ACTF News

Australian children’s drama Hardball (Northern Pictures) has won the 2020 International Emmy Award for best ‘Kids: Live-Action’ series.

In a virtual event held during Mipcom Online +, the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced that Hardball – the sole Australian representative in this year’s Kids Emmy running – had received the prestigious award.

The International Kids Emmy Awards are split into three categories: Live Action, Animation and Factual and Entertainment. Alongside Hardball’s win, UK productions The Tiger Who Came To Tea and Finding My Family: Holocaust – A Newsround Special received the Animation and Factual and Entertainment awards respectively.

Fellow finalists in Hardball’s division included Brazilian surf drama Juacas – Season 2 (The Walt Disney Company Latin America / Cinefilm Brazil), live-action/animated drama Dropje (Doopie) from the Netherlands (NTR Television / Submarine) and South Korean romantic comedy, Extraordinary You (MBC).

Hardball’s Emmy win contributes to escalating international recognition for the series. In June this year, the sporting drama won the top prize in the 7-10 Fiction Category at the prestigious Prix Jeunesse International awards and took home the 2020 BANFF World Media Festival Rockie Award in the ‘Children and Youth: Fiction’ category. In May, the series also picked up a Silver Remi award in the 'TV Series: Family/Children’s' category.

Further to its awards, Hardball has bounced onto screens worldwide. Just last week, it was announced that ARD HR has acquired the series for broadcast on KiKA, Germany’s public channel for kids. Hardball has also sold to a range of broadcasters including BBC (UK), France Televisions (France), NRK (Norway), RTE (Ireland), TVO (Canada), TFO (Canada), TVB (Hong Kong), RTP (Portugal), RTV (Slovenia), and SABC (South Africa).

Hardball is set to proceed to a second season. In ten new episodes to be created by Northern Pictures for ABC ME, the Hardball crew face twin villains, the end of primary school approaching, and a scholarship opportunity for Mikey that could split up the gang for good. Together the kids from Block Street strive to win the state doubles handball tournament before they reach the end of primary school and experience all the change that comes with it.

The ACTF congratulates the Hardball team on another well-deserved accolade.

Hardball is a Northern Pictures production for the ABC, with investment from Screen Australia in association with the ABC. Created by Guy Edmonds and Matt Zeremes and Produced by Joe Weatherstone. Financed with support from the ACTF and Create NSW. The ACTF distributes Hardball internationally.