by: Big Talk Studios in association with That Mitchell and Webb Company
For: BBC One
Distributed by: ITV Global

The Best Years S2
Produced by: The Bunch
For: TV 2 / TV 2 Play
Distributed by: TV 2 Danmark

Trying S5
Produced by: BBC Studios in association with Apple
For: Apple TV
Distributed by: Apple TV

Returning Drama Series finalists:

A Thousand Blows S2
Produced by: The Story Collective, Matriarch Productions and Water & Power Productions
For: Disney+
Distributed by: Disney+

Criminal Record S2
Produced by: Tod Productions and STV Studios in association with Apple
For: Apple TV
Distributed by: Apple TV

Rivals S2
Produced by: Happy Prince, a part of ITV Studios, for Disney+
For: Disney+
Distributed by: Disney+

Slow Horses S6
Produced by: See-Saw Films in association with Apple
For: Apple TV
Distributed by: Apple TV