ITVS Takes Home Three 2020 News & Documentary Emmy Awards

In this most unusual and trying year, there's comfort in knowing the prestigious News & Documentary Emmy Awards were able to go ahead with a 2020 ceremony held virtually and streamed online. And it was there that the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced that ITVS-supported films were honored with three Emmy Awards. We are so thrilled to salute the filmmakers behind these films which originally premiered on public television in the calendar-year 2019. 

There were eight ITVS films nominated for News & Documentary Emmys, in 10 categories. PBS led all networks and services with 47 total nominations, highlighting the power of public media. 

And now (drumroll please) the winning films: 

THE SILENCE OF OTHERS won two Emmys, for both Best Documentary, and Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary.  The film aired on PBS's POV. Congratulations to filmmakers Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar for their extraordinary achievement. The film captures the first attempt in 77 years to prosecute crimes of Spain’s 40-year dictatorship under General Franco (1939-1975). It also won a Peabody Award.

MIDNIGHT TRAVELER, for Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary. Kudos to filmmakers Hassan Fazili and Emelie Mahdavian on this honor.  Their film aired on PBS's POV and is a rare first-person account of the refugee experience, telling the gripping story of an Afghan family fleeing the Taliban film their years-long journey to safety. It also previously won Sundance and Peabody honors.

“ITVS is proud to support independent documentary filmmakers like Hassan Fazili, Emelie Mahdavian, Almudena Carracedo, and Robert Bahar, whose artfully told stories celebrate humanity," says Sally Jo Fifer, President and CEO of ITVS. "The unflinching work of these talented producers lifts our democracy by giving voice through public media to communities across America."

ITVS Supervising Producer for both films was Michael Ehrenzweig. 

We congratulate the other ITVS films that so deservedly garnered an Emmy nomination:

CHARM CITY (Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary) 

Filmmaker: Marilyn Ness

PBS series: Independent Lens

THE INTERPRETERS (Outstanding Politics & Government Documentary)

Filmmakers: Andrés Caballero and Sofian Khan

PBS series: Independent Lens

THE KING (Best Documentary & Outstanding Historical Documentary)

Filmmaker: Eugene Jarecki

PBS series: Independent Lens

MADE IN BOISE (Outstanding Business and Economic Documentary) 

Filmmaker: Beth Aala and Beth Levison

PBS series: Independent Lens

RUMBLE: THE INDIANS WHO ROCKED THE WORLD (Outstanding Arts & Culture Documentary)

Filmmakers: Catherine Bainbridge and Alfonso Maiorana

PBS series: Independent Lens

WRESTLE (Outstanding Social Issue Documentary; and Outstanding Editing: Documentary)

Filmmakers: Lauren Belfer and Suzannah Herbert

PBS series: Independent Lens