MIPCOM’s Diversify TV Awards handed out a total of nine trophies today to producers who have excelled at promoting inclusivity in their content, including two categories focused on “Representation of Diversity in Kids Programming.” 

In the preschool field, Toronto’s Sinking Ship Entertainment won with Wordsville, its educational bridge series for building literacy and vocabulary skills (commissioned by TVOKids and PBS). 

And Aussie film Windcatcher from Unless Pictures and Every Cloud Productions came out on top in the older children race. Commissioned by Stan and the ACTF, this 80-minute movie revolves around a young Aboriginal boy navigating his ambition to become a runner with his ability to communicate with ancestral spirits.

There were a total of six shortlisted kids entries this year, with particularly strong Canadian representation.

The Diversify TV Awards ceremony also presented a special Behind the Scenes Impact Award to Banijay Launch—an accelerator program that identifies emerging female creators from around the world and connects them with Banijay Entertainment execs to develop promising concepts.

The application window for the program’s second cycle is open until December 1, 2024. Launch’s first  round received 500-plus applications from creators in more than 30 territories.