Dubbed by The Hollywood Reporter as "The Burning Man" of awards season after the quirky annual festival held in the Californian desert, the International Emmy Awards, though not as well known as its US counterparts, never fail to bring top-class entertainment to the table.
Whether comedy, drama, melancholy or raw realism, the shows and films nominated for International Emmys showcase both upcoming, well-established and returning talent. And this year, the UK drama, Elizabeth is Missing, saw British Oscar-winning actress, Glenda Jackson persuaded back on set after a 25-year absence from the industry.
So, in the words of Parasite director and Oscar winner, Bong Joon-Ho, get over the one-inch barrier of subtitles, and immerse yourself in our pick of 5 International Emmy Awards nominees and winners that are well worth a watch…
‘L’Effondrement’ (The Collapse), France
The eight-episode miniseries from France focuses on the beginning of the end of the world. But there is no zombie apocalypse or nuclear fallout here, but rather a world that is teetering on the brink as energy and food runs out.
Nominated in the TV Movie or Miniseries category, it lost out to the UK's Responsible Child, but breaks fresh ground in that every episode is shot in a single take, following different individual and families as they try to survive in a world when society is collapsing all around them amid riots, panic and growing anxiety.
Available to watch on YouTube
‘Invisible Stories’, Singapore
Yeo Yann Yann was nominated in the Best Performance by an Actress category for her role as Lian in this six-part miniseries from Singapore. Developed by HBO Asia, this part-dark comedy, part-drama tells the stories of the characters who live on Sungai Merah public housing estate in the city-state. With raw and realistic performances throughout, the hard-hitting stories are interspersed with moments of joy and humour.
Available to watch on HBO Max streaming
‘Delhi Crime’, India
Winning in the Drama Series category, Delhi Crime is not for the faint-hearted, but is more than rewarding for viewers. Across seven episodes of around an hour apiece, it is based on the 2012 gang rape in Munirka, South Delhi that shocked the world with its brutality, and which lead to the horrific death of the victim, Jyoti Singh. The series focuses on the aftermath, where deputy commissioner of police, Vartika Chaturvedi (Shefali Shah) is tasked with finding the men responsible.
Available to watch on Netflix
'Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds', Australia
Winning in the Non-Scripted Entertainment category, the show is based on the British Channel 4 show of the same name. This time the heart-warming social experiment shifts to Australia and follows 11 retirement home residents and 10 pre-school aged children, who spend time with each other playing games and participating in different planned and mixed activities. Testing the theory that, as the population of Australia ages, life could be made better for older Australians if they spent more time with young people, there are ice creams at the beach, building block challenges, musical shows and sports days, with the adults tested on the effects on their mental health throughout.
Available to watch on ABC iview
‘Elizabeth Is Missing’, UK
British actress, Glenda Jackson, scooped the Best Performance by an Actress for this British murder mystery with a twist. The twist being that the 80-something woman, Maud (Jackson) who is trying to find out what happened to her best friend Elizabeth who disappeared, is suffering from Alzheimer's. The script, which coaxed back Jackson after a 25-year absence from the screen, deals both with enduring friendship and human tenacity in the face of a disease that robs a person of themselves.
Available to watch on Acorn TV
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Read more:
[ 'Delhi Crime' and 'For Sama' win top prizes at International Emmy Awards ]
[ Who are the front runners for the main awards at the 2021 Oscars? ]
[ Who wore pyjamas to the Emmy Awards 2020? From Jameela Jamil to Gabrielle Union ]
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