The ABC has won two awards at the world’s largest competition for outstanding children’s television for the Australian series Hardball and The Unlisted.
The ABC ME programs were the only Australian winners of the prestigious Prix Jeunesse International Awards, which were chosen from a field of 400 children’s programs from 59 countries.
Hardball, which tells the story of fish-out-of-water Mikey and his goal to become the sweetest-bestest-acest hardball champ in Western Sydney, won the Prix Jeunesse for the world’s best children’s fiction program for 7-10-year-olds. The comedy series, produced by Northern Pictures for the ABC, was also recognised in the international jury section of the biannual awards, which were voted on by 500 children’s television experts from around the world.
Drama series The Unlisted, about identical teenage twins trying to stop a global conspiracy against children, won the international youth jury prize for the world’s best fiction program for 11-15-year-olds. The series, produced by Aquarius Films for the ABC, was also the runner-up for the main trophy in that category.
ABC Children’s series Bluey and Little J and Big Cuz were also nominated for Prix Jeunesse awards, which were announced during a virtual ceremony from Munich on 11 June.
ABC Head of Children’s Production Libbie Doherty said the award wins showed how Australia is making its mark across the world for outstanding children’s programs.
“Prix Jeunesse celebrates excellence, creative innovation and the wonderment of childhood,” she said.
“The Unlisted and Hardball represent the best of Australian children’s content creation. Congratulations to all the cast, crew and creatives who brought their ‘A Game’ to these productions. To stand alongside the best in the world is a great honour and both of these productions have rightly earned their place on that international stage.”
The biannual Prix Jeunesse Awards celebrate high-quality and innovative programming and excellence in television worldwide. The ABC was also a winner in the 2018 Prix Jeunesse, with ABC ME’s First Day winning the gender equity prize and What It’s Like to Experience A Disability taking home an international youth jury award.
In 2016, ABC series Little Lunch won the award for best fiction program in the 7-10-year-old category.
