Emmys everywhere
International Emmys hosted by comedian John Oliver pay tribute to TV programming from Brazil to Australia
Britain’s Sean Bean and Brazil’s Fernanda Montenegro took the top acting honours on Monday night at the 41st International Emmy Awards in which the statues were spread among TV productions from six countries.
The highlight of the awards ceremony came when Zachary Quinto, who plays Spock in the latest Star Trek film, presented the honorary International Emmy Founders Award to writerdirector- producer J. J. Abrams, who took a break from pre- production work of the crime anthology series Accused. Bean portrayed a shy English teacher with a secret alter- ego of a flamboyant transvestite who gets involved in an affair with a married man that leads to a brutal crime of passion.
Britain’s Moone Boy, about a young Irish boy who survives his chaotic family life with the help of an imaginary grownup pal, won in the comedy category. The British documentary Freddie Mercury: The Great
Pretender, which focuses on the rock singer’s solo projects outside of Queen, tied for the arts programming award with South Korea’s Hello?! Orchestra, in which violist Richard Yong-jae O’Neill conducts an orchestra of children like himself from multicultural families. Montenegro, who received an Oscar nomination for the 1998 film Central Station, was chosen best actress for her role in Doce de Mae ( Sweet Mother) in which she plays an 85- year- old woman who wishes to live independently and take on new experiences, like dancing.
Best drama series went to France’s Les Revenants ( The Returned).
In the documentary category, the French production 5 Broken Cameras, co- directed by Palestinian Emad Burnat and Israeli Guy Davidi won. The film, which was nominated for a best documentary feature Oscar earlier this year, was shot by Burnat, a Palestinian farmer, and depicts life and non- violent resistance in a West Bank village.
The awards, presented by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, honour excellence in TV programming outside the US. – on the new Star Wars.
Abrams, who helped create such trend- setting TV series as Felicity, Alias
and Lost, is the executive producer of three currently running TV shows - Revolution, Almost Human and Person of Interest.
Britain garnered three International Emmys at the ceremony at the Hilton New York hosted by British comedian John Oliver.
Brazil and France had two apiece, while Australia, South Korea and Germany each got one award.
Bean, best known for his roles in The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, won the best actor award for his role in an episode Actor Zachary Quinto, left, with American filmmaker J. J. Abrams who was honoured with the Founders Award.