Seven programs have been recognized by The Television Academy for leveraging “the extraordinary power of storytelling to propel social change,” the academy announced Thursday.
Shows receiving the 17th Television Academy Honors include four non-scripted series and three scripted series from 2023.
“This year’s honorees have leveraged the medium’s power to drive meaningful conversation and create social impact,” Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego said. “We honor their commitment to authentic, evocative storytelling that tackles important social issues that affect the global audience.”
Scott Freeman, governor of the Reality Programming Peer Group, chaired this year’s selection committee with Bobbi Banks, governor of the Sound Editors Peer Group, serving as vice chair.
“The Academy Honors Selection Committee was pleased to receive many extraordinary submissions for this award. While all should be commended and it was a challenging responsibility to determine the final honorees, this year’s deserving recipients have delivered powerful and thought-provoking stories that resonate with viewers around the world,” Freeman said.
Recipients of the 17th Television Academy Honors are:
— “1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed” (Get Lifted Film Company, HBO Documentary Films). W. Kamau Bell’s documentary explores what it means to grow up mixed-race in America through conversations with multiracial children and their families in the San Francisco Bay Area, including his own. (HBO Max)
— “The 1619 Project” (Harpo, Lionsgate Television, One Story Up Productions, The New York Times, Onyx Collective). This nonfiction series is a dramatic expansion of The 1619 Project created by Pulitzer Prize-winner Nikole Hannah-Jones and the New York Times Magazine. The series seeks to reframe America’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the center of the national narrative. (Hulu)
— “A Small Light” (ABC Signature, Keshet Studios, National Geographic). Starring Bel Powley and Liev Schreiber, this limited series follows the tale of Miep Gies, a Dutch woman who risked her life to shelter Anne Frank and her family from the Nazis for nearly two years during World War II. (National Geographic)
— “Beef” (A24, Universal Remote, Netflix). Lee Sung Jin’s series concerns a road-rage incident between two strangers played by Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, which sparks a feud that brings out their darkest impulses. (Netflix)
— “Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court” (Showtime Documentary Films, Showtimes Networks, Trilogy Films). This documentary series examines the vital role the Supreme Court plays in the ongoing fight for civil liberties in the context of America’s shifting political landscape. From Chief Justice Earl Warren in the mid-20th century through the latest sessions under Chief Justice John Roberts, each of the four episodes features an in-depth look at pivotal cases that altered the state of the union. (Showtime)
— “Heartstopper” (See-Saw Films, Netflix). Based on the global best-selling graphic novels from author and creator Alice Oseman, “Heartstopper” stars Kit Connor and Joe Locke and explores the relationship between teens Charlie and Nick who discover their unlikely friendship might be something more as they navigate school and young love. (Netflix)
— “Lakota Nation vs. United States” (Unceded Films, LLC; IFC Films). This documentary chronicles the Lakota Indians’ fight to protect their sacred land. (AMC+)
The recipients will be celebrated at a ceremony scheduled for May 23 at Citizen News in Hollywood.