Empowering ABC series Employable Me has won two gold medals at the New York Festivals International TV and Film Awards, which celebrate outstanding and important screen content from around the world.
The first series of the uplifting and insightful program won the 2019 United Nations Department of Public Information Gold Award, chosen in collaboration with New York Festivals to honour exceptional programs that best exemplify the aims and ideals of the United Nations.
Employable Me – series two of which is now on ABC TV and iview – also won the festivals’ Gold World Medal for Documentary for its exploration of social issues affecting people with neuro-diverse conditions as they search for employment.
Stephen Oliver, ABC Commissioning Editor, Factual, said, “We are proud that Employable Me is having such an impact internationally and showing a mainstream audience that when we see the ability rather than just the disability, it is good for both the individual and society. The incredibly dedicated team at Northern Pictures have done an outstanding job making content that is important and compelling.”
Rose Anderson, New York Festivals’ Vice-President and Executive Director, said, “Since 1990, New York Festivals has partnered with the United Nations Department of Public Information on a special award on issues of importance to the UN. They are determined by a blue-ribbon panel of experts at the United Nations. The Global Goals are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. Employable Me goes to the heart of what the work of the UN is all about – improving people’s lives.”
Employable Me is produced by Northern Pictures for the ABC under its commitment to bring diverse stories, including those about people with disabilities, into focus. The second series of Employable Me – which was financed by Screen Australia and the NSW Department of Industry in association with Create NSW and the ABC – is now showing on ABC TV and iview.
Employable Me has already received many major awards in Australia and overseas, including:
- AACTA Awards 2018: Winner – Best Documentary or Factual Program
- Venice Television Awards 2018: Winner – Best Reality Series
- Japan Prize 2018: Winner – Audiovisual Division (Lifelong Learning Prize)
- Australian Screen Editor Awards 2018: Winner – Best Editor (Documentary)
- Australian Human Rights Award 2018: Nominee – Human Rights Medal
- Logie Awards 2019: Shortlisted for Most Outstanding Factual Program
- Series two of Employable Me is on ABC TV on Tuesdays at 8.30pm and on iview.
Visit https://www.abc.net.au