The Northern Irish drama ‘Small Island’ was one of the nominees for the 38th International Emmy Awards announced by The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences at a press conference at MIPCOM. The Awards look to honour excellence in TV production outside the US. ‘Small Island’ was nominated in the best TV Movie/Mini Series category.
The two x 90-minute drama, produced by Ruby Television in association with AL Films, shot in Northern Ireland and Jamaica last autumn. It is an adaptation based on the award winning novel by Andrea Levy which is set in 1948 and plays through the relationships of two couples along with acting as a glimpse at Jamaican emigrants settling in post-WWI. Paula Milne (The Virgin Queen) and Sarah Williams (Becoming Jane) penned the adaptation with John Alexander (Life On Mars, Survivors) directing.
The drama stars Naomie Harris (Pirates of the Caribbean), David Oyelowo (The Last King of Scotland), Ruth Wilson (Jane Eyre), Benedict Cumberbatch (Starter For Ten), Nikki Amuka-Bird (The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, Survivors) and Ashley Walters (Hustle).
Executive Producers for ‘Small Island’ are Alison Owen (Elizabeth, Proof, The Other Boleyn Girl), Paula Milne and Paul Trijbits (Five Minutes of Heaven, Bloody Sunday; Touching the Void). The producers are Joanna Anderson, Vicky Licorish and Grainne Marmion (The Borrowers; Larkrise to Candleford). The executive producer for the BBC is Lucy Richer, Commissioning Editor, Independent Drama Commissioning.
‘Small Island’ has prevsiouly won RTS and BAFTA TV Craft Awards and will face competition from fellow TV Movie/Mini-Series nominees ‘Hopeville’ from Curious Pictures / Heartlines / SABC Education; ‘Marcel Reich-Ranicki: The Author of Himself’ from Trebitsch Entertainment / WDR / Arte and ‘Sound & Fury’ from TV Globo / O2 Filmes. The award winners will be announced at a ceremony hosted by Actor/Director Jason Priestley (Tombstone, Coldblooded), on November 22nd at the Hilton New York Hotel.
A full list of nominees can be found at www.iemmys.tv
