Six children’s productions were announced as contenders for this year’s MIPCOM CANNES Diversify TV Awards, and Canadian studios are behind half of them. Recognizing inclusive programming that offers a positive representation of diversity, the awards will be presented on Tuesday, October 22 at MIPCOM. 

Three live-action shows from Toronto-based companies are in the running to win: Lopii Productions picked up a nomination for Dream It To Be It, and Sinking Ship Entertainment was shortlisted for both Beyond Black Beauty (pictured) and Wordsville. 

Beyond Black Beauty (Family Channel, with backing from Leif Films and Saga Films) and Dream It To Be It (TVOKids and Knowledge Network) are competing against Unless Pictures/Every Cloud Productions’ Australian feature film Windcatcher (Stan) in the Representation of Diversity in Kids Programming—Older Children category. 

And the Preschool category nominees are Wordsville (TVOKids and PBS Thirteen), BBC Studios Kids & Family animated series JoJo & Gran Gran‘s episode “It’s Time to Braid Hair” (BBC) and Score Draw Media’s 2D-animated series Yukee (BBC).  

Last year’s winners were Doc Hearts’ live-action series Reu and Harper’s Wonder World (Older Children) and BBC Studios Kids & Family’s Phoenix Rise (Preschool).