Western Australia’s reputation for excellence in television production has been recognised internationally with a number of locally-produced series taking out major awards at recent American awards events.
Prime time drama The Circuit, animated children’s show Dogstar, genealogical detective series Who Do You Think You Are and reality program Eco House Challenge, were all recognised at the 2008 Hugo Television Awards, while Eco House Challenge and the documentary Kindness of Strangers picked up prizes at the WorldFest Film Festival.
Presented annually by Cinema/Chicago and the Chicago International Film Festival, the Hugo Television Awards (‘The Hugos’) celebrate the best in international television productions.
Local production company Media World Pictures took out two awards at the Hugos, with The Circuit winning the Silver Hugo in the Mini-Series category, and Dogstar receiving a Certificate of Merit in the Animated Series Category.
Genealogical detective series Who Do you Think You Are was awarded a Certificate of Merit in the Educational/Documentary Series category. The series was produced under Film Australia’s National Interest Program and made by Western Australian production company Artemis International and Sydney-based Serendipity Productions.
The groundbreaking series Eco House Challenge won the Silver Plaque in the Reality Series category. The program follows two families who are challenged to reduce their consumption levels and learn to live sustainably in just a few weeks.
The series production company, Prospero Productions, was also among the winners at the recent WorldFest Film Festival in Houston, Texas.
Founded by award winning producer/director Hunter Todd, WorldFest’s aim is to present a quality film festival for independent filmmakers.
Eco House Challenge won a Bronze Remi in the Reality-based program category, while another Prospero Productions documentary, Kindness of Strangers took out the same award, in the Information, Cultural or Historical program category.
Set in Sri Lanka in the immediate aftermath of the Boxing Day tsunami, Kindness of Strangers explores the science of compassion and asks the critical question: are we born good or bad?
The Circuit, Dogstar, Who Do You Think You Are, Eco House Challenge and Kindness of Strangers are all proudly supported by ScreenWest and Lotterywest.
[release by Screen West]