ITV scoops Format Awards treble in Cannes, two awards for Banijay
Winners at the International Format Awards during Mipcom in Cannes
MIPCOM: UK commercial broadcaster ITV was the big winner at the International Format Awards in Cannes this evening, taking home three separate prizes.
ITV’s first win came in the Studio-Based Gameshow category, which was won by Parents Evening, fronted by comedian Romesh Ranganathan and produced by his Ranga Bee Productions for ITV1. The format sees parents choose which questions their adult children must answer as they play for a winner-takes-all jackpot.
Another ITV show, Plimsoll Productions’ Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters, was named Best Reality Format. Both shows are distributed by ITV Studios. Elsewhere, Olivia Attwood’s fronting of ITV’s Bad Boyfriends, produced by Optomen and distributed by All3Media International, saw her named Best Host of a TV Format.
The US version of The Traitors, produced by All3Media-owned Studio Lambert for US streamer Peacock, followed its Emmy success by picking up Best Returning Format. The award completes a unique double, as the UK version of The Traitors, which airs on the BBC, won the Best Returning Format prize last year.
The trend for successful formats coming out of Belgium and Norway continues apace. Ultimate Celebrity Car Park Showdown, produced by Woestijnvis for Play4 and distributed by Primitives in Belgium, came out on top in the Comedy category. Meanwhile, breakout hit The Box, from Seefood TV and Seefood Distribution for TV2 in Norway, was named Best Competition Reality Format.
Elsewhere, Channel 4’s The Secret Life of Five Year Olds won the Best Brand Driven Format, while Angela Black (aka Angela), produced by Atresmedia for Antena 3 in Spain, was named Best Scripted Format. That show was originally an ITV drama from Two Brothers Pictures.
There was also a pair of wins for Banijay Entertainment with its Atypical Critics format, for AMI-Télé in French Canada, winning Best Factual Entertainment show, and Mission Unknown: Atlantic, for Prime Video and YouTube in Germany, taking Best Digital First Show.
As previously announced, this year’s International Formats Business Gold Award was presented to Phil Gurin, president and CEO of The Gurin Company and TGC Global Entertainment and outgoing chair of Frapa.
With a career spanning more than 3,000 hours of television seen in over 185 countries, Gurin has contributed to the producing, writing or creation of a vast array of formats and specials. He is known for his exceptional ability to create, acquire, sell, produce and distribute entertainment programmes across the globe.
“Our business is at an interesting juncture,” Gurin told the crowded beachside event after receiving his award. “When I started my company in LA we had over 60 channels to pitch. Now there maybe fewer than 10. With the rise of the global entertainment giants, it’s harder for indies to get ahead and grow their business.
“We all know the challenges our industry faces,” he added. “But with fresh creativity, boundless enthusiasm and a little madness, everyone here who started with a dream can keep that flame alive and evolve with the times. I hope you all do. Always remember why you got into this business in the first place, always colour outside the lines and always find a way to keep going, keep growing and never give up the fight.”
Gurin has also been a tireless advocate for the protection of format rights. He has served on the board of Frapa for 16 years, 10 of those as chair. The Gold Business Award celebrates not just Gurin’s creative track record but his leadership in strengthening the rights framework that underpins the entire format business.
