MUSIC FOR SIRENS (CZCR, Czech Republic)
The combination of sound elements, each having its own nature, through the radio broadcast, transfigures itself generating a third sound full of suggestions and able to transport the listener to a dimension suspended between the reality of the present and the musical plot.
ALONE WITH J. S. BACH (ABC, Australia)
YOU'LL BE A MAN, DAD (ARTE Radio/ ARTE France, France)
The Radio Drama Jury received some very impressive, innovative and diverse masterpieces from all over the world. It is clear to us that radio, creative talented sound work and fiction have a bright future. The Jury was unanimous when it came to choosing the winner: "You'll be a Man, Dad" from ARTE Radio/ ARTE France (France). In a superb demonstration of radiophonic power - and without emotional overload - the artist behind "You'll be a Man, Dad" subtly shows the reality when dealing with the pain of losing an infant. The artist skillfully demonstrates shifts between seemingly opposite narration styles; from the documentary to the sport allegorical - from cutting edges of cold facts to heart beats and disembodied reality of the hospital. "You'll be a Man, Dad" is a touching masterpiece. It offers an unusual dynamic radiophonic richness that in a light, yet captivating way, draws our attention and invites us into the fields where wounded hearts heal.
NOISY NIGHTS (ORF, Austria)
The Jury wants to give a special mention to a piece of radio drama that demonstrates the potential of radio, sound, and music. "Noisy Nights" is an original, multidimensional piece that investigates the love life of a deaf young girl who meets her love in a Club. It skillfully uses sound and effects to expose the minds of our two lovers. The artists behind "Noisy Nights" succeed in an update of the radiophonic language. It makes us think about what we feel for real - and how we communicate it.
THE SKULL - A TALE WITH NO ENDING. THE CHURCH AND GERMAN COLONIAL RULE IN NAMIBIA (ARD, Germany)
The Radio Documentary Jury has chosen "The Skull, A Tale with No Ending", from Germany (ARD), as the winner for this category, for this incredible story which takes place in the past - but the consequences of that story extend into the present. By telling the story of one detail, a skull, it portrays fundamental human themes, such as guilt, atonement, grief and forgiveness while presenting great historical and political issues concerning colonialism. The Jury described it as an almost cinematic personal journey that provides a strong narrative for a complex, layered debate. We especially appreciated the relationship between the author and the main protagonist. "The Skull" shows how a radio production of a country can have a strong social impact, globally, by grounding itself on our common pursuit - human rights.
THE VOICE OF JACKAL (RTVSLO, Slovenia)
"The Voice of Jackal" from Slovenia was selected for a special mention by the Radio Documentary and Reportage Jury for this unique production which combined academic research with poetry and philosophy. This radio art programme with journalistic standards stood out with its sophisticated use of sound using text, poems, field recordings and archive material to compose a radio piece about the environment that surprises the listener while actually presenting a rather brittle scientific topic. It grappled with difficult topics in a slow, sensuous programme which gave time for the listener to reflect and wrestle with tricky ideas. A great example of how sound and voice can picture a poetic painting without brushes and colors.
CRIP TALES (BBC, United Kingdom)
"Crip Tales" comes as a blow in your stomach. It is brilliantly written, sensitively directed, beautifully acted. It is a short but brilliant metaphor of the dreams and aspirations of a crippled life.
MARINA ABRAMOVIĆ TAKES OVER TV (Sky UK, United Kingdom)
IT'S A SIN (CH4, United Kingdom)
"It's a Sin" is a poignant period drama series that chronicles the journey of four friends from diverse backgrounds in the 1980s, as they experience first-hand the devastating effects of the spread of the AIDS pandemic within the gay community. Peppered with a lot of humor, the show skillfully holds the hand of the viewer and seamlessly takes them from one emotion to another. The story manages to be both profoundly tragic and immersively fun at the same time. The representation of the roles and the skills of such complex characters keep the viewer in the grip, whilst delivering the story's important message directly to the heart. More than just the theme of sexuality, this drama series also touches on other relevant themes such as parenting, freedom of expression, stigma, discrimination, prejudice and the marginalization of queer communities by the broader society; themes that ring true to this day. "It's a Sin" is a moving period drama, modern and fresh. It is a minority story that touches the majority.
THE WINDERMERE CHILDREN (ZDF, Germany)
"The Windermere Children" is a moving feature-length film that tells the story of 300 traumatized and orphaned Jewish child survivors of the Holocaust, from the Czech Republic. All bearing deep psychological scars and living in constant fear at first, we witness their slow but remarkable transformation as they regain their trust in humanity. Each of them starts seeing a flicker of light as they slowly come to terms with their dark past, armed with a renewed sense of hope for their future. The story of the Holocaust has been retold many times in different forms but the uniqueness of this approach lies in the fact that it is not about the Holocaust, but rather because of the Holocaust. Watching this story about them winning back their normal life, it reminds us of how important and precious human rights are.
THE CAVE (ARD, Germany)
"The Cave" is an excellent work. It literally makes the war explode in front of your eyes with the force of a bomb, even if you live in the opposite corner of the world. The topic has been treated in a delicate and intense way. A masterly technique makes this message impossible to ignore. Many impressive documentaries have been submitted in this edition of the Prix Italia, but "The Cave" is an urgent and needed feat.
MEETING YOU: MEETING YONG-GYUN (MBC, South Korea)
"Meeting You: Meeting Yong-gyun" is a work that moves for its uniqueness. The social topic of the right to work in a safe environment mixes up with the use of the most advanced technologies. Useful and touching at the same time, this documentary can turn on the spotlight on a relevant issue for the community and feed the debate about occupational safety and health - a public debate that led to the "Serious Accidents Punishment Act" in South Korea. It accomplished what should be the main role of a documentary in contributing to "rebuild a culture".
SAFESPACE - YOUR TEAM FOR INTIMATE TOPICS (ARD, Germany)
Young people are spending more time online than ever. "safespace - Your Team for Intimate Topics" finds new, inclusive ways to engage with the viewers in their native Tik Tok environment, while also making a conscious and successful effort to make itself available across other media channels. On the show, a diverse cast of relatable personalities helps young people navigate complex but necessary topics in a palatable manner. The jury found that this cross-media project is extremely well-executed, relevant and ambitious in the choice of the subjects it covers. It also shows awareness of the responsibility it carries, while remaining true to its young audience. As such, it is public service at its finest.
MUSIC CURATION BATTLE: AI VS. HUMAN (KBS, South Korea)
As the presence of artificial intelligence in our lives continues to increase, some of us grow fascinated while others remain apprehensive. "Music Curation Battle: AI vs. Human" is an excellent example of an innovative cross-media project which shows how humans and AI can work together in a way that leaves no winners or losers.
SWAN LAKE BATH BALLET (BBC, United Kingdom)
A truly beautiful project in its simplicity and form. In the Jury's view, the juxtaposition of a familiar space and the artistic interpretations of one of the most famous pieces of classical music make for an otherworldly experience, so very telling of the zeitgeist that the pandemic has brought about. With the use of widely accessible technology, the creators of "Swan Lake Bath Ballet" were able to successfully re-contextualise a familiar piece of art and use the limitations of a socially distanced world to their advantage. The jury believes that for generations to come, this stellar production will serve as a perfect example of just how creative humans can be in a time of a crisis.
MENTAL (RAI, Italy)
A timely and relevant response to the global mental health crisis that has left young people especially vulnerable. With strong visuals and a language tailored to its target audience, the web series "Mental" handles its delicate subject matter with remarkable ease and offers a fresh, much-needed insight into the inner lives and social worlds of teenage mental health sufferers.
FISH BINGO (DR, Denmark)
Drawing back to the analogue roots of a digital world, "Fish Bingo" is a light-hearted, feel-good project with a strong community-building aspect. The programme relies on a simple but effective concept to reach, engage and entertain a diverse audience. The Jury agrees that the producers delivered a well-crafted and easily accessible interactive experience that combines the popular lockdown habits of fishing and bingo and accommodates the growing hunger of the public for real emotions and shared experiences. Beneath its playful facade, "Fish Bingo" is a prime example of how digital media can be used in the service of vital socio-emotional skills such as empathy and how it can remedy the negative effects of prolonged isolation.
SANTA'S GRANDCHILDREN (CZCR, Czech Republic)
A standout project with a lasting social impact, "Santa's Grandchildren" shines the spotlight on the elderly and delivers real, palpable help to those who are all too often overlooked by society. While it excels at the interactive aspect, it also goes well beyond the boundaries of the online experience and encourages participants to form intergenerational connections in real life.
LITTLE GIRL (ARTE France, France)
In order to select the best programme, the Jury unanimously defined a set of common key-rules: focus on innovation (in the topic and in the making), quality (artistic and visual), ability to delivery emotion (in the authenticity of the characters and to the public), courage and the ability to achieve the value of universality. We believe that "Little Girl" is the best made programme, most innovative, exposing an appealing and catching story while covering a risky and original topic. It draws attention to a very important subject and complex topic which is presented in an artistic, emotional and elegant way, helping in raising social awareness on this subject through the story of Sasha. The "Little girl" is an extremely strong protagonist that turned her struggles into strength while facing a cruel world. Moreover the relation, the bond between the courageous mother and her daughter create a moving documentary and bring the story closer to the viewer.
SCORPION (ROR, Romania)
The programme expresses and demonstrates the power and strength of Radio to express itself in sound and image. The acting, the atmosphere and the sound effects are of exceptional quality, making the story alive and moving. It creates a strong universe and listeners are fully captivated by the drama.
DOPAMINE - SPECIAL LOCKDOWN (ARTE France, France)
The Covid-19 pandemic has made, if possible, even more urgent to contemplate our ambivalent relationship with the tech, the apps, the devices. "Dopamine - Special Lockdown" deals with the issue with sensitive cinematography and a storytelling always aware of the flow of the Web. It carries a profound intergenerational scope, leading to a non-obvious critique of our irreversible "onlife" condition.
MENTAL (RAI, Italy)
For dealing with the delicate issue of mental health in a way both smart and sensitive. We deem necessary and relevant for a Public Service broadcaster to address such an urgent topic, taking an active role in the fight against the social stigma.
PUSH (SVT, Sweden)
We applaud this documentary for raising the issue of a "David & Goliath" situation in which wealthy Hedge Funds and other investors trade housing as assets, in much the same way as they would trade a commodity such as gold, without regard to the displacement of tenants, many of whom are poorer people, immigrants, the elderly and refugees. Swedish Television has excelled in showing us that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provision that adequate housing is the right of every child, woman and man, everywhere, flagrantly ignored by unbridled capitalism, a position that numerous countries legally endorse in spite of its intrinsically amoral nature. The filmmakers are to be commended for raising in such a powerful manner an issue of universal concern.