The Australian TV documentary Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds has taken home a gong at the International Emmy awards.
The show, from production company Endemol Shine Australia, which aired on the ABC in 2019, took out the prize in the non-scripted entertainment category in the US today.
It was up against another Endemol Shine production, Canta Comigo, from Brazil; Norway’s The Public Enlightenment – Make Lillestrøm Great Again; and season three of MasterChef Thailand.
Based on a UK format, Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds explores the benefits for Australia’s elderly population from spending time with young children. In a “social experiment” format, a group of retirement home residents mixed with preschoolers in a preschool built within their care facilities while experts in geriatric health and early childhood monitored the progress of the participants.
The show won an Aacta award last year for best documentary or factual program, as well as gold at the 2020 New York Festivals TV and Film awards for best social issues documentary.
It was the only Australian show to win an award this year at the International Emmys, which recognises excellence in television programming outside the US.
“Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds combines the magical spontaneity and innocence of young kids with the wisdom and heart of older generations,” said the ABC’s head of factual and culture, Jennifer Collins.
“There are very few programs that give a voice to our elders and this is a perfect vehicle for bridging the divide between generations, with humour and joy.”
This article first appeared on The Guardian.
