Diversity & Inclusion at MIPCOM

The MIPCOM 2019 Diversity and Inclusion Programme features industry experts and major talent who are speaking out to not only create more opportunities for diverse talent, but to demonstrate the positive impact of diversity across the global media landscape.

In its third year, the programme includes high-level networking events and the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards, honouring inclusive content that impacts and inspires audiences around the globe.

Championing and promoting diversity and inclusion in all forms across the international television industry

Representation of Race and Ethnicity

Isoken - Scripted
Breaking the Taboo - Racism and Resistance - Non-Scripted

Representation of LGBTQ+

Vida - Scripted
Transkids - Non-Scripted

Representation of Disability

Jerk - Scripted
If There's Room for Two - Non-Scripted

Kids Programming

The Bravest Knight

The shortlisted programmes have been judged in each category by the following charitable organisations that campaign for equality and inclusion.

Ackley Bridge

Race and Ethnicity, Scripted

Ackley Bridge returns for another run of eight laugh-out-loud, irreverent and highly emotional episodes set in and around a school designed to unite the divided white and Asian communities of a small Yorkshire mill town.

Isoken

Race and Ethnicity, Scripted

Isoken has what appears to be a perfect life, but she is still unmarried at 34 which, in a culture obsessed with marriage, is a serious cause for concern. But in an unexpected turn of events, Isoken meets Kevin, The only problem is he is Oyinbo (Caucasian).

Kiss Me First

Race and Ethnicity, Scripted

Kiss Me First moves between the real and virtual animated worlds. When Leila stumbles across Red Pill, a secret paradise, hidden on the edges of her favourite game, she meets Tess. Tess harbours a dark secret. When Tess turns up in Leila’s real life uninvited, Leila’s world is changed forever.

African Diaspora Diaries

Race and Ethnicity, Non Scripted

What is it like being born to immigrant parents in a country where there is growing support for anti-immigration parties? BBC Africa's Daniel Henry investigates how young people of African heritage are making their way in Europe's big cities.

Breaking the Taboo – Racism and Resistance

Race and Ethnicity, Non Scripted

Brazil is a very plural and, therefore, extremely uneven country. Social and Racial inequality are the biggest challenges faced by Brazilian population. In this episode, we will point out differences between social and racial inequality through the explanation of philosophers, sociologists, researchers and activists.

The Curry House Kid

Race and Ethnicity, Non Scripted

This film tells a universal story – the immigrant experience in Britain – by immersing world-renowned dancer Akram Khan in a very specific location: the Bangladeshi-owned curry houses of London’s Brick Lane.

The Bold Type

LGBTQ+, Scripted

The Bold Type reveals a glimpse into the outrageous lives and loves of those behind the global women’s magazine Scarlet. The rising generation of Scarlet women leans on one another as they find their own voices in a sea of intimidating leaders. Together they explore sexuality, identity, love and fashion.

Vida

LGBTQ+, Scripted

I“Vida” is the critically-acclaimed STARZ original series that tells the story of two Mexican-American sisters taking on the monumental task of rebuilding their mother's business while navigating financial constraints, competing developers, and the growing anti-gentrification movement, all while contemplating the relationships in their lives, including their own.

Younger

LGBTQ+, Scripted

Created by Darren Star (Sex and the City, Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place), Younger follows Liza Miller (Sutton Foster), a talented editor navigating the competitive world of publishing — while juggling the complications of mixing business with pleasure and facing the lie she created about her age to land her dream job.

The Spark, the origins of pride

LGBTQ+, Non Scripted

They are trans, lesbian, bisexual or gay. They are artists, politicians, doctors, journalists, activists or ordinary citizens. Some are famous, others not. But all of them lived through the repression of the 1960s, the sexual liberation of the 1970s, and the AIDS tragedy of the 1980s...

Transkids

LGBTQ+, Non Scripted

Four Israeli teenagers undergo the process of life-and-identity-saving gender transformation in a country where military service is mandatory and Orthodox Jewish religion is the law.

You Can't Ask That

LGBTQ+, Non Scripted

The ABC’s most successful original format, YOU CAN’T ASK THAT is a genuinely innovative series that offers a personal glimpse into the lives of people we rarely get to hear from, and along the way explores and embraces our differences. Funny, moving and life changing, this is truly unique television.

Perfect World

Disability, Scripted

Itsuki is an architect who uses a wheelchair after suffering from an accident in college, damaging his spinal cord. He decided to live alone for the rest of his life, however, a reunion with his high school classmate Tsugumi gradually changes his life.

Jerk

Disability, Scripted

JERK follows the life of acclaimed stand up comedian Tim Renkow, who plays a heightened version of himself - an American art school dropout in London who knows that having cerebral palsy means he can get away with almost anything.

This Close

Disability, Scripted

An official selection of the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, This Close is a groundbreaking relationship dramedy created, written, and starring Shoshannah Stern and Josh Feldman, both of whom are deaf. This honest, funny and endearing show explores universal and relatable themes of love and friendship — in its many permutations.

No Drama - Bernarda Alba

Disability, Non Scripted

No drama shows the work of the Argentine theater director Esteban Parola with the Grupo Esperanza, a cast of actors with disabilities. The No Drama crew rehearses every week since 2011. This year, they take a step forwards in inclusive theatre including actors without disabilities, with other stories, characteristics and backgrounds....read more

If There’s Room for Two

Disability, Non Scripted

Pablo Pineda and “El Langui” discover the best restaurants in our country with humor and empathy. We will get to know sophisticated restaurants, as well as the most traditional ones. The main characters will show their motivating stories of personal overcoming through this gastronomic journey seasoned with friendship.

No Vacancy: Vancouver's Housing Crisis

Disability, Non Scripted

Host Grant Hardy investigates the impact of Metro Vancouver’s housing crisis on people with disabilities and how it is challenging city planners, architects and governments.

Rainbow Stories

Kids Programming

Rainbow Stories is a collection of heart-warming stories featuring positive LGBT+ characters. Each uplifting story focusses on positivity, love, family, friendship and trust. All the topics are introduced in a way that’s easy to understand even for the youngest audience.

The Bravest Knight

Kids Programming

The Bravest Knight is the story of a young pumpkin farmer, named Cedric, as he attempts to become the greatest knight who ever lived. Now grown and married to the prince of his dreams, Sir Cedric recounts his adventures to his daughter Nia, showing her the path to knighthood.

What It's Like

Kids Programming

Insightful, optimistic, funny, revealing, profound – What It’s Like gives a wide-reaching platform to groups of young people whose voices, stories and perspectives are not often seen or heard in the media. This is genuine, real storytelling told the way kids like it to be told - by themselves.

Diversify TV Excellence Awards

All programmes submitted to the competition will be short-listed by members of the MIP Markets’ Diversity Advisory Board, comprised of leading professionals committed to diversity and inclusion in the global media landscape. MIPCOM thanks them all for their ongoing support and guidance to this programme.

Bunmi Akintonwa

CEO
Little Black Book Company

Sahar Baghery

Head of Business Development
Amazon Prime Video

Sean Cohan

President Wheelhouse Entertainment
Chief Business Officer, Wheelhouse Group

David Cornwall

Managing Director
Scorpion Television

David Ellender

CEO
Sonar Entertainment

Sallyann Keizer

Managing Director
Sixth Sense Media

David Levine

GM Disney Channels UK
The Walt Disney Company

Nick Smith

EVP Formats
All3Media International

Bruna Capozzoli

Creative Director
Popcorn Digital

Shabnam Rezaei

Co-Founder & President
Big Bad Boo Studios

Francesco Tocci

Head of Format and Documentary Unit
Nonpanic Banijay

David Cornwall

SVP, Programming
AMC/Sundance TV Global

Deborah Williams

CEO
The Creative Diversity Network (CDN)

Mounia Aram

CEO
Mounia Aram Company

Cedric Petitpas

Youtube Family Partnerships
Youtube KIDS

David Levine, 
VP Kids Programming, Europe & Africa / UK & Ireland
Executive Sponsor, Pride UK & Ireland

THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY LIMITED

Not only is inclusion the right thing to do, it makes good business sense, since diverse companies perform better and diverse content can appeal to border and wider audiences. One only need look the success of ‘Black Panther’ and ‘Captain Marvel’ to recognize this. Diversity and globally inclusive viewpoints should be the norm and the baseline expectation in the kid’s content industry – and programming needs to keep up with this evolution in order to be relevant to today’s parents and kids. 

Shabnam Rezaei, 
President 
Big Bad Boo Studios

Diversity is no longer about portraying “the other” but rather simply about representation and inclusion. Media needs properly to reflect the colourful world around us and the Mipcom Diversify TV Excellence Awards shines a light on projects that have done this. 

The world is so interesting because is diversified. Educating the audience to appreciate how diversity can enrich our life is vital. This is even more crucial now, in times when some people feel more and more legitimate to express intolerance and violence. The media are powerful and have a responsibility to encourage diversity, promote pluralism and allow the people to know what is different from them. I feel honoured to participate MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Award and look forward to discovering those amazing stories and people that make our world so beautifully plural. 

Francesco Tocci, 
Head of Format and Documentary Unit
Nonpanic Banijay

First day was originally commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Screen Australia as a standalone TV episode to celebrate the 2017 International Day of the Girl. The show has resonated with audiences around the world, and after winning the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Award for outstanding children’s programming, and the Gender Equity Prize at Prix Jeunesse, has been commissioned as a four episode series, going into production in July 2019. We’re excited to continue working with the amazing Evie Macdonald, who in our original episode was the first trans actor to play a lead role on Australian Television. 

Kirsty Stark, 
Producer 
Epic Films