International Emmy Awards: U.K.’s ‘Man In an Orange Shirt,’ Israel’s ‘Nevsu,’ Spain’s ‘Money Heist’ Among Winners

By Addie Morfoot

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – The U.K. production “Man in an Orange Shirt” won the International Emmy Award for best movie/miniseries at the 46th annual ceremony in New York. The top drama series award went to Spain’s “Money Heist.”

“Heist” was produced by Vancouver Media and Atresmedia Televisión. “Man in an Orange Shirt,” produced by the U.K.’s Kudos banner, starred Vanessa Redgrave and revolved around two gay love stories, one set in the present day, the other in the 1940s. The two-hour production aired on the BBC and PBS.

Hari Kondabolu, the comedian who is also known for the documentary “The Simpsons, the Problem with Apu,” hosted the annual ceremony. “There are no real losers here because you all made it through immigration,” Kondabolu said in opening the kudos at the Hilton New York.

The black tie affair honored prolific showrunner Greg Berlanti and Sophie Turner Laing, head of Endemol Shine Group and former BSkyB programming chief. The gala was chaired by Rola Bauer, managing director of StudioCanal TV. “Let us use our power to change and enlighten the world,” Bauer told the crowd.

A humbled Berlanti took the stage late in the evening to accept the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Founders Award. The busiest small-screen producer in the television business teared up when thanking his mother, who died last year.

“My mother was the first producer I ever worked with,” Berlanti said after describing how, as a teen, his mom drove him to kids birthday parties so he could perform puppetry. “She told me how much to charge.”

Berlanti also thanked the late producer Garry Marshall, whom he met prior to his television career during college. Marshall advised Berlanti to work hard and be persistent before also informing the soon-to-be writer-director-producer that success also required “stepping in s—.” Years later when Berlanti met Marshall again, the late “Happy Days” creator congratulated him on “stepping in a lot of s—.”

Laing, who was feted with the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Directorate Award, told the audience that “None of us are as cool as our shows,” she said. “Take collective responsibility to hold up the mirrors to change the world.”

Israel’s “Nevsu” won for comedy series. The show hails from Endemol Shine Israel, Gesher Fund and the Avi Chai Fund. Endemol Shine also scored the trophy for non-English language series, for season two of NBCUniversal’s Telemundo’s “El Vato,” from Universo and the Endemol Shine Boomdog unit in Mexico.

Portugal’s “The Payback” was recognized for telenovela, produced from Plural Entertainment Portugal. Non-scripted entertainment went to Belgium’s “Did You Get the Message,” produced by Shelter.

The top male acting award went to Lars Mikkelsen for Denmark’s ” Ride Upon the Storm,” from DR Drama, ARTE France and SAM le Français.

Anna Schudt won best actress for her work in Germany’s “The Sniffles Would Have Been Just Fine,” produced by Zeitsprung Pictures and RTL Television.

The nod for arts programming went to Netherlands’ “Etgar Keret, Based on a True Story,” produced by Baldr Film, NTR Television.

The BBC Arabic production of “Goodbye Aleppo” took the documentary honor.

Short-form series went to Chile’s “The Suspended Mourning,” produced by Tridi Films, CNTV and Escuela de Cine de Chile.

(Pictured: Lars Mikkelsen)